Get a closer look at Qcells’ newest home energy storage system — the Q.HOME CORE G3, an AC-coupled battery and energy management system designed for installers who want more flexibility in both retrofits and whole-home backup. Here to make The Pitch is Kam Shiota, Head of System Engineering for Qcells. 0:29 - Overview of Qcells' AC-coupled platform 1:41 - Q.HOME CORE G3 compared to G2 4:46 - Q.HOME CORE Hub 6:35 - Q.OMMAND app for homeowners and installers 8:11 - Time savings during installation 10:03 - Qcells fleet management and remote diagnostics in action 11:25 - EnFin financing by Qcells & 30-year warranty option 13:49 - Qcells domestic manufacturing snapshot and future 15:28 - Trend: standardizing on one brand for solar + storage

In this episode of The Pitch, Solar Builder editor Chris Crowell interviews SMA America’s Tyson Schoelzel and Hasan Taylor about the Sunny Highpower PEAK3 — a 1500-V high-density string inverter that will soon be manufactured and skidded in the United States with a Create Energy partnership that enables domestic content bonus eligibility. The discussion focuses on the specific ways PEAK3 reduces O&M cost, improves uptime, eases interconnection modeling, and supports community solar and utility-scale projects in the 5–100 MW range with a virtual-central skidded architecture. The SMA team explains how a single-MPPT architecture improves reliability and supports high-current bifacial modules without early clipping — and why the PEAK3’s 25-year design life and OptiCool thermal system matter for long-term project economics. They also dig into repowering, explaining how the PEAK3 Flex can match legacy AC voltages without transformer rework or restudies — a key advantage as older fleets age out. On the control side, the team walks through Data Manager M + Smart Connect for remote monitoring, smart-connected O&M, zero-export functionality, and utility-model support — all critical as pricing complexity and grid constraints rise. Timestamps 0:30 - Pain points for developers right now, and how PEAK3 helps 3:07 - Typical PEAK3 projects 4:30 - Skidding PEAK3 for larger sites "virtual-central architecture" 5:23 - A peek at the PEAK3 spec sheet 6:34 - Repowering and matching legacy voltages 9:08 - 25-year warranty, OptiCool & reliability 11:50 - Advantage of single MPPT 12:53 - Data Manager M and Smart Connect 17:04 - Storage PEAK3 coming? Learn more about the PEAK3: https://www.sma-america.com/products/solarinverters/sunny-highpower-peak3 Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://subscribe.solarbuildermag.com/subscribe  

The residential solar market is heading into major changes as the 25D tax credit sunsets at the end of 2025. What comes next for financing, installers, and homeowners? In this live Power Forward session recorded on the PowerUp Live Stage at RE+ 2025, Solar Builder’s Chris Crowell sits down with Josh Tinaglia, Finance Program Manager at BayWa r.e., to unpack the outlook for residential solar financing. Thanks to SunCast Media for letting us have the time, and for producing this video. Topics include: What the 25D tax credit sunset means for installers and homeowners Why third-party ownership (TPO) will play a bigger role starting in 2026 Questions to ask your TPO providers The outlook for solar loans, dealer fees, and new finance products Prepaid leases and transferability of tax credits The uncertainty of FEOC rules and domestic content requirements The impact of cancelled programs like Solar for All and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund If you’re a solar installer preparing for 2026, this episode breaks down the financing shifts you need to understand — from TPO to loan structures — and how to evaluate your options in a volatile market. Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://subscribe.solarbuildermag.com/subscribe

Artificial intelligence is showing up in every corner of the solar industry—from proposal software to microinverters—and it’s reshaping how installers work. In this Solar Builder interview, Editor-in-Chief Chris Crowell talks with Jason Higginson, Head of Marketing for North America at APsystems, about how AI tools are improving design, sales, customer service, and long-term system performance. We cover: - Why AI is no longer optional for solar businesses - The top AI tools installers should start using right now - How APsystems is building AI into its microinverters, storage, and APdesigner software - Real-world impacts on efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability If you’re a solar installer looking to stay competitive in 2025 and beyond, this conversation breaks down what you need to know.   0:19 Why AI matters for solar installers now 1:35 Where AI is embedded in today’s solar tools 2:35 Boosting customer satisfaction and reducing errors 3:22 No-brainer AI tools for solar companies 4:49 Example of AI-driven design with APdesigner 8:15 Is AI good enough to help avoid change orders? 9:31 Operational AI in the field: commissioning & troubleshooting 11:25 APsystems and AI optimization 13:02 AI-powered battery management and time-of-use savings 13:46 Manufacturing & background AI applications 15:15 Looking ahead: proactive AI tools for solar businesses 17:18 AI for O&M, customer follow-ups, and repowering

