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MSS’ Stellar Performance at the 2024 Intersolar Solar Games

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Intersolar Solar Games

Michigan Solar Solutions recently competed in the 2024 Intersolar Solar Games in San Diego, California, showcasing our prowess and innovation in solar technology. Our remarkable journey to winning the semi-finals resulted in a second-place overall victory. Highlighting our commitment to excellence and leadership in the solar industry. This was just our first time competing–next year. We’re looking forward to applying what we learned and taking home first place!

Overview of the Intersolar Solar Games

The Intersolar Solar Games stands as a premier global competition, celebrating the best in solar installation and innovation. Held annually in San Diego, it brings together leading solar companies to demonstrate their skills, creativity, and technological advancements in a dynamic, competitive environment. The event is renowned for its rigorous challenges that test participants’ ability to deliver efficient, safe, and innovative solar solutions under pressure. Competing at the Intersolar Solar Games is a huge honor, offering unparalleled exposure and recognition within the solar industry, and setting the stage for future advancements and collaborations.

The Significance of Competing

The Solar Games is the industry’s first installer competition, tasking teams with building residential solar and storage systems live in the Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America expo hall.

This year’s eight competing teams were judged on installation quality, safety, speed, and more as they advanced through the tournament.

Being part of the Intersolar Solar Games is a tremendous honor for us at Michigan Solar Solutions. This event not only showcases the leading edge of solar technology but also brings together the most innovative minds in the industry. For us, competing signifies our dedication to excellence and innovation in solar solutions. It’s an opportunity to push the boundaries of what’s possible, learn from the best, and demonstrate our commitment to advancing the solar industry. Participating in such a globally recognized event underscores our role as industry leaders and our drive to elevate the standards of solar installations everywhere.

MSS’s Path to Success

Our journey to success was fueled by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a deep commitment to sustainability. From the start, our team was focused on showcasing the efficiency, reliability, and ingenuity of our solar installations for home and business owners. 

Read what Karl Hercula, MSS Vice President (Field Operations), had to say about MSS’ journey at the Intersolar Solar Games:

“Our decision to compete in the Solar Games stemmed from a desire to showcase MSS’s capabilities and compete among the best teams in the country. From the outset, securing sponsorship was crucial. Leveraging my NABCEP certification, I applied for participation and garnered support & sponsorship  from McNaughton and McKay, one of our major vendors. Additionally, I must credit Mark Hagerty, CEO of MSS, for his eventual support, as well as the invaluable assistance from Nicole Gleicher, Christina Hagerty, and Brian Abel in organizing travel arrangements, securing materials for training, and ensuring uniformity among the team’s attire.

Training the team posed its own set of challenges, especially with the limited time and resources available. With the help of our engineering team, we divided into mechanical and electrical groups to review the material. While the electrical crew relied on diagrams, online resources, and videos, the mechanical team was fortunate to practice with actual racking materials, refining techniques, and torque settings.

One of our most significant challenges came with the competition schedule, as we were initially placed to compete first, despite being newcomers. Through communication with the organizers, particularly Shannon, we successfully advocated for a more strategic placement, allowing us to observe and learn from experienced teams before our own competition rounds.

During the Solar Games, we strategized by observing other teams’ performances, and identifying strengths and weaknesses to inform our approach. One key strategy we implemented was prioritizing the installation of solar panels before wire management, a departure from the convention. This decision proved pivotal, enabling us to set records for completion times and scores in both the first and second rounds of the competition.

In the end, MSS secured an impressive 2nd place, earning $3,500 in winnings. I’m proud to announce that this prize money will be split equally between all MSS installers. This decision was made to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of our entire team, including those who were not able to compete but held down the fort back home in Michigan.

It’s also important to acknowledge the initial hesitancy from Mark Hagerty. While he was initially reluctant, Mark quickly recognized the possibilities and saw the camaraderie that the office had while watching the live stream of our competition, thanks to the brilliant idea of live streaming, which was spearheaded by me. I want to give special credit to Jerry S, who flawlessly ran the live stream from my phone, and to everyone who participated and supported us during the live stream.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Solar Games, our focus is on improving our understanding of the competition’s electrical systems and enhancing my role as team captain. We plan to schedule more training sessions and meetings to ensure thorough preparation for our next victory.

I’m immensely proud of the dedication and teamwork displayed by the MSS crew throughout this journey. Without their hard work and collaboration, our success would not have been possible.”

Celebrating Our Team’s Achievement

Our second-place victory at the Intersolar Solar Games is a monumental achievement for Michigan Solar Solutions. This success is the culmination of relentless teamwork, deep expertise, and a shared passion for advancing solar energy. Our team demonstrated exceptional skill and innovation, proving that dedication and collaboration are the keys to excellence. We’d like to give a special shout-out to Karl Hercula, Keven Fishero, Ben Robertson, and Tony Glander!

Looking Forward – What’s Next for MSS?

This achievement at the Intersolar Solar Games is not just a milestone for Michigan Solar Solutions but a stepping stone for future innovations. It reinforces our dedication to providing top-tier solar solutions and sets the stage for us to push even further. We’re inspired to continue innovating, improving, and leading the way in solar technology. Our journey doesn’t stop here; we’re more committed than ever to excellence and to making solar energy accessible and effective for all. This is just the beginning of a brighter, more sustainable future.

MSS is proud to be your top destination for going solar and taking ownership of your power. Ready to start the process? Let’s begin with a free analysis!

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