Runh

Over the past two years, solar energy has experienced exponential growth, driven by technological advancements, decreasing costs, and supportive policies. According to the International Energy Agency, solar PV generation increased by 26% in 2022, and this year, solar capacity additions are expected to account for two-thirds of the global renewable capacity increase. With this surge in demand, developers face the challenge of scaling and deploying solar PV faster and more efficiently than ever before. To meet these demands, innovation and adaptability are essential, and cloud-based project management software is proving to be a key solution. At RE+, Matthew Brocklehurst at Sitetracker shared how solar leaders are leveraging the Sitetracker platform to reduce project timelines by 31%. By centralizing data, enabling real-time collaboration, and standardizing processes, companies like BayWa r.e. Global. and New Columbia Solar are overcoming bottlenecks, minimizing delays, and improving transparency throughout their operations. For instance, centralizing solar project and asset data in the cloud not only increases transparency but also minimizes errors, enabling teams to reduce rework and improve efficiency. Automated construction approvals, reporting, and forecasting ensure smoother project workflows. With global power demand set to double over the next 25 years, platforms like Sitetracker are helping developers stay ahead by fostering better habits, managing risks, and improving collaboration. #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #ProjectManagement #SolarInnovation #REPlus #Runh

At PowerUp Live during RE+, Joe Ordia from Solar Surge and Ben Zientara from SolarReviews discussed key shifts shaping the solar industry in 2024. A major story this year has been the rise and fall of several solar installation companies, including Hyper Solar and Sunpro Solar Energy Specialists. Despite these challenges, innovations in solar technology and growing US manufacturing offer promising opportunities. Enphase Energy's 5P Battery has been ranked as the top battery for 2024, praised for its long-term execution and high power output. Meanwhile, Tesla's Powerwall 3 remains a favorite for its competitive pricing and ease of installation, making it the battery to beat. These innovations are indicative of a broader trend toward increased complexity and integration in solar technology, requiring contractors to adapt to ensure seamless performance of solar systems, storage, and smart controls. U.S. solar manufacturing is gaining momentum with policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, which are driving more domestic production. However, many installers are struggling, with smaller, vertically integrated companies thriving by focusing on regional markets and customer service. In terms of market share, Qcells USA Corp. continues to dominate the residential module market with a 25-30% share, alongside SoFab Inks, REC, and Canadian Solar Inc. Solar. For battery technology, Enphase leads the innovation race, while Tesla's Powerwall continues to set the standard for ease of installation and integration. #SolarEnergy #REPlus #SolarTechnology #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #USManufacturing #Runh

Kelly Weger, Senior Director of Sustainability at Qcells North America, provided a detailed look at the company’s journey toward achieving EPEAT certification and the Ultra Low Carbon Standard for their monocrystalline solar products during RE+. EPEAT, the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, is an internationally recognized ecolabel that guides consumers in identifying sustainable products, including low-carbon solar panels. Qcells has become the second solar company to achieve this certification for photovoltaic modules, specifically the Q.PEAK DUO and Q.TRON series. The certification process is rigorous, requiring products to meet 17 mandatory criteria, such as comprehensive lifecycle assessments (LCAs) that track a product’s embodied carbon. This certification is granted at the product level rather than company-wide, and Qcells has worked through extensive data collection and documentation to achieve EPEAT’s bronze certification level. Higher levels, such as silver or gold, demand additional points and a deeper focus on transparency and environmental disclosures. A key focus is on meeting EPEAT’s low-carbon standard, with panels needing an embodied carbon footprint below 630 kgCO2. Qcells’ success demonstrates the company’s leadership in aligning solar manufacturing with stringent environmental standards and supporting companies’ scope 3 goals. The session highlighted the importance of such certifications in advancing sustainability in the solar industry. #Sustainability #SolarEnergy #EPEAT #REPlus2024 #CarbonFootprint #Qcells #RenewableEnergy #Scope3 #SolarManufacturing #Runh

