KYOCERA Recognized as “Top Performer” in 2016 PV Solar Module Reliability Scorecard

Only solar manufacturer to be named as a “Top Performer” across all tests in both editions of the Scorecard

Kyoto, Japan – Kyocera has been recognized as a “top performer” across all test categories for its solar modules by DNV GL (formerly PV Evolution Labs), an international provider of independent expert advisory and certification services, in its 2016 PV Module Reliability Scorecardreleased this month in collaboration with GTM Research. 

Amid the dramatic increase in both business and residential solar installations over the past five years, DNV GL created its third-party Scorecard to provide insights into the expected reliability of various brands of solar modules by subjecting them to unparalleled technical comparisons. Kyocera is the only manufacturer to appear as a “top performer” in all categories of both the 2014 and 2016 PV Module Reliability Scorecards, the only two published to date.

The five test categories in the 2016 Scorecard cover each of the major sources of performance degradation over the lifespan of a solar module — repeated Thermal Cycling, Dynamic Mechanical Load stress, Humidity-Freeze conditions, Damp Heat exposure, and Potential-Induced Degradation. The number of manufacturers participating in each testing category ranged between 17 and 22. 

With the recent solar boom, 85% of the world’s total installed solar capacity has been in the field for less than five years, according to GTM Research. This makes assessing long-term performance and reliability difficult for users. Additionally, the influx of new industry players means that many of today’s producers have been manufacturing solar panels for fewer than 10 years, even those offering 25-year warranties. These factors underscore the need for an independent, third-party source of performance and reliability data. 

“Kyocera is one of the only companies in the world with more than 40 years of experience in researching, developing and manufacturing solar modules,” said Hitoshi Atari, President of Kyocera Solar Inc. “The industry-leading reliability of Kyocera modules is documented not only by third-party testing, but by the real-world performance of Kyocera modules operating in the field continuously for decades.”

DNV GL specifically designed its tests to surpass traditional methodologies represented by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61215 and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1703 tests. While the IEC tests provide a minimum baseline assessment and the UL tests address product safety, DNV GL’s Scorecard incorporates other stringent protocols to replicate real-world operating conditions over time, while measuring the relative degradation in power output among the various brands of solar modules.

“Solar continues to grow in popularity, but it’s crucial to select equipment that performs successfully over the long term,” said Jenya Meydbray, Vice President of Strategy and Development at DNV GL. “Developing an understanding of how modules perform as they age in the field will highlight technology risks and enable the implementation of an effective procurement quality assurance strategy.”

Kyocera PV modules have demonstrated outstanding reliability by other metrics as well:

• 2014: Kyocera PV modules pass TUV Rheinland’s rigorous Salt Mist Corrosion Tests. 
• 2012:  Kyocera modules are certified PID (Potential Induced Degradation) resistant, exhibiting no performance degradation after high-voltage stress testing by the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics.
• 2010: Kyocera modules are first in the world to be certified by TUV Rheinland’s Long-Term Sequential Test.

To learn more about Kyocera Solar solutions for both residential and commercial projects, please contact infosolar@kyocera.com or 800-223-9580.

---

About KYOCERA
Kyocera is among the world’s leading producers of photovoltaic modules and systems, with a 41-year history of innovation in solar technology. The company is recognized as an industry pioneer with repeated world records in multicrystalline silicon cell efficiency.

Kyocera Solar, Inc. is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., with regional sales affiliates in the Americas and solar module manufacturing facilities operated by Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. of Tijuana, Mexico.

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. The company specializes in combining these engineered materials with other technologies to create solar power generating systems, printers, copiers, mobile phones, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial components. During the year ended March 31, 2015, Kyocera’s net sales totaled 1.53 trillion yen (approx. USD12.7 billion). Kyocera appears on the latest listing of the “Top 100 Global Innovators” by Thomson Reuters, and is ranked #552 on Forbes magazine’s 2015 “Global 2000” listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.

Net Metering Equal Access Bill 2339 Passes California Committee

By Glenn Meyers, Planetsave

Regardless of location, California state customers are soon expected to have more net metering equal access for rooftop solar.

Assembly bill 2339 has passed the State Assembly Utilities & Commerce Committee by a 10-2 vote and now awaits final ratification from the Assembly floor.  Essentially, this measure aims to even out the net metering policies across areas which are being serviced by investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities alike.

Prior to this legislative update, solar access in California was based on location and what particular utility was involved.

