Installing Beyond A Shadow Of Doubt

The UK market presents unique challenges for the widespread adoption of residential solar energy. An abundance of homes with small, cramped roofs are prompting installers to seek more sophisticated technologies and further expand solar capacity. In 2013 and beyond, the UK can look to smart module designs to overcome real and perceived obstacles to widespread residential adoption. In this article, we present the challenges and opportunities for residential solar in the UK, including lessons learned from across the pond.

Despite a cloudy reputation, the UK solar market has shown a fair amount of growth in recent years. While in 2010, less than 10,000 homes had solar energy, today the industry has topped the 400,000 mark. In a global market that reached 100 GW at the end of 2012, the UK today finds itself among the top-10 global PV markets. Nonetheless, the region has a long road ahead as it aims to meet an ambitious target of 22 GW installed by the year 2020. Installers across the country are working hard to meet that goal, one roof at a time, by making solar a 

no-brainer. 

In short, solar integrators in the UK must present logical solutions to tackle two major challenges: a lack of "ideal" roof space, and continued scepticism around the performance and financial benefits of solar energy. Today, we're finding that one product can help to alleviate both issues. 

Traditional solar electric systems feature multiple PV modules connected to a central inverter. These modules are connected in series circuits, meaning the system will instinctively lower its output level to that of the worst performing module, much like lights on a Christmas tree. For homeowners with rooftops prone to partial shade from trees, chimneys or any other number of obstacles"”issues commonly seen in the UK"”this can be a deal-breaker. Enter smart modules. These solar panels feature embedded intelligence from either the inversion technology of micro-inverters or the current-bypass technology of power optimizers. 

With this additional layer of power electronics in place, smart modules enable installers to design systems in configurations not previously possible"”multiple module tilts, various orientations, etc."”virtually eliminating the negative effects of shading and mismatch. Additionally, because the module and smart technologies are shipped as one unit, installers benefit from shorter installation times. Today, smart modules are sweeping the solar industry through some of the world's top technology providers. For example, Upsolar recently introduced an MCS-certified smart module, which utilizes Tigo Energy's optimizers to offer up to 25 percent more power density and improved part counts, in addition to the full list of benefits. 

For the largest smart module success story to date, the UK can look just across the Atlantic. In 2012, Upsolar and Tigo Energy partnered to develop the largest smart solar array in the world. Located in Sharon, Vermont, the project utilizes 9,562 Upsolar modules equipped with Tigo Energy optimizers. 

Sharon is home to beautiful, rolling agricultural hills. Understandably, the project site owners and neighbours required that any PV system design preserve the natural look of the area with minimal land impact. Ordinarily, this would present a nightmarish task for the EPC team, who would face either a massive structural challenge or a lost customer. 

Instead, the smart modules allowed a design that flowed with the contours of the land, like strips of bacon in a grass-covered frying pan.

Back in the UK, Tigo was recently selected for a 4,000-roof social housing project in the South West. Installed in less than 18 months, the systems offer an opportunity to highlight another significant benefit of smart modules: unparalleled performance insights. Its owners have the capability to conduct operations and maintenance for the entire fleet from any internet-connected device in the world.

The transformation of the solar PV market is perhaps best compared to that of the Web. The early days of the Internet featured little more than static pages for passive viewing; while these resources were informative and beneficial, opportunities for user engagement were limited.

Now, let's look at solar PV. When the average person thinks of a solar electric system, what are they thinking? Most likely, they're envisioning a series of panels up on the roof converting sunlight into useable energy. How the system works"”and how well it's working"”is largely a mystery. Just like the web experience of the 90s, most system owners and operators have limited visibility into performance, and almost zero ability to interact with their PV technology. For operators overseeing hundreds of systems, this means any performance issue requires the organisation to bring an expert on-site for a preliminary examination, and then schedule a second visit to properly address the problem at hand. 

Smart modules are the key to "Solar 2.0." Each smart module is equipped with real-time monitoring capabilities, allowing installers and system owners alike to access and analyse performance data through intuitive software. In the case of Upsolar's smart modules, system owners and operators benefit from Tigo Energy's intelligence, which enables them to pinpoint and correct issues before they become major problems down the road. But, say you're a homeowner or an operator away on vacation (hey, it could happen!), and you'd like to check in on a particular system. No problem: the software is also available  in a mobile app. Our goal is to create a world where the 

moment a project goes online, operators and owners can walk away from the installation with confidence that their system is either performing at its full potential, or offering an immediate alert to performance issues.

It's no secret that the global solar industry has faced a number of growing pains in recent years, including, fiscal and political turmoil, shifting incentives and price competition from utilities. The UK market was no stranger to these roadblocks, but has found a way to overcome each hurdle to emerge as one of the world's PV leaders. 

Today, smart modules are offering an opportunity for installers and homeowners in the UK to combat design challenges and ease consumer uncertainty. Smart modules are driving stakeholders toward a more dynamic and intuitive solar experience"”bringing clarity instead of confusion, and enabling high-yield projects on rooftops that previously would have gone undeveloped. Without a shadow of a doubt, smart modules are a natural fit to the evolving challenges of a maturing industry, and the ideal solution for a region looking to spur the next wave of significant market growth. 

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