A USB port for solar?

When it comes to driving down the cost of solar power, the price and efficiency of photovoltaic panels get a lot of the spotlight.

But Zep Solar says it has created a way to knock down solar costs by saving on labor and materials­ – also known as balance-of-system costs – that can account for about one third of a solar system’s price tag. The company, which touts itself as “the USB port for solar,” this week announced a licensing agreement with German panel maker Centrosolar to bring the Zep Solar’s mounting system to the European market.

“Module prices are dropping down to the carpet,” Zep Solar president Mike Miskovsky says. “That’s driving into more dramatic relief the need to reduce costs of other parts of the system.”

Specifically, Zep Solar has created a mounting system that eliminates the need for aluminum mounting rails and separate grounding hardware. Panel manufacturers make modules with a grooved frame that allow them to attach to Zep’s hardware. A Zep Solar system can be installed more than four times faster than a conventional system, according to the company. 

In addition to Centrosolar, Zep Solar has deals with about five other manufacturers to integrate its mounting system into PV modules, including Trina Solar,  Upsolar and Canadian Solar. So far, Canadian Solar’s Zep-compatible panels are the only ones on the market – the rest are expected to become available this summer.

Zep isn’t alone in trying to drive down balance-of-system costs. One company taking a much different approach is Sungevity, which uses software and satellite imaging to create installation estimates online, eliminating the need for multiple home visits by installers. The Oakland-based company earlier this week said its software would be available in Lowe’s home improvement stores this summer.