u.s. solar market insight 2016

Conference Partner

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

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Signature Sponsor

Huawei is a leading global ICT and network energy solutions provider. Currently, Huawei network energy products and solutions are used in over 170 countries, serving one third of the world's population. Huawei continuously brings high-quality products and services based on its experience accumulated over the past three decades. Ranked 83rd on the Fortune Global 500 companies and ranked 70th Top Global Brands by Interbrand, Huawei innovatively integrates digital information technology, Internet technology, and PV technology, combining with design concepts of Simple, Digital, and Smart O&M to promote an industry-leading FusionSolar smart PV solution. It greatly optimizes initial investments, reduces O&M costs, raises energy yield, and increases ROI of the PV plant. It has been widely deployed in various countries and regions and widely recognized by customers from China, Europe, Japan, America, India, Asia Pacific and Latin America region. Huawei FusionSolar smart PV solution takes power plants as products that can be delivered to customers. By optimizing and innovating the entire process, from power plant design, construction to O&M, Huawei realizes its core value of “Higher Yields, Smart O&M, Safe and Reliable”. Based on reports released by global consultancies IHS Markit and GTM, Huawei was ranked No. 1 globally in inverter shipment for two consecutive years, 2015 and 2016. Huawei has built full partnership with global TOP50 PV customers, and is always willing to work with partners in both upstream and downstream of the solar industry to establish an industry landmark by building an open, collaborative, and win-win PV eco-system, while continuously creating more value and better experiences for its customers. For more information, please visit: solar.huawei.com

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Visionary Sponsors

Spruce™ is a technology-enabled consumer finance provider serving the U.S. residential solar and home efficiency improvement markets. Its mission is to empower people to improve their environments. The company’s national network of verified channel and contractor partners offer homeowners Spruce financing for technologies that can help them reduce their total utility spend on power, water, and heating and cooling. A private company headquartered in San Francisco, Spruce has raised more than $2B and serves more than 50,000 homeowners in all 50 states and Washington, DC. To learn more about the company, visit www.sprucefinance.com.

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Suntech is a leading global solar module manufacturer delivering reliable performance over time. Suntech has been selling modules in the US for 10 years as a manufacturer of Tier 1, Bankable modules that was very recently reaffirmed by Bloomberg. Suntech is now wholly owned by Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) the leading global clean energy solutions provider that recently acquired Suniva.

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Platinum Sponsors

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As a top-tier inverter company and the leader of the DC power optimizer segment, SolarEdge has shipped over 1.3 GW of its DC optimized inverter systems, which have been installed in more than 70 countries. Maximizing power generation while lowering the cost of energy produced, the SolarEdge system consists of power optimizers, inverters, and a cloud-based monitoring platform.

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Yaskawa – Solectria Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yaskawa America, Inc., is the #1 commercial inverter supplier in the U.S. Solectria’s products include 3.8 to 750 kW inverters, string combiners and web-based monitoring for all size solar systems. Solectria is backed by over 100 years of power electronics and inverter experience. All of Solectria’s three-phase central inverters are made in the USA. PV System owners, developers and EPCs rely on the high performance, reliability and bankability of Yaskawa – Solectria Solar. To learn more, please go to www.solectria.com.

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SunSystem Technology (SST) is a leading independent EPC, O&M and Asset Management provider to the residential and commercial PV industry. An SST partnership minimizes project lead-time, maximizes system production, and enhances the economics of our clients’ projects. Our unparalleled breadth of services provides our clients the inherent confidence of receiving a consistent, quality solution for any requirement. Investing in our experienced and meticulous professionals is our path to success.

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Reception Sponsor

Shoals Technologies Group is a leading manufacturer of balance of systems solutions. Shoals has grown exponentially since its founding in 1996, and maintains a diverse portfolio of PV balance of systems products, including, combiner/re-combiner boxes, disconnecting combiner boxes, custom harnessing solutions, junction boxes, PV wire, in-line fuses, racking and PV monitoring solutions. Additional information is available at www.shoals.com.

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Private Breakfast Host

EnergyBin.com is the leading B2B member-only, community and online marketplace for the renewable energy industry that provides trusted, centralized, access to the most competitively priced renewable energy components and market intelligence, saving you time and money. Our mission is to create a trusted, community and marketplace for renewable energy companies across the supply-chain to gain equal access to low cost new, excess, used, and refurbished renewable energy components.

