Monday, May 4, 2009

Skyline Solar launches company, HGS architechture

MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: Skyline Solar, a manufacturer of High Gain Solar (HGS) arrays for the commercial, industrial, government and utility markets, announced the launch of the company and its HGS architecture after achieving key product, financing and customer milestones.

Skyline Solar’s HGS architecture delivers the performance and durability of tracked silicon at the cost of thin-film technologies in sunny climates thereby accelerating the path to grid parity.

In conjunction with the formal launch of the company and its HGS architecture, Skyline Solar announced that it has reached several key corporate milestones:

Construction of the Company’s First Demonstration Plant—Skyline Solar entered into a public-private partnership agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to construct its initial demonstration plant in San Jose, Calif. VTA is an independent special district that is responsible for bus, light rail and para-transit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; countywide transportation planning throughout Santa Clara County. The system was completed only eight months after the company received its Series A financing.

Pilot Manufacturing & Component Certification—after a year of under-sun reliability and system testing at the company’s Mountain View headquarters, Skyline has submitted components of its HGS system for certification and has entered pilot manufacturing in the US and Asia.

The $24.6 million in Series A Venture Financing—Skyline Solar has received an equity investment from New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and several other financial and strategic investors.

US Department of Energy (DOE) Funding—in the first quarter of 2009, the company signed a developmental contract with the DOE for $3 million. Skyline Solar was selected as one of six solar photovoltaic technology companies to receive funding under the DOE’s Solar America Initiative. The company was cited as developing a technology that could “make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity.”

The company has attracted top executive talent from a number of relevant industries, including solar, finance, manufacturing and logistics. Skyline’s board of directors includes current and former executives and board members of SolFocus, Suniva, Deeya Energy, Emcore, Cobalt Power Systems and Solar Junction.

“The Solar America Initiative PV incubation process was extremely competitive and we're confident we've selected innovative companies to drive the solar industry forward,” said Martha Symko-Davies, Research Senior Supervisor at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “We were impressed by Skyline's total system approach which packages many high-gain solar design elements into an elegant array leveraging traditional manufacturing for large scale. Skyline is one of the first to recognize and drive the High Gain Solar systems movement towards grid parity over the next 18 months.”

Skyline’s HGS architecture delivers ten times more energy per gram of silicon versus traditional flat-panel systems in sunny locations and offers industry-leading energy density. Skyline HGS arrays combine industry-proven silicon cells, durable reflector materials and single-axis tracking into a complete, easy-to-deploy system. Built primarily out of commodity materials with globally available manufacturing processes from the PV and automotive industries, Skyline HGS simultaneously improves financial payback and scalability. As a result, Skyline Solar believes the HGS architecture is the fastest path to grid parity.

“Skyline Solar has developed an innovative, differentiated approach that simultaneously provides the performance and reliability of silicon PV while driving a much lower delivered cost,” said Mark Perry, General Partner at NEA. “The company's solution is both robust and highly capital efficient and NEA is excited to work with Skyline's outstanding leadership team as they advance this potentially game-changing solar technology.”

By increasing the productivity of silicon-based PV technologies and using only a fraction of the materials to reduce costs, Skyline Solar is well positioned to capitalize on forecasted market growth. Skyline HGS uses 90 percent less silicon and 66 percent fewer parts versus traditional flat panel solar power plants. The system uses widely available materials translating into a scalable manufacturing process.

“When asked why I invested in Skyline Solar, the answer is clear—simplicity,” said Alf Bjorseth, founder of Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) and Scatec Solar. “Simplicity will be essential for PV reaching new levels of cost and scalability.”

“Skyline Solar is focused on a single goal as a company—accelerating the deployment of solar energy to meaningfully offset fossil fuel consumption. This requires rapidly achieving grid parity and dramatically improving scalability of PV systems,” said Bob MacDonald, CEO of Skyline Solar and a solar industry veteran. “We have a laser-like focus on real-world system performance and delivering the lowest cost of energy in the industry. We believe that we can help solar integrators, project developers and project finance firms reduce the cost and complexity of system installation, while delivering a high-yield, low maintenance system for their commercial, industrial and utility customers.”

