It’s no secret that renewable energy is the future—and where there is future growth, there is opportunity. Solar energy continues to grow in America and is expected to double into a $114 Billion industry by 2031.
Electrical distributors are looking to tap into this demand, but what products cover solar installations? How can you profitably carry the supplies required for every situation, from a residential rooftop to a huge industrial solar farm? At NSI, we have your answers!
Broadly speaking, a solar installation has three parts: the panels on one end, the grid on the other, and the Balance Of System (BOS) components between the two. The BOS label covers:
- Wires
- Conduit
- Fittings
- Boxes
- Mounting systems
- Switches
… And everything else required to protect, bond and ground the conductors carrying the power generated by the panels.
NSI brands primarily focus on supplying BOS components, since they are a highly profitable focus for our distributor partners. Even as solar tech advances and the prices of panels continue to fall, the cost of BOS components remains a small, stable portion of the total install cost. Since BOS is our area of expertise, that’s what we’ll focus on here!
A primary purpose of BOS components is providing protection to the solar system. On rooftops, shielding cables against the elements and physical threats like rodents is critical; throughout the system, BOS components keep connections raintight. Many solar systems are guaranteed for 20 years, so installers want to use high-quality products to protect their conductors.Â
BOS components are also used for grounding and bonding. This could mean everything from extra-long threaded connectors like the RT2XL line to grounding locknuts like the 162-G series. The NEC (National Electrical Code) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) define safety standards that all installations must meet to pass inspection, and using quality grounding and bonding products is critical for your customers meeting these standards.
Knowing what purpose BOS serves is only half the battle—you also have to know what components make up a BOS offering. Our family of brands covers a wide range of installs:
- Bridgeport and Remke cable and conduit fittings
- Polaris pre-insulated connectors
- Metallics fasteners
- WarriorWrap electrical tape
- PowerGRP cable ties
- Terminator twist-on dual-color wire connectors
You may also consider what components your customers will use. Depending on the scale and application of their installations, they may need different supplies. Another determining factor is the climate—in hotter regions like California or Arizona, for example, installers frequently use EMT to shield conductors against the heat. Your NSI sales rep can assist you in identifying the needs of your local installers.
Stocking BOS products makes your store a one-stop-shopping location for solar installers. The full NSI offering includes hundreds of products usable in or designed for solar installations, like our Mighty-Seal raintight reducing washers. These washers reduce 1¼ standard European conduit down to fit into ¾ American knockouts, with less expense than a hub and reducing bushings.
NSI products accompany the photovoltaic panels in any solar installation, meeting the Balance of System needs of our distributor partners. If you want to work with a forward-thinking company today, choose an innovator with their gaze set on the future. Contact your sales rep to stock a wider range of BOS products with fewer orders by shopping from NSI today.