GUELPH, CANADA: Canadian Solar Inc. has closed a sales agreement with EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE), to supply photovoltaic (PV) modules to the 24.3 megawatt peak (MWp) Catalina Solar 2 project during the first quarter of 2015. For this order, Canadian Solar will deliver to EDF RE a total of 83,000 pieces of custom specific CS6X-P solar modules in a 7 x 12 cell matrix with dual UL and IEC 1000V certification.
"We are pleased to be selected to supply our PV modules to EDF Renewable Energy, a leading developer of renewable energy projects in North America. We are looking forward to working with EDF RE in the future. I am confident that Canadian Solar's global leadership, proven track record, and well-known brand name will continue to make us a partner of choice in powering key solar installations worldwide," said Dr. Shawn Qu, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar.
In the past few years, Canadian Solar modules have consistently been ranked at the top of the PVUSA Test Conditions (PTC) ratings in the industry. The PTC rating program, established by the California Energy Commission (CEC), is the widely accepted indicator of real-world PV module performance.
Monday, October 13, 2014
SunPower supplying 41MW of high-efficiency solar panels for four La Compagnie du Vent plants
PARIS, FRANCE: SunPower is supplying 41 megawatts of its high efficiency solar panels to La Compagnie du Vent, a subsidiary of French utility GDF Suez, for the construction of four solar power plants in France under the country's national tender program administered by the French Energy Regulatory Commission.
The first of the projects, the 12-megawatt Langele solar power plant, was dedicated earlier this month in France's Aquitaine region.
"Since 2012, La Compagnie du Vent has been a valued SunPower partner, and we are pleased to assist them in delivering an additional 41 megawatts of emission-free solar power for homes and businesses in France," said SunPower executive VP, Jorg Heinemann. "Today more than 1,500 MWs of solar plants around the world are powered using our technology. With high-performance SunPower solar panels, power plant developers may maximize power production and generate reliable returns on investment for 25 years or more."
La Compagnie du Vent estimates that the Langele solar power plant will generate 17,500,000 kilowatt-hours of energy each year, which may serve the electricity demand of approximately 9,700 people in the region. According to Reseau de Transport d'Electricite 2011 estimates, the plant will offset approximately 14,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
In addition to Langele, the other three La Compagnie du Vent solar projects for which SunPower is supplying panels include the 12-megawatt Roc du Doun project in the Limousin region, the 12-megawatt La Foret Marcoles in the Auvergne region, and the 5-megawatt Le Mouruen Signes in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region.
All four solar plants are expected to be constructed and operational by end of 2015. In 2012, SunPower worked with La Compagnie du Vent to deliver the 4-megawatt Porette de Nérone solar plant in Aghione, Corsica.
The first of the projects, the 12-megawatt Langele solar power plant, was dedicated earlier this month in France's Aquitaine region.
"Since 2012, La Compagnie du Vent has been a valued SunPower partner, and we are pleased to assist them in delivering an additional 41 megawatts of emission-free solar power for homes and businesses in France," said SunPower executive VP, Jorg Heinemann. "Today more than 1,500 MWs of solar plants around the world are powered using our technology. With high-performance SunPower solar panels, power plant developers may maximize power production and generate reliable returns on investment for 25 years or more."
La Compagnie du Vent estimates that the Langele solar power plant will generate 17,500,000 kilowatt-hours of energy each year, which may serve the electricity demand of approximately 9,700 people in the region. According to Reseau de Transport d'Electricite 2011 estimates, the plant will offset approximately 14,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
In addition to Langele, the other three La Compagnie du Vent solar projects for which SunPower is supplying panels include the 12-megawatt Roc du Doun project in the Limousin region, the 12-megawatt La Foret Marcoles in the Auvergne region, and the 5-megawatt Le Mouruen Signes in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region.
All four solar plants are expected to be constructed and operational by end of 2015. In 2012, SunPower worked with La Compagnie du Vent to deliver the 4-megawatt Porette de Nérone solar plant in Aghione, Corsica.
Solar Wind Energy Tower pursues US Department of Defense
ANNAPOLIS, USA: Solar Wind Energy Tower Inc., the inventor of large Solar Wind Downdraft Tower structures capable of producing abundant, inexpensive electricity, is pursing certain potential Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) within the U.S. Department of Defense.