Skyline Solar is currently in the process of reviewing, accepting and evaluating several other early-stage projects to demonstrate the “shovel-ready” capabilities of the HGS approach later this year. The company expects to unveil its HGS product details and system specifications, and production in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Solar Power completes one of Georgia’s largest solar systems and second solar site for Cox

ROSEVILLE, USA: Solar Power Inc. has completed the installation of another photovoltaic (“PV”) energy system for Cox Enterprises, Inc. at its Manheim DRIVE Center facility.

The facility is a first-of-its-kind innovation center for automotive remarketing consisting of 165,000 square feet of space that serves as a place for the company to test new ideas and technologies, as well as for events and training sessions. The site also processes the sales of 1,100 automobiles per day through live and video auctions. The innovation and auction facility is located in Stockbridge, Georgia. According to Georgia Power, the 112 kilowatt DC (“kW”) system will be the largest commercial photovoltaic solar system in the state of Georgia.

This is the second in a series of PV solar systems SPI has designed and installed for Cox Enterprises, and also represents another major stride for the Cox national environmental initiative, Cox Conserves. Cox Enterprises put the company-wide sustainability initiative in place to reduce the company’s carbon footprint or greenhouse gas emissions 20% by the year 2017. The initiative also calls for 10 percent of companywide electric energy to come from renewable energy forms. PV solar plays an important role in helping the company achieve its goals.

“We are very happy to continue working with Cox Enterprises as they roll out their national program embracing sustainable and renewable practices. This is the second major system we have executed for them and we have similar projects underway to help them further advance their Cox Conserves initiative,” said Bradley Ferrell, President of Solar Power, Inc.’s commercial development division. “Cox Enterprises is a leader among the growing number of corporations who have begun to embrace and deploy sustainability initiatives and lead by example in the process. It is a privilege to continue to work with the Cox team as we help them achieve their economic goals and environmental initiatives through photovoltaic solar systems at their facilities across the United States.”

The 112 kW system is Cox Enterprises’ second commercial-grade photovoltaic installation and features 560 200-watt roof-mounted solar modules covering 10,000 square feet, and a highly efficient 95-kilowatt inverter. “Just as when we installed the 100.8 kW system for the company’s Cox Communications division cable telecommunications facility in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, we worked closely with the Cox team to ensure a seamless integration of the system without any interruption in operations. We were able to complete both of these projects on time and on budget,” said Ferrell. “We look forward to identical outcomes for additional projects as we continue to work together toward advancement of their Cox Conserves program throughout all of their areas of operation across the country,” Ferrell concluded.

SOLAR IN A BOX PV option for green-friendly i-house from Clayton Homes

OMAHA, USA: Ready Solar Inc., the company that created the solar-in-a-box industry, announced today that its SOLAR IN A BOX will be the solar PV system option for the new i-house available now from Clayton Homes.

The i-house, the housing industry’s first green, affordable manufactured housing, was featured at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 2 and exhibited at Omaha’s Qwest Center. Clayton Homes, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, is the nation’s leading home builder.

SOLAR IN A BOXTM from Ready Solar will be pre-installed at the factory for i-house buyers who order the solar option at the time of purchase or can be ordered later as on after market installation. Kevin Clayton, Clayton Homes CEO, stated, “Green and building energy efficiency into every Clayton home has become a passion for us. Providing our home buyer with the option of including solar power seemed natural.”

With Ready Solar’s turnkey, all-AC solar rooftop system, components are pre-engineered and pre-assembled. The same electricians who wire any house can install the system with no special proficiencies required. SOLAR IN A BOX cuts installation time of solar systems by more than half.

