SoloPower Systems Installs Ultra Lightweight Solar PV System In South Africa

US-based SoloPower Systems has announced it has completed construction on its first commercial-scale deployment in South Africa.

The solar PV technology company, which is based out of California, completed the construction of its first commercial-scale deployment atop a factory rooftop in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, as the first stage of a two-phase project. This is specifically important to note, considering that a vast portion of buildings in South Africa do not have the strength to install traditional solar PV installations.

Enter SoloPower Systems, whose ultra-light weight PV (LPV) solar modules are up to 85% lighter than traditional PV panels, which allows for installation on rooftops with limited loadbearing capacity — perfect for South Africa.

“The installation itself was quite remarkable as the product requires no power tools, racking, special handling, or other common installation aspects,” said Raymond du Plooy, Director of Dumont Power. “The installation team, working at a normal installation pace, set a record of one watt per second. There was no need for special rigging equipment to get the panels in place, no need for a large storage area to keep the panels before installation. It was really a very simple and fast installation.”

“South Africa represents a key market for our technology,” said Rob Campbell, CEO of SoloPower Systems. “We estimate that up to 30% of commercial and industrial buildings in the region have roofs that are not able to hold the weight of traditional solar panels.”