Solar energy compensation programs continue to change across the country, as states move away from retail net metering. A great resource for following these trends is the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. The Center is home to the Database of States Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), a public good that provides information on policies and programs related to clean energy at the federal, state, local, and utility level across the United States. Its quarterly 50 States of Solar. series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on distributed solar policy, with a focus on net metering, distributed solar valuation, interconnection rules, community solar, residential fixed charges, residential demand and solar charges, and third-party ownership. Joining The Buzz to sum up the latest actions, and chat about the future of net metering is Rebekah de la Mora, a Senior Policy Analyst at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University. 1:08 - Top line trends in changes being made to net metering 4:49 - Are there more actions happening now than previously? 7:37 - So, is it fair to say "net metering is dead" ? 9:09 - Impact of interval data & time of use rates on distributed generation compensation 13:35 - Will moving to TOU billing hurt nascent solar markets? 17:46 - What states have "friendlier" solar compensation rates? 19:15 - Boosting incentives for commercial solar customers 23:02 - Emerging markets for commercial solar + storage

Solar panels make a great pair with metal rooftops – as long as you have the right attachment system and support team that understands the nuances of the application. Today on the Pitch we’re talking all about solar mounting on metal roofs with Jesse Winternitz, application engineer with S-5! 0:34 - Background of S-5! and metal roof attachment 2:31 - Role of the S-5! Support Team 4:12 - Misconceptions of solar projects on metal roofs 4:53 - Overview of PVKIT system & installation 6:29 - How PVKIT helps overcome common project challenges 8:13 - How the Support Team helps overcome challenges 9:17 - Advice for installers considering metal roof jobs 10:11 - How else S-5! is innovating in solar 

The Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is signed, as is the death warrant for the residential solar tax credit. On Power Forward, Solar Builder Editor-in-Chief Chris Crowell discusses what solar installers should do next with David Dunlap, VP of product strategy with BayWa r.e. 0:36 - How to handle the Dec. 31, 2025, deadline for end of ITC 3:08 - What qualifies as a "project" to qualify for tax credit by Dec. 31. 5:40 - What should solar installers do now to prepare for life after ITC? 9:04 - Ways to change my sales approach (and pricing) with no tax credit. 13:26 - Is "diversification" strategy still viable without EV and other tax credits? 16:52 - The case for getting into commercial solar projects 21:07 - Final thoughts: Any silver linings to losing the tax credit?   About BayWa r.e.https://solar-distribution-us.baywa-re.com/ Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://subscribe.solarbuildermag.com/subscribe

The residential solar market has changed, which means residential solar business models need to change too. Over the next few episodes of Power Forward! we’ll discuss some actionable strategies for restructuring your approach so that your solar installation business can be more resilient in the years ahead. To kick things off we’re zooming in on the concept of “repowering,” and how you can turn that into a profit center, with Travis Walker, our Director of Business Development at BayWa r.e, and Corey Garrison, CEO of SouthFace Solar & Electric in Arizona.   0:52 – What services should be offered by solar installer’s “service department” 3:32 – How to start pursuing solar repowering jobs 5:54 – How to sort a list of past customers for repowering potential 8:08 – The value of customer service agreements 9:01 – The economics of solar repowering: What’s my margin? 13:39 – Working with new (unhappy) customers with stranded systems 15:33 – Challenges or downsides to repowering jobs? 18:13 – Three ways to approach repowering as a line of business 22:16 – Hardware considerations when repowering.   BayWa r.e. https://us.baywa-re.com/en/ SouthFace Solar & Electric https://southfacesolar.com/ Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://subscribe.solarbuildermag.com/subscribe  

A quality solar installation starts with respecting your customer’s roof. Today on the Pitch, Rick Gentry and Ben Hedrick from QuickBOLT discuss common issues on the roof and advancements in solar mounting designs over the years. Then, they explain QuickBOLT's latest roof protection product: QuickPATCH. 0:21 - Overview of common problems seen on the roof1:06 - How rooftop solar mounting has evolved3:01 - Avoiding (and dealing with) missed pilot holes4:26 - Explanation of butyl as a sealant5:29 - QuickPATCH installation demo7:33 - Why QuickPATCH over the flash card and sealant?10:17 - Direct-to-deck mounting trend11:31 - Where to order QuickPATCH QuickBOLT: https://quickbolt.com/ Subscribe to Solar Builder (free): https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/

