Sapa sells HatiCon to Mounting Systems GmbH

Sapa has sold its HatiCon operations to the German company Mounting Systems GmbH. HatiCon produces, markets and sells aluminium extrusion-based mounting systems for the solar industry. 

The agreement reached today means that Mounting Systems GmbH, will with immediate effect take over the operations for HatiCon Germany GmbH including the US company HatiCon Solar, LLC.

The divestment concludes a process in which the management of Sapa’s aluminium building systems business area also had evaluated new restructuring measures following challenging market conditions in the solar industry in Europe.

“Combining Mounting Systems and HatiCon will be an opportunity to create on strong and competitive player in the photovoltaic and solar thermal mounting systems industry”, says Karsten Lundgaard, executive vice president and head of Sapa Building Systems. Sapa delivers aluminium solutions to customers in the solar industry across the world, however, HatiCon has been the only unit in Sapa delivering branded systems to this industry. “Going forward Sapa will not be operating with branded systems in this industry but rather continue as a supplier of aluminium extrusions to companies like Mounting Systems and Haticon”, concludes Lundgaard.

For over 20 years Mounting Systems develops and manufactures innovative racking system solutions for photovoltaic and solar thermal applications. With acquiring HatiCon, Mounting Systems continues growing as a specialist for innovative and high-quality racking system solutions for photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, both nationally and internationally.

“Uniting Mounting Systems and HatiCon is an important milestone for our company”, says Stefan Spork, Managing Director of Mounting Systems. “With acquiring HatiCon, we gain valuable know-how in racking systems solutions, especially for on-roof systems. This fits perfectly in our product portfolio and the services we offer and will benefit our customers”, adds Stefan Spork.

HatiCon’s production activities and head office are in Pinnow, Germany. The company also has offices in Güterfelde, Germany, and Ontario, California. HatiCon employs about 100 people.

The companies agreed on keeping the purchase price confidential. The brand “HatiCon” and all associated functions, like administration, management and infrastructure, will be continued for now.

Sapa is the world leader in aluminium solutions, shaping a lighter future through a global reach and local presence within extrusions, building systems, and precision tubing. The company has 23,000 employees in more than 40 countries, and the headquarters are located in Oslo, Norway. www.sapagroup.com

Mounting Systems GmbH is one of the largest manufacturers of fastening systems for photovoltaic and solar-thermal power plants in the world and module frames. With over 20 years of experience in the market, the company is a highly skilled developer and manufacturer in this business segment, headquartered in Rangsdorf near Berlin. Mounting Systems is also serving its customers from its own sales and production site in West Sacramento, USA and sales offices in UK, France and Japan. 

CALSEIA Releases 2014 Annual Report

CALSEIA has pulled together a first-ever annual report, highlighting what the organization has accomplished, how we grew, and who helped contribute to our collective work in 2014. The report highlights CALSEIA's various policy and program accomplishments including key battles on NEM grandfathering, fire code issues, solar water heating, rates, grid modernization, among others.

To view and download the 2014 CALSEIA Annual Report, click here.

Gov. Brown Starts Historic 4th Term Calling for More Rooftop Solar

Solar Industry Stands Ready to Build for the Brighter Future Called for by Gov.

Sacramento – In his historic fourth inaugural address, Governor Jerry Brown called for 50% renewable energy by 2030 and specifically for more rooftop solar power to meet the needs of California today, and tomorrow.

“California’s solar industry stands ready to build Governor Brown’s vision of a better, stronger, cleaner California,” said CALSEIA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro. “Through expanded solar power, California can give the power of the near limitless sun to future generations while building a stronger economy today.”

In his inaugural speech this morning, Governor Brown called specifically for three goals by 2030:

1. 50% renewable energy, up from 33% which will be reached by 2020;
2. 50% cut in petroleum usage;
3. 100% increase in existing building efficiency.

Solar power can help California achieve all three of these goals through greater deployment of rooftop photovoltaic and solar water heating technologies throughout the state. All reports show the industry is poised for continued growth. By all accounts, 2014 is wrapping up as the biggest year for solar power in history, California is on the brink of achieving its “Million Solar Roofs” goal two years ahead of schedule, and, the industry employs more people than the traditional investor-owned utilities combined.

