Petra Solar: Solar on the Pole
Petra Solar has exploited an untapped sales channel and unique application -- solar panels that are mounted on utility and power poles and sold directly to the utility. (...) The company's CEO, Shihab Kuran, has claimed, "This is the single largest distributed installation in the world,". Petra sells a kitted system consisting of a solar module, an integrated microinverter, mounting hardware, and wireless monitoring equipment. It sells this system directly to utilities for mounting on the distribution pole or streetlight pole. It's meant to be installed by a utility crew in less than 30 minutes and to deliver AC power directly to the grid. By dealing with utilities and mounting directly on the utility-owned pole, the hassles of permitting and Nimbyism are pretty much avoided.