David Penalva, Co-Founder and CEO of SolarGrade by HelioVolta, presented critical findings from the SolarGrade Health Report during RE+, highlighting the importance of on-the-ground fieldwork in maintaining solar asset performance. Solar energy systems are inherently reliable, but their safety and efficiency depend on consistent, detailed inspections. The SolarGrade Health Report, which compiles over 100,000 PV health data points from hundreds of inspections across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, identifies key issues often missed by remote monitoring tools. One of the most frequent problems in new construction is missing labels, which may seem minor but can pose significant compliance risks. In addition, grounding and wire termination issues, especially cross-mated connectors, were flagged as critical risks that need to be addressed early to prevent long-term failures. For operational systems, the report highlighted thermal failures as a leading cause of critical issues, accounting for 72% of DC distribution problems. Hotspots, loose connectors, and string faults are common in older systems, often arising from inadequate quality assurance processes. These types of failures are usually detectable only through thorough field inspections, rather than by drones, remote monitors, or inverter logs. The findings stress the importance of structured risk assessment and regular field inspections to safeguard long-term solar asset performance. #REPlus #SolarEnergy #PVHealth #Fieldwork #RenewableEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #DataInsights #Runh

In today's evolving energy market, optimizing the usable energy of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) is crucial to enhancing both revenue generation and system reliability. However, there is often a significant gap between the installed energy capacity and the actual energy delivered to the grid. This gap can lead to revenue losses, missed opportunities in market participation, and even penalties such as Liquidated Damages. Cell voltage imbalance is a major issue that can affect both Lithium Iron Phosphate and Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide batteries. As Kiran Kumar from LG Energy Solution Vertech, Inc. shared during his presentation at RE+, these imbalances can trap energy, reducing the amount available for marketable energy and impacting revenue potential. Addressing these challenges requires advanced controls and EMS orchestration to manage cell imbalances and optimize energy extraction. Real-time monitoring of State of Charge and State of Health is essential to ensure accurate energy predictions, while optimizing site-level operations with AI and machine learning can track and mitigate imbalances before they cause larger issues. Kiran’s insights emphasize the importance of sophisticated onsite controls, long-term service agreements, and real-time data collection to improve ESS performance and maximize revenue. In a one gigawatt-hour site, for example, uneven airflow distribution can degrade performance by 2-3%, underscoring the need for precise management techniques. #EnergyStorage #ESS #BatteryOptimization #EnergyEfficiency #REPlus #DataScience #SmartEnergy #Renewables #Runh

Sundial , led by CEO Justin H., is working to bring greater efficiency to the residential solar market with their innovative solar rooftop tracker. Designed for residential rooftops, Sundial's system incorporates advanced materials and east-west tracking to enhance energy production throughout the day. Their approach has resulted in up to 80% energy coverage, even for homes with less-than-ideal roof conditions. At RE+, one of the key aspects Justin highlighted was the impact on overall efficiency. Sundial’s tracker increases panel performance by 20-30%, making a noticeable difference in the amount of energy produced. In a recent installation example, a 16-panel system valued at $35,200 produced 10,537 kWh in the first year, covering 86% of the home’s energy needs. In addition to the technical performance, Sundial's solution is compatible with a wide range of solar panel mounting systems, including those from IronRidge - An Enstall Company, K2 Systems GmbH, SnapNrack Solar Mounting Solutions, UNIRAC, and Pegasus. This flexibility means homeowners can easily integrate Sundial’s tracker into existing setups, further enhancing energy efficiency without needing to replace entire systems. Sundial’s focus on the residential market reflects the growing demand for more efficient, sustainable energy solutions. Their tracker technology is designed to be a practical solution for homes looking to maximize their solar potential, particularly in an era where energy independence and sustainability are becoming increasingly important. #SolarEnergy #ResidentialSolar #RenewableEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #CleanEnergy #SustainableSolutions #Runh

Storlytics Energy Storage is bringing a transformative approach to how grid-tied energy storage systems are modeled and optimized. During RE+, Sheikh Jakir Hossain, Ph.D, CTO of Storlytics, shared insights into how their platform addresses one of the biggest challenges developers face—accurately predicting battery performance under real-world conditions. With traditional approaches relying on high-level assumptions about key characteristics like degradation and losses, Storlytics offers a far more precise and data-driven solution. A study from Columbia University revealed that deeper battery discharges (75%) lead to 80% more degradation compared to shallow discharges (10%). This has significant cost implications, especially for large-scale projects where choosing the wrong battery technology can result in millions of dollars in added expenses. Storlytics addresses this by offering detailed, OEM-validated models, enabling developers to compare lithium-ion and other battery technologies based on real-world conditions like temperature. The platform helps users optimize their battery selection, improving performance and lowering overall project costs. Already, Storlytics has gained traction in the industry, partnering with some of the largest developers globally. Their international client base spans 35+ countries with over 100 projects completed, contributing to 1000+ MWs of installed capacity. By delivering precise, OEM-validated battery models, Storlytics empowers developers to make informed decisions that lead to more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective energy storage systems. #EnergyStorage #REPlus #BatteryTechnology #CleanEnergy #GridStorage #Storlytics #Innovation #Sustainability #Runh

