SoloPower Systems has announced the completion of its first commercial-scale deployment in South Africa. The Company's ultra-light weight photovoltaic (LPV) modules were successfully installed on a factory rooftop in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, as the first in a two-phase project. The installation was commissioned by Dumont Power, a SoloPower Systems' distributor.

"The installation itself was quite remarkable as the product requires no power tools, racking, special handling, or other common installation aspects," said Raymond du Plooy, Director of Dumont Power.

"The installation team, working at a normal installation pace, set a record of one watt per second. There was no need for special rigging equipment to get the panels in place, no need for a large storage area to keep the panels before installation. It was really a very simple and fast installation."

SoloPower Systems' LPV modules are up to 85 percent lighter than traditional PV panels, allowing for installation on rooftops with limited loadbearing capacity, including that of the Port Elizabeth factory.

"South Africa represents a key market for our technology. We estimate that up to 30 percent of commercial and industrial buildings in the region have roofs that are not able to hold the weight of traditional solar panels," said Rob Campbell, CEO of SoloPower Systems.

"Through our relationship with Dumont Power, our impressive technology and our now proven track record of delivering this project, we believe we are well placed to exploit this vast opportunity in the South African market.

"This is a significant achievement as we demonstrate our ability to enter a new market and deliver our unique products to our customers on budget and with record-breaking installation efficiency," continued Campbell.

"This project highlights what we and our product are all about: providing compelling energy cost savings to building owners who otherwise would not be able to access solar solutions."