This bill aims to make rooftop solar systems equally available in all utilities across the state regardless of location. The bill aims to use consistent methodology to calculate caps on net metering in municipal utility territories and to calculate caps by the investor-owned utilities, to create a unified standard.

“At its core, this is a consumer protection bill,” said Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, the bill’s author. “Everyone in California should have equal access to solar energy regardless of what city they live in.” The bill was co-authored by Evan Low.

Under AB 2339, some 40 municipal utility-served districts will be able to offer net metering under far more favorable rules. The bill is regarded as a significant continuation to solar progress in the state. In January, the California Public Utilities Commission voted to protect net metering for consumers living in investor-owned utility territories around central, coastal and southern California.

In a statement, Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CalSEIA), said, “Protecting net metering for all consumers is key to tapping into California’s abundant and clean solar energy, creating jobs, and saving consumers money.”

Source: http://planetsave.com/2016/04/15/net-metering-equal-access-bill-2339-passes-california-committee/

Solar Thermal Legislation Advances In California

By SI Staff, Solar Industry Magazine

In a 10-2 vote on Wednesday, the California Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee passed A.B.2460, a bill that would expand consumer incentives for rooftop solar thermal technologies.

“I am pleased the committee took the important step of moving this bill forward,” says Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, author of the bill. “Using California’s abundant sunshine to do something as simple as heating water is sensible for our state and a key way to diversify our energy resources, protect public health and clean up our air.”

According to the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), the bill would extend California Solar Initiative Thermal program funding for 10 years through 2027, providing certainty to the growing solar water heating market. Under the program, consumers would get an upfront rebate as well as be eligible for the 30% federal tax credit. A typical residential solar hot water system costs around $6,000 before rebates.

The bill would also target significant resources for solar thermal on low-income housing and buildings in disadvantaged communities. CALSEIA says demand for solar water heating in low-income multifamily housing buildings is high, accounting for nearly half of the applications in 2015. A.B.2460 would also ensure that the maximum rebate cap works for industrial customers, the group adds.

According to CALSEIA, the bill is part of a response to the massive natural gas leak at California’s Aliso Canyon and efforts to reduce natural gas use statewide, meet greenhouse-gas reduction goals and improve grid reliability. The organization says that solar thermal technologies can reduce natural gas demand within a building by up to 80%.

“To meet our statewide climate change goals and address the challenges posed by Aliso Canyon, we need consistent consumer access to the sun,” comments Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the CALSEIA. “We thank Assembly member Irwin for her leadership on this important issue.”

Source: http://solarindustrymag.com/solar-thermal-legislation-advances-in-california

California: Solar heating proposed as alternative to natural gas

By Tanja Peschel, Sun & Wing Energy Magazine

After a massive gas leak in a storage facility in California, solar thermal comes into focus as an alternative energy source for heating Californian homes. The administration under Governor Jerry Brown proposed an action plan to increase rooftop solar technologies and reduce the natural gas demand of the region. 

The Aliso Canyon gas leak refers to a massive natural gas leak that occurred in October 2015 in the Californian underground gas storage facility – the second largest one in the U.S. During the nearly four months it took until the leak had been plugged, an estimated 97,100 metric tons of methane were released into the atmosphere.

With the help of solar energy systems such as solar water heating, solar space heating and solar electric systems, natural gas use in buildings could be drastically reduced. Roughly a quarter of the gas from Aliso Canyon is used to heat buildings. If solar heating systems were installed on just 7% of the multi-family buildings in the Los Angeles area, this would offset the yearly natural gas demand for all buildings served by Aliso Canyon. Local rooftop solar energy technologies can help to reduce the dependence on natural gas and to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals in the near and long-term, while also preventing blackouts and voltage-drops (brownouts) in the grid.

“Aliso Canyon shows us that natural gas is not safe or environmentally friendly, despite the ‘natural’ descriptor,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA).  “Instead of burning gas to heat water and run power plants on summer days when the sun shines brightest upon our cities, California should continue to aggressively support solar technologies in Los Angeles and statewide now and into the future.”

The National Renewable Energy Lab published a report about the solar PV capacity of the United States of America and estimated that in California rooftop PV systems with a total capacity of nearly 80 GW could be installed. Policy recommendations by CALSEIA include the expansion of consumer incentives for solar heating technologies and better access to rooftop PV technologies for consumers of municipal utilities, since Californian utilities so far have not done enough to encourage and invest in renewables.

Source: http://www.sunwindenergy.com/solar-thermal/california-solar-heating-proposed-alternative-to-natural-gas