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Gold Sponsors

Altus Power America (“Altus”) is an investment management firm backed by GSO Blackstone that invests directly into alternative energy projects throughout the Western Hemisphere. Altus currently has 55 operating projects with additional 47 projects that have current financial commitments and are in some form of construction. Altus originates, owns and operates solar power generation systems on roofs, carports or ground mounts of commercial, industrial, not-for-profit, utility and public entities. Altus targets project that range in size from 500kW to 20 MW.

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Array Technologies, Inc. is the leading solar tracking solutions and services provider for utility-scale projects. With efficient installation and terrain flexibility coupled with high reliability, durability, and performance, Array delivers the best project returns in the industry. As the chosen tracker for more than 25 GW years of energy production, Array’s products have been optimized through unparalleled experience garnered over three decades. Array Technologies is headquartered in the United States with offices in Europe, Central and South America, and Australia. For more information, please visit http://www.arraytechinc.com.

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Royal DSM is a purpose-led, global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living with annual net sales of about €10 billion and approximately 23,000 employees worldwide. In the solar industry, we apply our 100-year plus track record in materials sciences to create a family of unique, sustainable technologies that reduce the LCoE. Our Anti-Reflective coating for PV modules leads the industry by enabling a 3% power gain compared to untreated glass. This technology has now been extended to create an Anti-Soiling coating that harnesses more energy by reducing soiling losses in arid climates. Our Endurance backsheets are redefining the way manufacturers safeguard their modules by delivering both maximum protection and energy gain. We’ve recently launched Conductive backsheets for high power back-contact modules, for increased efficiency. Our latest development is an Anti-Reflective coating for aftermarket applications that boosts solar output by up to 3%. Same sun. More power.™ www.dsm.com/solar.

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Hanwha Q CELLS America is headquartered in Irvine, CA and is one of the world´s largest and most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers for its high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) and offers the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, applications, and solutions.

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JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is a global leader in the solar industry. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 8.0 GW for silicon wafers, 5.0 GW for solar cells, and 8.0 GW for solar modules, as of December 31, 2017. JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. works closely with top financial institutions and key stakeholders in the solar industry. Publicly vetted by trusted industry third party laboratories, JinkoSolar is one of the fastest growing and most reliable PV suppliers in the United States and Canada. The North American headquarters is located in San Francisco with 5 regional sales offices.

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At Maxim, we invent highly integrated solutions that make technology seamless. We channel our collective expertise to stretch the limits of technology, understand your needs, and help you get to market faster.

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Quick Mount PV was founded on the principle that the mounting system is just as critical to the success of a solar installation as the modules and inverters. Since 2006, Quick Mount PV has advanced rooftop solar through its innovative, high-quality waterproof mounting systems. With industry-leading R&D, engineering, product testing and ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturing in California, Quick Mount PV is committed to producing the industry’s most advanced solar mounting systems.

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Swinerton Renewable Energy (SRE) offers engineering, procurement, construction, and SOLV® services for solar photovoltaic plants throughout North America to a diverse range of clients. Over 130 years of building landmark projects, Swinerton has forged a reputation for unsurpassed safety, workmanship, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction. Today, our team takes pride in building cost-effective solar systems that will generate reliable, clean power for many years to come. SRE has delivered over 4 GW solar projects and our SOLV team manages over 4.5 GW of PV plants. Learn more about Swinerton Renewable Energy at swinertonrenewable.com.

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Silver Sponsor

Chint Power Systems America is a global inverter solutions provider with service centers in Texas and California. CPS is delivering flexible, high performance products, and since 2015 CPS has been the leading provider of 3-phase string inverters (USA, GTM Research data). Low cost leadership is achieved by leveraging Chint’s vertical integration and supply chain economies of scale. Chint is a $7B diversified group of industrial and energy systems companies; T&D substations, PV panels, inverters, storage systems, finance and EPC. www.chintpowersystems.com.

