Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
$25,000.00
Optimization of Innovative Solar Racking System Incorporating Bi-Directional Capabilities Increasing Wide_x000d_ Load Distribution
EF 2020-21
Résumé
With a warehouse and fabrication shop centrally located in Cambridge, Ontario, hb Solar International provides innovative solar PV mounting systems for all types of rooftops. The company's rooftop racking solutions remain the benchmark used by most engineers, developers, and contractors in the industry. Recently, there has been rapid growth in the deployment of photovoltaics with the technology quickly gaining ground in Canada.
To remain competitive in the global renewable energy market, hb Solar has developed a new racking design for solar panels. However, it is not market-ready due to high manufacturing costs and heavy load. Currently, the company's racking system consists of front and back skyrails that are placed in East-West direction only. Therefore, the collaborative project with Lambton College will focus on optimizing and improving the new solar racking system to include permanent North-South rails connected to the East-West rails to work the new racking system bi-directionally. To achieve this, the research team will evaluate the current system design for flat roofs to redesign a new system, analyze the load with modelling and simulations, test the racking structural stiffness, improve the roof ballast design, and perform a cost analysis of various material options.
The results of this project will contribute to Canada's green economy as PV technology plays an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deregulation. As well, the new product design provides a solid foundation for hb Solar International to manufacture a new, low cost, lightweight, easy to install, rail-based, ballasted racking solution for all types of flat rooftops to the market. While also meeting building code requirements for North America which will increase hb Solar's capacity to compete in the North American market. It is also estimated that over the next five years there will be $4,000,000 in revenue generated as well as the creation of 8 to 10 new full-time positions in the field.
Programme
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
560422-2020
Name nom
Sheikhzadeh, Mehdi
Department département
Head Office
Organization id
26621
Institution établissement
Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2020
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
25000
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
1206
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Engineering
Area of application fr
Génie
Research subject code
1000
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Civil engineering
Research subject fr
Génie civil
Installment
inst:1 - 1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Optimization of Innovative Solar Racking System Incorporating Bi-Directional Capabilities Increasing Wide_x000d_
Load Distribution
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
With a warehouse and fabrication shop centrally located in Cambridge, Ontario, hb Solar International provides innovative solar PV mounting systems for all types of rooftops. The company's rooftop racking solutions remain the benchmark used by most engineers, developers, and contractors in the industry. Recently, there has been rapid growth in the deployment of photovoltaics with the technology quickly gaining ground in Canada.
To remain competitive in the global renewable energy market, hb Solar has developed a new racking design for solar panels. However, it is not market-ready due to high manufacturing costs and heavy load. Currently, the company's racking system consists of front and back skyrails that are placed in East-West direction only. Therefore, the collaborative project with Lambton College will focus on optimizing and improving the new solar racking system to include permanent North-South rails connected to the East-West rails to work the new racking system bi-directionally. To achieve this, the research team will evaluate the current system design for flat roofs to redesign a new system, analyze the load with modelling and simulations, test the racking structural stiffness, improve the roof ballast design, and perform a cost analysis of various material options.
The results of this project will contribute to Canada's green economy as PV technology plays an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deregulation. As well, the new product design provides a solid foundation for hb Solar International to manufacture a new, low cost, lightweight, easy to install, rail-based, ballasted racking solution for all types of flat rooftops to the market. While also meeting building code requirements for North America which will increase hb Solar's capacity to compete in the North American market. It is also estimated that over the next five years there will be $4,000,000 in revenue generated as well as the creation of 8 to 10 new full-time positions in the field.