Relive this New Product Showcase session, live from the Hub stage at Intersolar & Energy Storage North America in San Diego! Solar Builder Editor-in-Chief Chris Crowell interviews three entrants in the New Product Showcase:  - Dave Dong, Director Vertical Growth NAM, nVent,  - Stephanie Choi Brookes, CMO, Emtel Energy USA  - Cody Sellers, Business Development-Enterprise Solutions, GME Supply   nVent showcased the ERIFLEX FleXbus, an innovative solution for connecting large electrical installations, such as transformers, switchboards, and generators. This unique concept is an attractive alternative for connections up to 25 meters, and up to 50% quicker to install than busduct or wireway.  The highly flexible nVent ERIFLEX FleXbus utilizes single conductors per phase, eliminating the need for multiple cables and cable trays, consuming significantly less space. With no bending radius requirement and adaptability to various layouts, nVent ERIFLEX FleXbus streamlines installation in tight areas and enables connections to be made above ground that would otherwise require trenching. https://www.nvent.com/en-us/   Emtel Energy USA is pioneering electrostatic supercapacitor-based energy storage solutions that deliver high efficiency, long-duration performance, and enhanced safety—without relying on lithium. Their proprietary technology ensures stable energy retention and controlled release, making it an ideal alternative for a range of applications from a residential product that can hang on the wall inside (no thermal runaway risk) to utility-scale containers. https://emtelenergyusa.com/   GME Supply introduced their new Enterprise Solutions Platform, a private company website that allows your team to easily order Workwear, fall protection, safety footwear and PPE and more; plus an administrative dashboard that puts your company in control. https://www.gmesupply.com/  

Domestic content is one of the most important topics in the solar industry, but what do solar contractors need to know about it right now? We go in-depth on the topic with David Dunlap, VP of product strategy at BayWa r.e. 0:48 - Has the Trump Administration changed the domestic content outlook?3:02 - Available U.S. solar manufacturing (modules, inverters, racking, batteries)7:12 - Overview of changes to Safe Harbor Tables9:38 - Is there value in sourcing a module with domestic wafers?13:23 - MLPE vs. string cost percentage comparison17:26 - How long can I use the May 2024 Safe Harbor Table?19:24 - Changes to Energy Storage domestic content rules22:29 - Does the DC percentage step up 5% each year for the ITC or no?25:16 - What is the residential demand for domestic content solar products?27:58 - Demand for domestic content in commercial solar?29:06 - Is it just better to not pursue the domestic content tax credit? BayWa r.e. https://us.baywa-re.com/en/ Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/

Time is money, but so are the errors that result from working too fast. Today on The Pitch we’re chatting with Kamal Shah, CEO of SiteCapture, about how solar contractors can leverage technology to achieve efficient field operations without sacrificing quality. Start your free trial of SiteCapture here: https://sitecapture.com/solar/?utm_campaign=5460234-Solar%20Builder%20Product%20of%20the%20Week%20-%20Jan%2025&utm_source=Solar%20Builder%20Magazine Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/ 0:25 - Overview of SiteCapture 1:20 - How solar companies use the SiteCapture platform 3:50 - How can solar operations be "inefficient" in the field? 4:57 - Improving site photo documentation and review 6:40 - Solving TPO finance process headaches 8:48 - Quantifying efficiency improvements 9:43 - Three other handy features of SiteCapture 12:10 - How is SiteCapture using Artificial Intelligence?

We close out 2024 and look ahead to solar business in 2025 the way we always do with David Dunlap, VP of product strategy with BayWa r.e. 0:37 - Look back at key solar storylines from 2024 4:43 - Lasting takeaways from bankruptcies and financing shift? 7:17 - Expectations for residential solar market in 2025 16:31 - Product oversupply still an issue in 2025? 19:30 - How can/will the Trump administration change the IRA or ITC? 22:49 - Other tangible impacts on DG solar due to a change in administration? 24:07 - Final thoughts for solar installers in 2025   BayWa r.e. https://solar-distribution-us.baywa-re.com/ Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/

This is an Audio Article from the Q4 2024 issue of Solar Builder Magazine. Editor-in-Chief Chris Crowell reads "Domestic Influence: Calculating the Unintended Consequences of the Domestic Content Tax Credit Adder in Small-Scale Solar." 0:01 - How Trump could influence this even more 0:58 - Explanation of the domestic content adder calculation 3:44 - Lopsided MLPE vs String calculations 7:21 - Overview of U.S. inverter & racking manufacturing 9:56 - Impact on residential solar / TPO financing   Read the Q4 issue of Solar Builder: https://digital.solarbuildermag.com/q4-2024/page-1   The Q4 Digital Magazine is sponsored by Generac: https://www.generac.com/dealers-installers/generac-installer-programs/pwrcell-installer/#form    Subscribe to Solar Builder magazine (it's free!): https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/

