As noted in the May ’14 Trends issue of Solar Power World: “the race for grid parity has largely rested on the backs of the (silicon) panel manufacturers … if system costs are to continue falling, a larger share of the burden will have to rest on the backs of balance of systems and soft costs.”

Also noted in the May issue, “Solar installers should use aluminum-framed panels and aluminum racking in combination with aluminum or stainless steel mounts” for aluminum’s endurance compared to “cheap” alternatives. This webinar, presented by the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), will show how the smart use of aluminum extrusions – despite higher metal costs – can reduce balance of systems and soft costs.

In this educational webinar you will learn:

• How aluminum’s design versatility can save costs through design innovation and easy provision for specific site solutions. Tooling for site-specific profiles is a fraction of the cost and lead time than that for roll form steel. In addition, integrated assembly features can easily be incorporated for further cost and labor savings.

• How the longevity and sustainability of aluminum translates to added value. Aluminum will last — with no retrofit requirements — for the duration of a renewable project lifetime. If the project requires a tear-down and scrap process at end of life, aluminum is 100% recyclable at a very high recovery payback.

• How light-weight aluminum racking systems can save freight costs and reduce site labor by using less manpower per square foot of installation. Aluminum is an economical alternative to steel in PV mounting structures across all market segments. Due to the superior strength-to-weight ratio and incredible design flexibility of aluminum extrusions, the total weight of an aluminum racking structure is under 1/3 the weight of a steel structure.

• The tips & tricks of designing with aluminum and get an understanding of the structural design process of optimizing geometry and part design for solar racking systems.

 

 

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