Zep Solar Entering UK Market Later This Year
The SolarCity-backed American rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions specialist Zep Solar is now aiming to enter the UK market later this year.
Given that Zep Solar was acquired by SolarCity back in 2013, the move certainly seems to be an interesting one — and suggests that SolarCity may itself now be eyeing the UK market. Zep Solar representatives have apparently refused to comment on this possibility, though.
The company is currently working on pilots for the UK-specific version of its offering, the ZSPeak — a distinct snap-installation mounting solution for commercials rooftop setups launched last year in the US market. The beginning of full production is expected to follow the completion of these pilots — probably sometime in October or November, reportedly.
The news comes to us primarily from an interview with Chad Medcroft, the vice president of Zep Solar’s global applications, and Joanne Ferriter, the managing director of the company’s UK division, conducted by PV Tech at the company’s new offices in Milton Keynes.
Here’s more:
Zep Solar made its name adding simple innovations in order to reduce labour and materials costs to its systems, including the Zep Groove, a standardized groove cut into rooftop mounting frames. According to Medcroft, this makes the frames interchangeable from commercial to household scale. Ferriter added that so far, Zep has formed an initial strategic partnership with Hanwha Q Cells to make its PV modules compatible with Zep’s frames and mounting. However, outside the UK, more than 20 modules are classed as ‘Zep-compatible’ and the company looks likely to repeat this approach in Britain in future.
Zep’s offices are located in a new town development just a few miles north of London that has been planned and built up over the past few decades and is known to be actively encouraging international tech companies, including renewables, to be based there. Chad Medcroft and Joanne Ferriter said that Zep is looking to recruit more staff and expand its base.
“It’s fair to say we’re going to be expanding and adding more personnel in our office soon,” Medcroft commented.
Image Credit: Zep Solar; SolarCity
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