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Bronze Sponsors

Fronius USA LLC is a leader in the PV industry, offering solar solutions built to last. For decades, and more recently with the SnapINverter line, we have been manufacturing grid-connected inverters and monitoring systems for residential and commercial solar systems. Through innovation and new technologies, Fronius USA has become the resource for quality service, products and innovations to a growing power electronics industry. For more information, visit www.fronius-usa.com.

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Inovateus Solar has become one of the leading solar development, design, engineering, procurement, construction and supply companies in the United States’ Midwest. Based in South Bend, Indiana, Inovateus has developed and built more than 250 MW of utility, rural electric cooperative, commercial, industrial, governmental, educational and microgrid solar power systems in the U.S., Australia, Chile, China, Fiji, Iceland, Italy, Liberia, Panama and the Caribbean. Their customers range from Fortune 500 companies to utilities, municipalities, universities and governments.

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Stoel Rives LLP is a U.S. law firm, with a full suite of transactional and litigation solutions for U.S. and international clients. Established in 1907, with nearly 400 attorneys operating out of 11 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, our practice focuses on representing national and international energy generators, utilities and renewable energy developers in all aspects of power project licensing, permitting, financing, construction and operations for regulated and unregulated enterprises.

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Unirac provides innovative solutions for PV racking. Recognized for our excellence in product development, Unirac develops progressive residential, commercial and utility scale mounting solutions tailored for performance. Our high quality, competitively priced products are enhanced by responsive customer support, integrated technology solutions, robust engineering services, certified quality, and supply chain excellence. With over 15 years of customer service, Unirac is fast approaching 5GW of experience with more than 500,000 installations worth of knowledge.

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Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has built a multidisciplinary team of seasoned attorneys with extensive experience developing and financing major energy and infrastructure projects around the world. We bring to each of our assignments a commercial-minded understanding of the needs of different project participants, and we craft solutions that balance and align conflicting interests in order to get projects financed and built.

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Supporting Organizations

ADVANCED ENERGY ECONOMY (AEE) is a national association of business leaders who are making the global energy system more secure, clean, and affordable. AEE engages in policy advocacy at the federal, state, and regulatory levels. AEE recently introduced PowerSuite, a robust set of tools to search, track, and collaborate on energy legislation and utility regulatory proceedings from across the country with one, easy-to-use interface. Learn more at www.aee.net

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The American Energy Society is the world’s professional association dedicated to accelerating the pursuit of abundant, affordable, safe energy. Scientists and engineers, executives and managers, academics and investigators, public and private investors, policy-makers and administrators ... they all come together thru Society hosted events, publications, consulting services, and its advanced web-based platform that harnesses the power of social media. Put simply, the American Energy Society offers unparalleled professional support for every professional in energy.

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The California Solar & Storage Association supports a wide variety of businesses that every day build our clean energy future in rural and urban neighborhoods and communities throughout the state. We have advanced the common interest of the solar and storage industry for over 40 years, making California the most robust market in the U.S. Comprised of over five hundred contractors, manufacturers, distributors, developers, engineers, consultants and educational organizations, we represent a diverse membership committed to growing the solar and storage industry in California.

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The Center for Sustainable Energy is a mission-driven nonprofit, providing clean energy consulting services and program management to governments, regulators, utilities, businesses, property owners and others looking for an objective implementation partner to develop customized solutions that help lower energy costs, and increase consumer choice and accessibility to clean energy technologies. Expertise include: Clean Transportation, Energy Efficiency & Building Performance, Policy Support, Marketing, Education & Outreach and more. Learn more at EnergyCenter.org.

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Cleantech Law Partners is a full-service law firm dedicated exclusively to the legal and policy needs of renewable energy project developers and cleantech companies. CLP helps renewable energy developers, investors, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs obtain permits, negotiate key legal documents, secure intellectual property rights, and manage financial transactions. CLP also advises clients on corporate and tax matters, and serves as outside in-house counsel.

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Cleantech San Diego is a nonprofit member organization that positions the greater San Diego region as a global leader in the cleantech economy. The organization achieves this by fostering collaborations across the private-public-academic landscape, leading advocacy efforts to promote cleantech priorities, and encouraging investment in the San Diego region. Cleantech San Diego’s membership includes more than 100 local businesses, universities, governments, and nonprofits committed to advancing sustainable solutions for the benefit of the economy and the environment.