Solar Builder's 2024 Project of the Year 101 kW to 1 MW is the Camino Real Mobile Estates in Lathrop, Calif. Property owner Sansome Skyline Development tapped developer and EPC Solar Gain to install a 419 kW ground-mount solar system for the Camino Real Mobile Estates in Lathrop, California. Mobile homes don’t have enough rooftop space to make the economics of solar work, so the only feasible option was using a narrow but steep retention basin located next to the park. Developer/EPC: Solar GainInstaller: Solar Gain, TerrasmartModules: ZNShineInverters: CPSMounting/Racking: Terrasmart Full story: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/camino-real-mobile-estates-2024-project-of-the-year-101kw-to-1mw/ All Projects of the Year: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/ Subscribe: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/    

Solar Builder's 2024 Project of the Year Over 10 MW is the Escalante Solar Project in Prewitt, N.M. Escalante Solar was built by Gridworks across 1,714 acres on the site of the former 253 MW coal-fired Escalante Station in Prewitt, New Mexico, which was retired in 2020, as Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association continues to pursue its landmark Responsible Energy Plan.   Developer: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Origis Energy EPC/Installer: Gridworks Inc., Sacramento Drilling Modules: Boviet Inverters: Sungrow Mounting/Racking: Array Technologies, Unimacts   Full story: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/escalante-solar-2024-project-of-the-year-over-10mw/ All Projects of the Year: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/ Subscribe: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/    

Developer: Cincinnati Zoo EPC/Installer: Melink, Terrasmart Modules: VSUN Inverters: CPS Mounting/Racking: Terrasmart Solar Builder's 2024 Project of the Year 1 MW to 10 MW is the the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The zoo completed a 2.8 MW solar parking canopy in August 2024. This was the zoo's third solar system, having installed its first solar system in 2006 with a ground-mount system and then its second in 2011 with a solar carport. Overall, the zoo now has about 4.5 MW of solar capacity on its property. Full story: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/cincinnati-zoo-solar-carport-2024-project-of-the-year-1mw-to-10mw/ All Project of the Year Winners: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/ Subscribe: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/  

Solar Builder's 2024 Project of the Year, Under 100 kW, is the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The center partnered with Everybody Solar to install a 72.32 kW rooftop solar array. In addition to reducing the museum's electricity bills by approximately $10,956 annually, the project also provides hands-on education and community impact. Developer: Everybody Solar, ReNew Solar Solutions EPC/Installer: ReNew Solar Solutions Modules: SunPower Inverters: CPS Full story: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/adventure-science-center-2024-project-of-the-year-under-100kw/ All Project of the Year Winners: https://projects.solarbuildermag.com/ Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/

Generac is now selling its next generation home energy storage system, the PWRcell 2 Series. On The Pitch, Beto Fonts, product manager at Generac, explains what's new with PWRcell 2, key features of the installation, the differences between the PWRcell 2 and PWRcell 2 MAX, and how they fit in the broader Generac home energy ecosystem. 0:27 - Comparing PWRcell 2 Series with PWRcell 1 1:54 - Step by step PWRcell 2 installation 3:00 - Introducing the Smart Disconnect Switch (SDS) 5:13 - PWRcell 2 MAX explained 6:31 - PWRcell 2 Series vs. competitive systems 7:26 - How the ecobee smart thermostat integration works 9:42 - Integrating a standby generator Learn more about installing Generac in this webinar: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.j...

Jeff Spies, president of Planet Plan Sets, is increasingly concerned that the solar and storage industry is facing the biggest safety challenge of its 50-year history. Solar Builder published the article The Lithium Battery MESS in our Q3 2024 magazine, explaining why. This episode of The Buzz is digs deeper into differentiating safe and legal home batteries, and how decisions by California regulators have helped set the market conditions giving rise to this Lithium Battery MESS. 0:10 - Overview of the lithium battery MESS in California 2:15 - How safe are UL 9540 listed batteries? 4:56 – Influx of unlisted batteries & deceptive marketing 9:08 – The Catch-22 of California battery policy and permitting 13:25 – LFP vs. NMC. Is one better than the other? 17:46 – Did the CPUC create this MESS? 19:36 – What are regulators doing to ensure safe battery installations? 21:30 – Can you blame California homeowners for buying unpermitted batteries? 25:39 – Legal cheap batteries vs. illegal cheap batteries 30:39 – Advice for solar installers navigating all of this 35:03 – How to ensure you’re installing a safe and legal energy storage system Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/ Contact Jeff: https://www.planetplansets.com/