MiaSolé of Santa Clara, CA, USA (which was founded in 2004 and acquired by Beijing-based renewable energy firm Hanergy Holding Group Ltd in December 2012) has entered into a sales representative agreement for Whitehead & Associates Inc of Atlanta, GA, USA (which provides tailored power and energy services to the electrical industry) to sell its FLEX copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar photovoltaic modules in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Established in 1968, Whitehead & Associates says that it services cover the electric utility, commercial and industrial, large power users, and all lighting markets.
MiaSolé's FLEX modules are claimed to be the most efficient thin-film lightweight flexible modules on the market, with an efficiency rating of more than 16%. The FLEX-02 Series module is available in two formats. The FLEX-02W module is 39.3-inches x 102.3-inches and is rated at 360W, and designed for low-slope commercial single-ply roof systems. The FLEX-02N module is 14.6-inches x 102.3-inches and is rated at 120W, and designed specifically for standing-seam metal roofs. Both bond to the roof surface with a simple peel-and-stick adhesive. This eliminates the need for racking and reduces labor and logistics cost to provide a 20% lower balance-of-system (BoS) cost than traditional glass solar systems, it is claimed. The FLEX-02 Series module is IEC 61646 & IEC 61730 and UL 1703 certified.
The low weight of the FLEX-02 module (<0.7lb/ft2) allows installation on roofs that cannot support the weight of traditional glass solar panels. Because the FLEX-02 panels adhere directly to the roof surface, there are no penetrations, eliminating the worry of leakage and damage to contents of the building. The FLEX-02 also blends into both metal and TPO roofs, preserving the original look of the roof, it is said. In addition, the low-profile module aids wind resistance and is claimed to provide an advantage over traditional rack-and-panel systems where their higher profile increases the likelihood of damage in a hurricane or earthquake.
"This high-performance solar roofing in such a lightweight form can serve a variety of markets including commercial, industrial, auto, and off-grid," notes Whitehead & Associates' president Scott Whitehead.
