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What is Solar Photovoltaics (PV)? 10 years ago

This section will help you understand Solar Photovoltaics (PV), a technology that converts sunlight into electricity.

Solar PV is used primarily for grid-connected electricity to operate residential appliances, commercial equipment, lighting and air conditioning for all types of buildings. Through stand-alone systems and the use of batteries, it is also well suited for remote regions where there is no electricity source. Solar PV panels can be ground mounted, installed on building rooftops or designed into building materials at the point of manufacturing.

The future will see everyday objects such as clothing, the rooftops of cars and even roads themselves turned into power-generating solar collectors.

The efficiency of solar PV increases in colder temperatures and is particularly well-suited for Canada's climate. A number of technologies are available which offer different solar conversion efficiencies and pricing.

Solar PV modules can be grouped together as an array of series and parallel connected modules to provide any level of power requirements, from mere watts (W) to kilowatt (kW) and megawatt (MW) size.

The size of the solar array, battery bank, and AC inverter required for a typical solar PV application depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of electricity you use, the amount of sunlight at the site, the number of days without backup that you require, and the peak electricity demand at any given time. Sufficient battery storage can easily allow a solar PV system to operate fully independently of a utility or genset back-up.

On the technology side, it is easy to interconnect your PV system to your local utility company -- there are no technical barriers. There may be regulations, however, that you will need to work through with your utility, in order for them to allow you to generate your own electricity. The Canadian Electrical Code makes provision for you to generate your own electricity and to feed any excess back into the utility's power lines. Most solar PV equipment can be easily checked to ensure that it meets the provisions of the Code for safety purposes.

PV modules should be oriented between south-east and south-west (due south is best). Modules generally need an unobstructed view of the sun all the year. Systems can be sized to provide 100 percent of your electricity consumption at a cottage or campsite, or as a supplement to conventional utility electricity or genset electricity. A tracking system can orient the solar array to maximize its electricity production throughout the day and the year by tracking the movement of the sun, though this is typically not practical for most applications.

Meet RBI Solar, Manufacturer of Solar Mounting Systems at Solar Canada 2013 10 years ago

RBI Solar, Inc. is exhibiting at Solar Canada (CanSIA). Conference and exhibition is taking place on December 9-10, 2013, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada. You are invited to meet with the RBI Solar Team at Booth #207 and discuss the proven ground mount solutions for utility scale solar projects.

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RBI Solar is a leading manufacturer and installer for utility scale solar mounting systems. They are a single source provider which includes design, engineering, fabrication and installation. All of RBI’s solar racking designs are based on site-specific conditions that result in optimally engineered products at very competitive costs. All materials are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities that span the globe in Ohio, Ontario, North Carolina, and Shanghai.

Solar Canada 2013 is presented by CanSIA (Canadian Solar Industries Association), a trade association representing approximately 650 solar energy companies throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable future.

About RBI Solar: RBI Solar, Inc. is the leading turn-key supplier of solar mounting systems. As a specialist in ground mount, roof mount, landfill solar, and custom designed specialty solar structures, RBI Solar focuses on providing best-in-class racking systems, installation services and project management capabilities to serve owners and integrators. RBI Solar has engineers on staff licensed in all 50 states and offers complete design, hi-tech manufacturing, nationwide installation, and technical support to help solve the toughest challenges in the industry. Leveraging more than 80 years of experience in the commercial design-build specialty structures market, RBI Solar works with its clients to identify the most economical, durable and robust solution for solar installations.

Visit http://www.rbisolar.com for more information.

RBI Solar Acquired ProtekPark Solar, Leading Manufacturer and Installer of Solar Carports 10 years ago

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RBI Solar Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of ProtekPark Solar, a leading manufacturer and installer of solar carport structures. Acquirement includes brand, technology, intellectual property, manufacturing, and existing employees. All ProtekPark Solar carport designs, including single slope, inverted and long span design, will be sold by RBI Solar under the ProtekPark product range. This acquisition will open up the solar carport market for RBI Solar and enhance the production capacity and engineering strength to reduce the cost of ProtekPark products.

ProtekPark Solar specialized in durable, functional, and attractive structural solar canopies, typically installed in parking lots. The company has completed major covered parking projects at a number of international airports in the US as well as for higher end commerical facilities. ProtekPark’s signature projects include Athens Community College, VA National Energy Business Center, Delta Water Supply, Cincinnati Zoo, Raritan High School, Richard Stockton College and William Patterson University.

“RBI Solar will continue to offer a site-specific design approach for parking projects,” said Bill Vietas, General Manager of RBI Solar. “Each solar carport project will be developed to a client's needs to create the most functional and cost-effective solar installation.”

RBI solar will remain headquartered in Cincinnati, OH and will introduce ProtekPark products to new geographical markets and existing customers. RBI Solar is a sister company of Rough Brothers Inc., which is the largest conservatory, garden center and greenhouse manufacturer in North America.

This acquisition will allow RBI Solar to bring their single source value chain approach to develop and implement a robust and cost effective canopy solution.

New 2.7 MW Solar Project Launched 11 years ago

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When making a PHOTO VOLTAIC solar racking design, it is very important to determine how much dirt corrosivity has to be accounted for in order to ensure the life expectancy on the mounting design. Several factors have to be measured on a site by site schedule. Soil pH, humidity content, chlorides, and resistivity almost all determine the particular service living of hot-dipped galvanized material piles embedded in the ground. If every single variable just isn't taken into consideration during the style of, then failure ahead of the target program length can be reached is often a very real possibility.

The lower the pH beliefs of soil the bigger the price of deterioration . and vice versa. The much larger the existence of chloride ions the bigger how much corrosion that will be seen upon galvanized piles due to relationship in between resistivity along with chloride ions. Chloride ion activity can be largely impacted by the humidity content on the soil. Furthermore, the lower the resistivity the bigger the dirt corrosivity with the soil’s resistivity being defined as the soil’s capacity to resist electric current passing by way of it. The program life connected with galvanized material posts embedded in the soil will likely be determined through the analysis of all the so-called parameters mentioned previously and can certainly only be driven by a accredited corrosion anatomist specialist.

It is crucial to employ protection methods to shield ground bracket solar content from dirt corrosion. If the service life is set to become insufficient for any target design and style life, then extra measures have to be also considered for example a layer connected with corrosion retarding epoxy, embedding with concrete, or even using zinc galvanic anodes. It is highly proposed that deterioration . potential be looked at when building a PHOTO VOLTAIC racking system, and the particular soil examination from every single site can dictate the type and higher level of this safety. It cannot be overstated that this required safety can merely properly be driven by a accredited corrosion specialist.