It has engaged the services of Santiago 'Rico' Vaca, the founder and senior principal at S Vaca & Associates L.L.C., a firm specializing in defense and national security, to guide and represent the Company in its pursuit of that key objective.
A proven government relations executive, national security expert, and retired military officer, Vaca advises clients on federal challenges associated with national security programs, from both operational and commercial perspectives. He retains a diverse skill set to include detailed knowledge of Department of Defense programs, budgets, and policies across the Services, with emphasis on procurement, research and development, operations & maintenance, and their associated funding processes.
As a Teaming Partner of the company, Vaca and his firm will provide strategic advisory and consulting services, lending his expertise and advice on entry into the U.S. Department of Defense. He has committed to focus his best efforts and due diligence on attaining Power Purchase Agreements for the company with one or more Services within the Department of Defense.
Ronald Pickett, CEO, Solar Wind Energy Tower, commented, "Our business model from the beginning has always been to seek out the best-in-class consultants in the world to support our efforts to bring the first Solar Wind Energy Tower to market - and the engagement of Mr. Vaca is no exception.
"The company has been in a quiet period over the past several months awaiting the final SEC approval on our S-1 Registration Statement, which was received just yesterday. During these months, however, we have been working diligently to ensure our first Tower project in San Luis Arizona comes to fruition. Power Purchase Agreements are a cornerstone for the development and success of this project.
"To partner with and engage such a high caliber defense and national security expert as Vaca in this mission gives us great confidence that we will succeed. I have known Vaca for several years and he was an integral part of the initial plan to offer alternative energy from the Arizona site to the Department of Defense."
It has engaged the services of Santiago 'Rico' Vaca, the founder and senior principal at S Vaca & Associates L.L.C., a firm specializing in defense and national security, to guide and represent the Company in its pursuit of that key objective.
A proven government relations executive, national security expert, and retired military officer, Vaca advises clients on federal challenges associated with national security programs, from both operational and commercial perspectives. He retains a diverse skill set to include detailed knowledge of Department of Defense programs, budgets, and policies across the Services, with emphasis on procurement, research and development, operations & maintenance, and their associated funding processes.
As a Teaming Partner of the company, Vaca and his firm will provide strategic advisory and consulting services, lending his expertise and advice on entry into the U.S. Department of Defense. He has committed to focus his best efforts and due diligence on attaining Power Purchase Agreements for the company with one or more Services within the Department of Defense.
Ronald Pickett, CEO, Solar Wind Energy Tower, commented, "Our business model from the beginning has always been to seek out the best-in-class consultants in the world to support our efforts to bring the first Solar Wind Energy Tower to market - and the engagement of Mr. Vaca is no exception.
"The company has been in a quiet period over the past several months awaiting the final SEC approval on our S-1 Registration Statement, which was received just yesterday. During these months, however, we have been working diligently to ensure our first Tower project in San Luis Arizona comes to fruition. Power Purchase Agreements are a cornerstone for the development and success of this project.
"To partner with and engage such a high caliber defense and national security expert as Vaca in this mission gives us great confidence that we will succeed. I have known Vaca for several years and he was an integral part of the initial plan to offer alternative energy from the Arizona site to the Department of Defense."
Ecotech Institute releases free, comprehensive wind and solar green energy eBooks
DENVER, USA: Ecotech Institute, the first and only college in the US solely focused on renewable energy and sustainability, announced the release of two free, comprehensive eBook guides to starting a wind or solar energy career.
These guides cover everything from a day in the life of renewable energy technicians and potential salary earnings to required skills and advice from professional solar and wind technicians.
The wind and solar energy renewable energy industries are booming, but that doesn't mean getting a green job is easy. These occupations take specialized training, cleantech industry knowledge and passion to secure a career. Now, future solar and wind technicians have one place to access vital information, including:
* Key industry facts about the renewable energy sector;
* Tips for job seekers in the energy efficiency field;
* Expectations and requirements for wind and solar energy green jobs;
* Cleantech employment trends;
* And advice from working industry experts and technicians.
These guides cover everything from a day in the life of renewable energy technicians and potential salary earnings to required skills and advice from professional solar and wind technicians.
