There are many ways products can aid installation and deployment in the commercial, community and utility-scale solar markets, whether it’s tracking systems that better conform to undulating landscapes or energy storage systems with fewer components. For the 2024 Top Products, our residential judges assessed products on their originality, market promise and benefits to installers and developers. These are the products in specific categories that received honorable mentions. Congratulations to the Large-Scale Honorable Mention awards!
Also be sure to see our Best in Show winners in the large-scale market here.
Panels: Trina Solar – Vertex N
Trina Solar earned an honorable mention in the solar panels category for its hail-resistant Vertex N solar panels.
Released in 2024, Trina’s new n-type TOPCon solar modules were built to withstand hail and other extreme weather. The 620-W Vertex N offers 23% efficiency and gets its strength from thicker front-glass, larger cavities and optimized materials. Trina’s non-destructive cell-cutting technology also significantly enhances resistance to hidden cracks.
Vertex N modules showed no defects in third-party hailstone tests up to 65-mm at a 60° impact angle. The 3.2-mm/backsheet module is lighter than standard 2/2-mm glass modules, helpful for both shipping and installing. The more robust design also better withstands higher design pressures like wind and snow loads without overbuilt racking.
Installation Equipment: Ozzie’s – OMH-40 Module Lifter
Our judges named the OMH-40 Module Lifter from Ozzie’s an honorable mention in the installation equipment category. OMH-40 is an attachment for six-ton excavators that can be used to lift and place PV modules on ground-mounted solar projects.
As the wattage, size and weight of solar modules increases, OMH-40 reduces the physical strain of installation on contractors, especially on large-scale projects. The lift can install modules in up to 35-mph winds and can reach taller racking platforms with ease. OMH-40 also logs every module installed on a project, noting where they’re installed with a GPS location, how they were installed and their individual cycle times.
OMH-40 uses a vacuum system to safely pick up modules and place them on solar racking. It can even lift panels directly from a pallet. The module lifter was developed and tested over two years, and it is currently deployed in solar projects globally.
Inverters: CPS America – 350 kW String Inverter
Another large-scale honorable mention goes to CPS America’s 350-kW string inverter.
CPS set out to create a string inverter strong and flexible enough for utility-scale solar applications. The CPS 350-kW three-phase string inverter achieves those goals by operating within a wide voltage range and broad temperature conditions. Inverters are protected by their robust NEMA 4X enclosures that ensure durability in harsh outdoor settings.
The 350-kW inverter comes with 15 MPPTs and 30 unfused PV string inputs, along with various protective functions to maximize uptime. CPS’s new inverter achieves a maximum efficiency of 99%.
This powerful string inverter enables developers to optimize project layouts without the limitations of traditional central systems. By providing a higher power output compared to previous models, the 350-kW inverter also increases energy yields.
Solar-Plus: Smappee – EV Wall
Smappee’s EV Wall commercial charging solution was selected for an honorable mention in our solar-plus category for addressing critical challenges faced by commercial properties when integrating EV charging infrastructure.
Unlike other chargers that share a single circuit, the EV Wall prioritizes each charger independently, ensuring every EV is charged by its scheduled departure time. This also helps to avoid some costly electrical upgrades.
The Smappee EV Wall includes cascade overload protection, allowing chargers to be installed across multiple panels while balancing the load. It is equipped with an RFID reader for secure access, making it ideal for both private and public use.
Smappee’s solution uses intelligent energy management to determine the optimal time to charge, considering rate schedules, excess solar production and peak demand periods. This capability not only minimizes energy costs but also protects businesses from costly demand penalties, which affect almost all commercial properties.
Power Electronics: Tigo Energy – TS4-X Flex MLPE
Tigo’s TS4-X Flex MLPE product line earned another honorable mention in the power electronics category. This line of MLPE was designed to support rising solar module power ratings and meet the increasing demand for higher power density.
TS4-X Flex products offer rapid shutdown compatibility with the Tigo RSS Transmitter with Pure Signal Technology, as well as the option to deploy multi-factor rapid shutdown, providing redundant safety signaling for energy-critical applications. The TS4-X line reduces labor costs through a no-bolt design and no need for additional ground wiring.
The TS4-X series, designed for solar modules up to 800 W, integrates with most third-party inverters. With field-upgradable monitoring capabilities and over-current and over-temperature protection, the TS4-X line helps to both protect systems and help them produce as much power as possible.