Sharp Solar installs first SunSnap residential solar solution in LivingHomes demo

CAMAS, USA: Sharp Electronics Corp.'s Solar Energy Solutions Group is showcasing SunSnap, its new residential PV solar appliance, as part of the TED2012 Conference in Long Beach from Feb. 27-March 2, 2012.

The installation was completed in collaboration with LivingHomes, which introduced the LivingHome C6, its first low-cost home, next to the Long Beach Performing Arts Center for TED attendees to visit.

The Zero Energy, Zero Carbon, Energy Star(R) certified and LEED(R) Platinum-certifiable, prefabricated home combines world-class architecture and an unparalleled commitment to healthy and sustainable construction. Designed for ease-of-installation, SunSnap modules were easily integrated into the building design, and can easily be scaled up to offset the energy usage of the entire home.

The SunSnap Solution is a home appliance that consists of black-on-black 235-watt Sharp photovoltaic (PV) modules, making the roof installation more aesthetically pleasing. Installation is simplified through the implementation of a Sharp-enhanced Zep racking system. The solution is Enphase Energized with high-efficiency microinverters from Enphase Energy.

"TED2012 is the perfect venue to expose new, forward-thinking audiences to Sharp's vision to expand and simplify the mainstream adoption and use of solar energy for homeowners," said Eric Hafter, senior vice president, Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. "LivingHomes' already energy-efficient design comes full circle with the integration of the SunSnap solar appliance, which offsets all the power consumption for the future owner while requiring only a small physical footprint on the roof of the home."

SunSnap will help consumers and contractors more easily realize the value of home-generated solar by removing barriers to solar through a simplified product design and installation process. As a scalable PV appliance, SunSnap offers homeowners the ability to install a system that meets their budget, roof space and personal energy needs. A small, modestly priced "starter kit" featuring as few as one solar appliance can be initially installed and the system can then be expanded in the future as often as desired.

"Homeowners are empowered now, more than ever before, to take control of their energy costs with clean affordable power. Paramount Solar's collaboration with Sharp provides our consumers with a swift installation thereby reducing expenses and maximizing immediate savings and long-term benefit," said Hayes Barnard, CEO of Paramount Solar, the system installer for this LivingHomes project.

Paramount Solar is performing the SunSnap installation on the LivingHomes demonstration home.

The SunSnap Solution will first be available through traditional solar distributers and dealers beginning March 2012. Sharp expects to expand SunSnap sales to retail channels such as popular consumer electronics retailers, in the second half of 2012.

"We're excited to be partnering with Sharp and demonstrating our solution at TED2012," said Bill Rossi, chief marketing officer for Enphase Energy. "Solar energy systems with this level of design flexibility, simplicity and insight, made possible by Enphase's unique microinverter system, are making solar an attractive option for more and more homeowners."

By converting direct current (DC) from the solar modules to grid-compliant alternating current (AC) at the module-level, the Enphase Microinverter System creates independent power producers out of each solar module in an array. With this, installers have complete design flexibility and are able to offer system owners expandable solar systems that can be easily added to year after year.

The mounting and grounding technology is inherently simple and streamlined, integrated seamlessly into the solar module through the incorporation of Zep Solar's Zep Compatible frame design. By incorporating the Zep Groove into the PV module, we have eliminated the need for bulky rails and separate grounding hardware found in conventional mounting schemes.

The SunSnap appliance is backed by the Sharp 25-year limited warranty on power production.