Bob Giles, CEO of Ready Solar, said: 'Clayton Homes is taking a major step toward the greening of American homes with the i–house. Our role is to provide Clayton Homes and the homebuilding industry with the easiest and most cost-effective way to install solar power systems. As solar adoption increases and homebuilding moves toward economic recovery, Ready Solar will help open the multi-billion solar industry to general contractors, electrical contractors, homebuilders and other trades-people with basic electrical skills. We are delighted to provide the solar option for Clayton Homes."

Indian solar energy market outlook 2012 report

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Indian Solar Energy Market Outlook 2012" report to its offering.

Solar energy offers enormous potential for a tropical country like India where around 45 percent of households, mainly rural ones, do not have access to electricity, says the new research report "Indian Solar Energy Market Outlook 2012."

India receives solar energy equivalent to more than 5,000 Trillion kWh per year, which is far more than its total annual energy consumption. The country's geographical location, large population and government support are also assisting it to become one of the most rapidly emerging solar energy markets in the world. Consequently, the country is becoming a favorite investment destination for both local as well as global players.

Demand for solar products has been rising rapidly over the recent years, especially in rural areas, and is expected to continue growing substantially during our forecast period (2009-2012). The total number of solar lanterns in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of about 40 percent between 2009 and 2012.

"Indian Solar Energy Market Outlook 2012" provides a rational analysis and extensive research on the solar power industry in India. It thoroughly examines the current industry trends which are adding to the growth of solar power market of the country.

The report highlights the emerging segments of solar power industry and their market potential to serve the enormous population of the country. It will help clients to understand the market dynamics and get an insight of the current and future outlook of solar power market in India.

Besides giving projections on various energy indicators, the report also gives forecast on various segments of the solar power industry based on feasible solar industry environment in India.

These include:
* Solar Street Lighting System
* Solar Home Lighting System
* Solar Lantern
* Solar Photovoltaic Pumps
* Solar Water Heating System
* Solar Cookers

The forecast given in this report is not based on a complex economic model, but is intended as a rough guide to the direction in which the market is likely to move. This forecast is based on correlations between past market growth, growth of base drivers and possible impact of recession in the economy.

The report also includes detailed information about the key players in the solar power industry of India including BHEL, BEL, CEL, TATA BP Solar India Ltd, Moser Baer India Ltd, Applied Materials Inc, and Solar Signet.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Evergreen Solar announces wafer factory, subcontractor relationship in China

MARLBORO, USA & WUHAN, CHINA:Evergreen Solar Inc., a manufacturer of String Ribbon solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer technology, has entered into a frame agreement with Jiawei Solar (Wuhan) Co. and the Wuhan Donghu New Technology Development Zone Management Committee, which calls for a significant expansion of String Ribbon wafer manufacturing in Wuhan, China.

The parties expect to finalize the terms of the manufacturing relationship over the next 90 days, including obtaining project financing and other approvals and permits, and plan to begin production in the second quarter of 2010.

Under the agreement:
* Evergreen Solar will manufacture String Ribbon wafers using its state of the art Quad furnaces at a leased facility being built in Wuhan, China on Jiawei’s campus.
* Jiawei will process String Ribbon wafers into Evergreen Solar-branded panels on a subcontract basis.
* Evergreen Solar will reimburse Jiawei for its cell and panel conversion costs, plus subcontractor fee. The actual price paid to Jiawei will be negotiated annually.
* The Wuhan government will provide, or coordinate with other Chinese governmental agencies, various incentives, including guarantees necessary to obtain third-party bank or other financing.
* Initial capacity is expected to be approximately 100 MW and the parties intend to expand production capacity to approximately 500 MW by 2012, the timing and extent of which will be determined in 2010.

The establishment of our wafer manufacturing facility and the subcontractor relationship with Jiawei remains subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including financing, various import/export and construction permits and the negotiation of definitive agreements between Evergreen Solar and Jiawei.

“We are thrilled about our new relationship with Jiawei and the support that we are receiving from the Wuhan Management Committee, said Richard M. Feldt, Chairman, CEO and President. The cost of our 100 MW wafer facility will be between $40 million and $50 million and we will seek financing for about two thirds of that amount, reducing our portion of initial capital required to approximately $15 million to $20 million.