“With the help of increased storage, the evolution of advanced inverters and smart grid technologies, and the increased investment in solar water heating technologies, solar power can play a significant role in building the carbon-free California envisioned today by the governor;" said Del Chiaro. 

In the context of today’s speech, CALSEIA reiterated its policy priorities for 2015, including:

• Expanding and protecting net energy metering (NEM);
• Protecting solar-friendly consumer electricity rates;
• Protecting and extending rebates for solar water heating technologies;
• Reducing soft costs through implementation of AB 2188, the permit streamlining law;
• Extending the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) beyond 2016.

 “Getting the policies right is critical to solar power’s continued growth and success,” concluded Del Chiaro. “Entrenched special interests and legacy industries continue to push back on the inevitable clean energy revolution making it imperative that policy makers get the details right in the years ahead.”

CALSEIA APPLAUDS NEW SOLAR PERMITTING GUIDEBOOK IN ADVANCE OF JAN 1ST

Center for Sustainable Energy, in partnership with the Office of Planning and Research, Released New Permitting Guidebook On Eve of AB 2188 Going into Effect

On the eve of the nation’s first streamlined solar permitting law, AB 2188 (Muratsuchi), going into effect, a new resource guide aimed at helping cities and counties expedite and streamline the permitting process for all home solar energy systems was released today. 

The California Solar Permitting Guidebook addresses the requirements of the Solar Permitting Efficiency Act (formerly Assembly Bill 2188) signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in September that requires the state’s more than 540 cities and counties to adopt streamlined solar permitting processes by Sept. 30, 2015. With the help of this guidebook, AB 2188 aims is to cut installation costs for homeowners, increase local jobs and economic development for solar businesses, and reduce the workload of permitting agencies. California is the first state to mandate standardized solar permitting processes.

“It takes a solar contractor one day to install a residential solar system yet in many cities and counties it takes months just to get a simple permit,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA). “Thanks to AB 2188, and this accompanying guidebook, that bureaucratic burden should lighten, allowing solar businesses to deploy more solar and employ more people.”

In much the same way as cell phones a decade ago, the price of solar has fallen 50% since 2006 mainly due to economies of scale in manufacturing. However, the “soft costs” of solar, including the cost of getting a permit from a local building department, remains stubbornly high. 

“California leads the nation in rooftop solar installations, but achieving the state’s ambitious goals for renewable energy will require even greater solar adoption, and the permitting process has been a major barrier,” said Tamara Gishri-Perry, a CSE senior project manager. “The new legislation is an opportunity for local governments to reduce their paperwork and costs for approving what are typically fairly simple home rooftop solar installations.”

Research has shown that costs associated with attaining a building permit for a residential solar energy system can be significant. A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs concluded that streamlining the permitting process could reduce the price of a typical home solar system by $1,000 or more, which, in turn, promises to increase demand for solar thereby growing local businesses.

Approximately 158,000 solar roofs were installed on California homes in 2013, double the number from 2012, and 2014 is shaping up to be the solar industry’s biggest year yet. The growth in homeowners going solar, fueled by financial incentives and a desire to cut energy bills, has led to a backlog of work at local permitting offices. Advocates of AB 2188 point out that streamlining the permitting process for solar not only helps homeowners but also cuts workloads for cash-strapped building departments.

AB 2188 was signed by Governor Jerry Brown in September after receiving several bi-partisan votes in the legislature. The bill was supported by a coalition of business associations, solar companies, environmental groups, and local elected officials.    

The guidebook, published in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, contains best practices for permitting and inspection of home solar systems as well as standard application forms and checklists for solar installations. CSE’s renewable energy team compiled the guidebook with input from a task force of participants from state code agencies, local building departments and the solar industry. It is available online at www.energycenter.org/solarpermitting.

CSE staff provides free technical assistance to any local government agency that wants to adopt the California Solar Permitting Guidebook and offers an implementation guide, model ordinances and other resources. They are planning webinars and in-person trainings in 2015 for local government officials focusing on the benefits of adopting the guidebook’s recommendations. For information, email solar permitting@energycenter.org or call 415-796-0135.

More information about AB 188 can be found at www.calseia.org/ab2188.