Suntech Announces New Quick-Install Solar PV Modules

October 22nd, 2013 by Zachary Shahan

Thought Suntech was dead… just because it went bankrupt and all? Not so much. The large, China-based solar PV company just announced that it is launching a new quick-install solar PV module in conjunction with Zep Solar. Notably, Zep Solar was actually bought by SolarCity recently. Its streamlined mounting and grounding products are clearly in high demand. Here’s the press release from Suntech for the positive Suntech news:

CHICAGO, Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), (“Suntech” or the “Company”), one of the world’s largest solar companies, today announced a quicker and more cost effective method, using Zep Solar® technology, to install PV arrays for commercial and residential roof applications. Suntech will showcase its new Zep Compatible^TM module at this week’s Solar Power International (SPI) Exhibition, booth #243.

Zep Solar mounting and grounding products are purposefully engineered to improve PV installations. Their patent-protected hardware systems, now an important industry standard, have proven to optimize material usage and labor as well as to increase function and aesthetics. At the heart of the system is the Zep Groove^TM specification, which Suntech has designed into a line of its state-of-the-art PV modules. This groove joins securely with Zep Solar hardware components for fast and flawless installations.

“We’re thrilled that Suntech has licensed Zep Solar technology to favorably impact both pre-installation and on-site processes,” says Mick McDaniel, Managing Director of Suntech America. “Suntech has always emphasized R&D and we genuinely value the innovative culture at Zep Solar. We look forward to our partnership to advance solar take-up in the marketplace.”

“Zep Solar is proud to partner with Suntech to expand the reach of our installation platform,” said Mike Miskovsky, CEO of Zep Solar. “We believe that our patented technology and Suntech’s strong global distribution will help in our efforts to deploy our technology at mass scale.”

Suntech is now taking orders on its Zep Compatible^TM PV modules. Delivery will begin in the first quarter of 2014. These modules, rated at 255W/250W (STP255-20/Wdz), will initially be available in North America.

About Zep Solar

Zep Solar, Inc. was founded in 2009 by PV industry veterans to advance the proliferation of solar energy through well designed PV mounting and grounding products. Zep Solar licenses its patented Zep Groove technology to a growing list of top-tier PV module and power electronics manufacturers and manufactures its own line of complementary mounting and grounding hardware – offering the world’s first comprehensive platform for PV system installation. The Zep Compatible platform drastically reduces the cost and complexity of designing, shipping, warehousing, and installing PV systems.

About Suntech

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) produces solar products for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility applications. With regional operations in China, Switzerland, and the United States, and gigawatt-scale manufacturing worldwide, Suntech has delivered more than 25,000,000 photovoltaic panels to over a thousand customers in more than 80 countries. Suntech’s pioneering R&D creates customer-centric innovations that are designed to drive solar to grid parity against fossil fuels. Suntech’s mission is to provide everyone with reliable access to nature’s cleanest and most abundant energy source.

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Tags: China, chinese solar modules, Suntech, Suntech modules, Suntech Zep Solar, Zep Solar

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

NRG4All

We have Enphase inverters tied to each solar panel. I wonder why with the American standard of 120V/240V 60Hz some company has not integrated the inverter into the panel. This would really speed up the installation. I would think that the American market is large enough to justify it.
Ivor O’Connor

I’d love to see an article showing how these zep products actually work and why they are so highly regarded.
- shecky vegas
  
  Here ya go — http://www.marketwatch.com/story/zep-solar-announces-pv-install-trainings-at-clean-energy-week-2013-07-21
  - Ivor O’Connor
    
    I’m in Southern California. If they offer free training here on a weekend I’ll gladly attend.
JamesWimberley

Suntech also managed to announce an efficiency record in March for a particular type of cell. For large solar firms in China, bankruptcy is like that of US airlines: a restructuring at the expense of shareholders and bondholders, but you keep flying in hopes of better times.
BTW, I think this is a defensible public policy in a high-growth but also very cyclical industry. China is also pursuing consolidation – the rescue is not universal, and is designed to produce a smaller number of bigger and more resilient firms. If Germany chose not to rescue its PV manufacturers, that’s its choice (possibly imposed by doctrinaire Brussels law, but they didn’t fight it).