The wind and solar energy renewable energy industries are booming, but that doesn't mean getting a green job is easy. These occupations take specialized training, cleantech industry knowledge and passion to secure a career. Now, future solar and wind technicians have one place to access vital information, including:
* Key industry facts about the renewable energy sector;
* Tips for job seekers in the energy efficiency field;
* Expectations and requirements for wind and solar energy green jobs;
* Cleantech employment trends;
* And advice from working industry experts and technicians.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Global smart water meter market to eclipse $1 billion in five years
AUSTIN, USA: As the fastest-growing segment of the global water meter industry, the worldwide market for two-way smart meters is set to surpass the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2019, with managed services, analytics and smart water network adoption all combining to accelerate growth, according to a new report from IHS Technology.
The two-way smart water meter business was worth $575 million at the end of 2013. The market will expand to $1.1 billion in 2019. By 2020, smart devices will make up 29 percent of total revenue for water meters, compared to 18 percent last year.
North America continues to be the leading adopter of two-way water meters used in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) networks, but stronger growth is occurring in Europe. France is the fastest-expanding market of all major countries worldwide, with smart meter penetration approaching the 50 percent mark. Following France in Europe are the U.K., Ireland and Germany—all countries experiencing a rapid transition to adopting two-way smart water meters.
Digital in nature, smart meters do not introduce the element of human error into readings. This yields greater accuracy than traditional basic meters or one-way devices. Moreover, smart meters installed in homes or businesses can engage in two-way communications with electric utilities, letting the smart meter gather data and allowing for many emerging smart water network applications, from metering reading to leak detection.
“The benefits of installing smart water meters are growing, and installing this new technology is also becoming easier for utilities that previously haven’t been able to invest in smart meters,” said Michael Markides, associate director for smart utilities infrastructure at IHS.
“Utilities that have the capability to purchase smart water meters now are considering implementing smart water networks. These networks will deliver a whole host of new functionality that can be achieved thanks to integrating modern information technology into their daily operations.”
Meanwhile, utilities that to date have not been able to justify upgrading their meters to an AMI network are being given new opportunities to do so, Markides noted. In such cases, vendors in the space are evolving their solutions toward the so-called managed services model, eliminating the initial need for capital outlays while offering much-needed expertise.
These findings are available in the report entitled, “Smart Water Meter Intelligence Service,” from the Power & Energy service of IHS Technology.
New paradigm emerges
As AMI data increases in value, smart meters are upending traditional models of operation in favor of greater efficiency. While automating the meter-reading process is still a chief market driver for installing AMI, other applications can be improved with the use of AMI data.
Leak detection, customer service, hydraulic monitoring and pressure testing, as well as many other tasks that a water utility must undertake, can now be done by maximizing use of the AMI data. These applications can be conducted more regularly, performed more quickly, and carried out with higher quality assurance.
The smart water network is now a common theme coming from water industry technology vendors. The evolution of new technology on the water delivery network is leading to a greater system-wide view, especially as the full potential of smart water networks is becoming better understood.
From Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) to AMI to smart water networks, utilities are now blending the value of AMI data with other electronics, hardware and software to enable a real-time view of their water distribution networks.
The smart water network is identical in concept to that of the smart electric grid—employing electronics, communications and software to facilitate real-time management of the distribution network, all with an eye toward increasing efficiency and reliability while also improving customer service.
Alongside the growth in new technology, however, the supply base has been maturing as well. Because of this, vendors have noted the difficulties that water utilities must account for when weighing how to justify investing in new technologies. Not only has qualifying capital spending always been difficult for water utilities, vendors have also noted that many water utilities simply lack the ability to effectively use new technology.
“This is really where managed services come into play,” Markides noted. “Increasingly, utilities will be able to invest in modern technology where they couldn’t previously, as vendors lessen capital spending requirements and radically improve return on investment by hosting many of the utility operations on their own. In turn, this allows for maximum value to be realized from new hardware electronics, software and analytics.”
The two-way smart water meter business was worth $575 million at the end of 2013. The market will expand to $1.1 billion in 2019. By 2020, smart devices will make up 29 percent of total revenue for water meters, compared to 18 percent last year.