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HeatSpring offers a robust portfolio of technical, expert-led online trainings and free resources for professionals in clean energy and green building. Beyond certification prep, HeatSpring's instructors have developed courses and lectures to provide solar professionals with the technical and business knowledge they need to design, develop, finance, and install, world-class solar systems. Earn continuing education credits for NABCEP, AIA, BPI, LEED and more.

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The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) offers entry level knowledge assessment, professional certification, and company accreditation programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America. Raising industry standards and promoting consumer confidence, NABCEP is known as the “gold standard” for solar professionals. S3 attendees can earn NABCEP CE Credits good toward initial certification or recertification. Apply today at www.nabcep.org.

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The SunSpec Alliance is a trade alliance of over 70 solar and storage distributed energy industry participants, together pursuing information standards to enable “plug & play” system interoperability. SunSpec standards address operational aspects of solar PV power and energy storage plants on the smart grid—including residential, commercial, and utility-scale systems—thus reducing cost, promoting technology innovation, and accelerating industry growth. More information at www.SunSpec.org

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Vote Solar is a non-profit advocacy organization with the mission of making solar a mainstream energy resource. We work at the state level all across the U.S. to support the policies and programs needed to repower our grid with clean energy.

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Media Partners

AltEnergyMag is technical resource full of News, Articles and Interviews covering the trends and breakthroughs in the Alternative Energy industry, with an emphasis on the state of the art and on the horizon technologies that have strong prospects of commercialization.

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EnergyTrend, solar energy division of TrendForce, was established in 2010. EnergyTrend covers multiple green energy research sectors including solar energy, consumer/power lithium batteries, and electric cars. Our photovoltaic market intelligence services include solar price updates, market trend reports, and comprehensive analysis of subsidy policies around the globe that lead to precise market installation demand forecasts. Battery market research includes lithium battery manufacturers' shipment figures and quarterly prices as well as the latest trends in the battery industry. For more about EnergyTrend, please visit www.energytrend.com.

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ENF is a fast-growing renewable energy information company. Our company has the world’s most popular website for information about companies in the photovoltaic industry. We have two value-added core activities: industry directory – providing a PV company database with more than 23,500 PV companies; product directory – providing a PV product database with more than 36,600 PV products, including solar panels, inverters, mounting systems, cells, EVA and back sheet. All these make ENF a true PV industry resource, with each service expanding in as many as 8 languages.

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GreenMatch is a guide to green energy, useful to those who are considering investing in green energy or just interested in the topic. We provide practical information for potential buyers of renewable sources of energy (mainly solar panels, heat pumps and boilers), and updated data regarding governmental programs and incentives in the UK. Plus, you can use GreenMatch.co.uk to compare prices and supplier standards by requesting customized quotes for free.

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Midwest Energy News is a daily collection of the most important energy stories in the Midwest and beyond, and a nationally recognized source of original journalism. Join our growing audience of entrepreneurs, government officials, utility managers, media professionals and other stakeholders in the changing energy economy. Sign up for our daily email digest today, or find us on Twitter at @MWenergynews.

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PV Solar Report publishes news for busy solar professionals. Our goal is to share valuable insights with our dedicated readers, subscribers, and followers to move the U.S. solar industry forward.

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Utility Dive: Solar covers industry news and provides original analysis on the latest happenings in solar energy. With a weekly digital newsletter, Utility Dive: Solar serves executives with news coverage of distributed solar, utility-scale solar, solar technology, regulatory and policy issues, and more.

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Brought to you by

GTM Research is now Wood Mackenzie, the leading market analysis and advisory firm on the transformation of the global electricity industry. GTM Research is comprised of analysts covering solar, grid edge, and energy storage markets. Our analysts combine diverse backgrounds in energy, environmental, emerging technology, information technology and strategic consulting sectors. This diverse team provides critical and timely market analysis in the form of research reports, consulting, and data subscription services.

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Greentech Media delivers business-to- business news, analysis and events at the forefront of the global energy transformation. Our coverage area extends across the clean energy industry with a focus on solar power and the electric utility market’s evolution. Greentech Media’s industry-leading coverage is provided by a team of analysts from our market intelligence arm, Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, as well as our world-class journalists and global network of expert contributors.

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