Simplicity and flexibility of the fixed-tilt ground-mount PV system breaks new ground in commercial and utility markets

January 30, 2013 - North Andover, Mass - The latest PV racking product from PanelClaw is taking an innovative approach to large-scale solar ground-mount applications to reduce project risk and decrease total project life cycle costs. Called Sun Bear, the new penetrating ground-mount solution furthers PanelClaw's mission to accelerate adoption of PV worldwide with its drastically simplified construction, including pre-assembled components and zero loose fasteners. Through 18 months of extensive collaboration with solar industry experts, collectively encompassing over 6GW of global PV experience, the Sun Bear system directly addresses critical challenges in the existing solar ground-mount space. PanelClaw is currently accepting orders for Sun Bear on projects and expects to begin shipping in April 2013. The system will be unveiled at PV America East 2013 (Booth 1015) with live demonstrations of its in-field adjustability and unique telescoping frame.

"Every solution we offer, whether for a ground-mount or roof-mount system, is geared at accelerating installation time and reducing construction risk to make our partners more successful in the field," said Zach Ward, General Manager of PanelClaw's North America Ground Mount Business. "Our partners manage a range of projects from light and large-scale commercial to utility-scale. We are excited to have a wider range of products and services to support them."

"With Sun Bear we are addressing major hurdles to utility-scale installations that otherwise could waste time and money for our partners," said Constantino Nicolaou, CEO of PanelClaw North America. "That's why we collaborated with a number of large-scale solar experts, to match Sun Bear directly to what they need in the field to drive down balance-of-system and lifecycle costs. A solution that reduces project risk at the very beginning, with reliability and stability to last."

"We've completed many hundreds of megawatts of ground-mount projects using several brands of fixed-tilt and single-axis tracker systems, and the Sun Bear is one of the most intuitive I've seen," said Ted Ott, General Manager of HT Solar Power, a PV construction market leader with over 400MW utility-scale solar successfully installed. "I can throw a new employee onto a crew and feel confident that they will excel at installing Sun Bear in short order."

Along with the new ground-mount system, PanelClaw is supporting its partners with a full spectrum of foundation and installation services along with a 10-year warranty. The á la carte services range to fit a variety of needs, from initial geotechnical survey and foundation load testing, to racking installation and module hanging.

Key Product Features:

Low-Component Count
Only four major components and zero loose fasteners makes Sun Bear intuitive to assemble. This results in very fast installation time and reduced construction risk and cost by eliminating the need to have a free hand to carry and move fasteners.

Interchangeable Foundation Options
Sun Bear Struts can be attached to any Sun Bear Foundation type, allowing for a range of soil conditions without needing to change the above-the-ground racking design.

In-Field Adjustability
Integrated turnbuckles allow installers to adjust the system directly in the field to accommodate uneven terrain, adapt to foundations, and level the array for a smooth appearance.

Pre-Assembled, Telescoping Frame
The telescoping rafters of the Sun Bear frame slide out into a locked, squared position in-field, speeding up the installation process.

About PanelClaw Group
PanelClaw Group, Inc. and its operating subsidiaries, PanelClaw (North America), Inc. and PanelClaw Europe GmbH, deliver mounting and balance-of-system (BOS) solutions to accelerate the adoption of photovoltaics worldwide. A leader in ballasted flat-roof and ground-mount systems, PanelClaw has deployed nearly 300 MW across the U.S., Canada, the European Union, and India.