“Combining our unique low-cost String Ribbon wafer manufacturing technology with Jiawei’s proven low cost manufacturing capabilities will result in a compelling value proposition for our customers and the solar industry. At full capacity of about 25 MW per quarter by the end of 2010, we expect that total manufacturing cost of String Ribbon panels produced in China, including Jiawei’s subcontractor fee, will be in the range of $1.40 per watt to $1.50 per watt.

"As the price of silicon returns to its historic level of about $50 per kilogram and as both companies work together to improve technologies and reduce manufacturing costs, we believe that total manufacturing cost could be reduced to approximately $1.00 per watt by the end of 2012,” Feldt concluded.

SolarCity unveils 100KW solar system at Intel’s Jones Farm Campus, Oregon

FOSTER CITY & HILLSBORO, USA: SolarCity, a national leader in solar power system design, financing, installation, monitoring and related services, unveiled a new solar installation at Intel’s Jones Farm Campus in Hillsboro, Ore.

Intel also showcased a kiosk in its visitor building lobby last week, provided by SolarCity, to educate employees, visitors and students about solar power. The kiosk displays an Internet feed from SolarGuard, SolarCity’s monitoring system, to provide updates every 15 minutes on Intel’s solar system’s production, electricity offset and environmental impact.

The 100.8 kilowatt DC solar electric system consists of 504 solar modules on the roof of Building Four at the Jones Farm Campus. In the first 25 years of the system’s lifetime, it is expected to offset more than 4 million pounds of greenhouse gas that would otherwise have been emitted by coal or fossil-fuel-generated electricity.

This would be the equivalent of taking 21.5 cars off the road for 25 years, or planting 35 acres of trees. Intel is currently the largest voluntary purchaser of “green power” in the US, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We’re honored to offer clean, affordable, renewable energy to an innovation and sustainability leader like Intel,” said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. “In addition to contributing science, technology and educational resources to local communities, Intel has provided strong corporate leadership on sustainability issues.”

Friday, May 1, 2009

Adept to showcase automation solutions for solar manufacturing at Shanghai show

PLEASANTON, USA: Adept Technology Inc., a leading provider of intelligent vision-guided robotics and global robotics services, announced it will be participating and showcasing its automation solutions for solar manufacturing at the SNEC (2009) PV Power Expo in Shanghai, China, May 6-8, 2009 (Hall E6, booth T636B).

The company will be demonstrating a stand-alone solar cell inspection solution, a high-speed solar cell handling system utilizing the Adept Quattro s650H robot with integrated vision guidance and inspection, and a low cost solar cell handling solution utilizing the Adept Cobra i600 robot with integrated vision guidance.

"This event hosted in Shanghai is the largest PV show in Asia this year and is an ideal forum for attendees to see and experience firsthand the latest technologies available to solar manufacturers," said Hai Chang, Managing Director, Asia Operations. "It gives us an excellent platform to demonstrate our newest solar automation products and services designed to minimize breakage and reduce scrap, goals any solar manufacturer will need to be competitive in this fast growing industry."

The inspection system will be featured both integrated with the Adept Quattro s650H robot handling high speed solar cells, as well as in a stationary stand alone demonstration unit. Both demonstrations will utilize a high resolution, high-speed image capture system.
The Adept Quattro s650H robot is ideal for handling, assembly, sorting, loading, unloading, testing, inspection, tabbing, stringing, scribing and dispensing applications. The Adept Cobra i600 robot is a low cost solution ideal for multiple solar applications and features built-in electronics where the amplifier and motion controller is embedded into the robot arm, reducing integration costs, simplifying system installation, and increasing flexibility and precision.

The SNEC 3rd (2009) International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition (SNEC (2009) PV Power Expo) will be held from May 5 to May 8, 2009 at Shanghai New International Expo Center (2345 Longyang Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, China). The event's exhibition halls cover 60,000 sqm of space and will host nearly 1000 exhibitors exhibiting production equipment, solar cells/panels, components and materials.