Lightweight solar panels land distribution deal on market debut

Chinese PV inverter and energy storage systems manufacturer GoodWe has secured a distribution and technical support partner for its new range of lightweight building integrated solar panels.

GoodWe Australia, the local subsidiary of the Jiangsu-headquartered parent company, announced on Tuesday that it has signed a strategic alliance with Umax Energy, an Australian specialist in building integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV.

Designed to incorporate solar PV generation into a building’s structure or on roofs of buildings which would otherwise be unable to support the weight of traditional solar PV panels, BIPV are becoming a more common sight on building envelopes.

GoodWe launched their new Galaxy solar 335W panel back in late April at the 2023 Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition in Sydney. Weighing only 6.1kg/m2 and measuring only 1.6mm in thickness, the Galaxy solar 335W panels can be easily installed on a range of rooftops using industry standard silicon-based adhesives and hot-air welding.

At the time of Exhibition, GoodWe said only that the panels would be available in Australia “in the near future”, but it looks as if that ‘future’ has arrived quickly.

Announced on Tuesday, GoodWe announced that Umax Energy would become a master distributor of GoodWe BIPV products in Australia and would also act as the local BIPV technical support centre.

In this role, Umax Energy will help to provide a comprehensive suite of services including system design, onsite installation guidance, project management, maintenance, and technical support.

“Traditional solar panels have limitations and potential dangers when utilised on commercial or low-load-bearing buildings,” said Dean Williamson, country manager for GoodWe Australia.

“Our Galaxy series of solar panels provides the ideal solution for businesses looking to benefit from solar and having peace of mind that structural integrity remains, with no leaks or damage.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Umax Energy, who will add their vast knowledge and experience to provide comprehensive support along with our products to the solar and construction industries, as more commercial buildings look to ‘solarize’ and add solar and energy storage systems.”