At the RE+ startup showcase, Julia Wu, Co-Founder and CEO of Spark (YC W24), presented an exciting innovation for the renewable energy industry. Spark AI’s innovative platform is designed to simplify one of the most challenging aspects of community and utility-scale solar and storage project development: site selection and regulatory navigation. As the push to triple renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade intensifies, developers face increasing pressure to move faster while dealing with a complex web of local ordinances, utility tariffs, and regulatory hurdles. Traditionally, developers have to sift through thousands of pages of zoning ordinances, tariff PDFs from utilities, and government filings, often requiring consultants and significant time and expense. Julia explained that this process can cost developers anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 per site report, often delaying project timelines and leaving new markets untapped. Spark AI's solution is a powerful AI-driven platform that centralizes and automates the entire process. Developers can now search for information about zoning, permits, and regulations in seconds, rather than days or weeks. The platform integrates data from local governments, utility websites, and even meeting minutes, using AI to extract key takeaways and generate insights. This allows developers to identify new markets and sites much more efficiently, ultimately enabling them to spin up 10x more projects to Notice to Proceed (NTP) status and saving up to $100k in site screening costs per portfolio. #REPlus #RenewableEnergy #AI #SolarDevelopment #StorageDevelopment #EnergyInnovation #EnergyTransition #Runh

At RE+, Darin Palmer, President of Rocking Solar, highlighted a key issue in the commercial solar sector: while commercial buildings use 36% of the energy in the U.S., they contribute only 5% of solar production. This gap is largely due to economic constraints and concerns about roof integrity, preventing many rooftops from being utilized for solar installations. Rocking Solar aims to tackle these challenges with an innovative approach that enhances both energy production and roof integrity. By combining solar tracking technology with bifacial panels, Rocking Solar increases energy yield by 30% through east-to-west sun tracking and an additional 10% from bifacial reflectivity on surfaces like white TPO roofs. This leads to a 20% reduction in project costs while maintaining roof warranties and minimizing penetrations, which is often a concern with rooftop installations. In terms of project impact, Rocking Solar systems can deliver 42% more energy yield, require 30% fewer panels, and cost 20% less than traditional fixed tilt systems. Additionally, the modular design enables easier roof repairs and reduces maintenance. Tested by organizations like Sandia National Laboratories and RWDI, the system offers the durability and flexibility that commercial solar installations need. With a goal of reaching 100 MW of installations by 2027, Rocking Solar continues to work with contractors, building owners, and real estate investors to bring a more efficient and cost-effective solution to the commercial solar market. #SolarEnergy #CommercialSolar #RenewableEnergy #REPlus #SolarTracking #BifacialPanels #EnergyEfficiency #RoofIntegrity #Runh

At the RE+ Startup Showcase, Popular Power, co-founded by Morgan Babbs and Manuel Wiechers, introduced their innovative software solution designed for distributed solar companies. Their platform consolidates solar site monitoring into one interface, making it easier for companies to optimize their portfolios and improve post-sales performance. Popular Power provides key benefits, including a 5% increase in revenue through improved system uptime and upsell opportunities. Additionally, users see a 15% reduction in operating costs by streamlining workflows and handling high-priority issues more efficiently. The platform also leads to a 75% reduction in time spent on manual processes, eliminating the need for multiple platforms or endless spreadsheets. In just over a year, Popular Power has gained traction, supporting 17 customers and monitoring 8,000 sites across 45 MW of solar installations. The company generates $40,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) and is on track to reach $650,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by the year’s end. As solar companies evolve beyond installation, solutions like Popular Power are essential for maximizing the value of installed assets. The platform’s real-time analytics, alerts, and automated reports enable residential and commercial solar companies to manage and monitor their portfolios more effectively. #REPlus #SolarEnergy #DistributedSolar #Renewables #EnergyTech #SolarInnovation #Runh