Digital in nature, smart meters do not introduce the element of human error into readings. This yields greater accuracy than traditional basic meters or one-way devices. Moreover, smart meters installed in homes or businesses can engage in two-way communications with electric utilities, letting the smart meter gather data and allowing for many emerging smart water network applications, from metering reading to leak detection.
“The benefits of installing smart water meters are growing, and installing this new technology is also becoming easier for utilities that previously haven’t been able to invest in smart meters,” said Michael Markides, associate director for smart utilities infrastructure at IHS.
“Utilities that have the capability to purchase smart water meters now are considering implementing smart water networks. These networks will deliver a whole host of new functionality that can be achieved thanks to integrating modern information technology into their daily operations.”
Meanwhile, utilities that to date have not been able to justify upgrading their meters to an AMI network are being given new opportunities to do so, Markides noted. In such cases, vendors in the space are evolving their solutions toward the so-called managed services model, eliminating the initial need for capital outlays while offering much-needed expertise.
These findings are available in the report entitled, “Smart Water Meter Intelligence Service,” from the Power & Energy service of IHS Technology.
New paradigm emerges
As AMI data increases in value, smart meters are upending traditional models of operation in favor of greater efficiency. While automating the meter-reading process is still a chief market driver for installing AMI, other applications can be improved with the use of AMI data.
Leak detection, customer service, hydraulic monitoring and pressure testing, as well as many other tasks that a water utility must undertake, can now be done by maximizing use of the AMI data. These applications can be conducted more regularly, performed more quickly, and carried out with higher quality assurance.
The smart water network is now a common theme coming from water industry technology vendors. The evolution of new technology on the water delivery network is leading to a greater system-wide view, especially as the full potential of smart water networks is becoming better understood.
From Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) to AMI to smart water networks, utilities are now blending the value of AMI data with other electronics, hardware and software to enable a real-time view of their water distribution networks.
The smart water network is identical in concept to that of the smart electric grid—employing electronics, communications and software to facilitate real-time management of the distribution network, all with an eye toward increasing efficiency and reliability while also improving customer service.
Alongside the growth in new technology, however, the supply base has been maturing as well. Because of this, vendors have noted the difficulties that water utilities must account for when weighing how to justify investing in new technologies. Not only has qualifying capital spending always been difficult for water utilities, vendors have also noted that many water utilities simply lack the ability to effectively use new technology.
“This is really where managed services come into play,” Markides noted. “Increasingly, utilities will be able to invest in modern technology where they couldn’t previously, as vendors lessen capital spending requirements and radically improve return on investment by hosting many of the utility operations on their own. In turn, this allows for maximum value to be realized from new hardware electronics, software and analytics.”
SolarCity intros MyPower
SAN MATEO, USA: SolarCity has introduced MyPower today, a first-of-its kind solar financing option that combines the low upfront cost and immediate utility savings of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the benefits of ownership.
SolarCity customers pay for their MyPower solar loan similar to the way they pay for a solar PPA—based on the energy the system produces from the sun—but they retain ownership of the solar panels. MyPower’s unique structure creates America’s most affordable solar loan—with a lower cost than PPAs in many locations.
MyPower can allow customers to pay as much as 40 percent less for solar power than utility power, and unlike other loans, MyPower allows customers to prepay their entire balance or prepay a portion of their solar loan to lower their monthly payments at any time, with no fees or penalties.
SolarCity customers pay for their MyPower solar loan similar to the way they pay for a solar PPA—based on the energy the system produces from the sun—but they retain ownership of the solar panels. MyPower’s unique structure creates America’s most affordable solar loan—with a lower cost than PPAs in many locations.
MyPower can allow customers to pay as much as 40 percent less for solar power than utility power, and unlike other loans, MyPower allows customers to prepay their entire balance or prepay a portion of their solar loan to lower their monthly payments at any time, with no fees or penalties.
Light and Landis+Gyr unveil largest smart grid partnership in South America
RIO DE JANEIRO, SPAIN: Brazilian electricity utility Light today announced the formal agreement of the largest smart grid project in South American history, in partnership with global energy management pioneer Landis+Gyr.
Valued at approximatelyR$750 million ($313 million), the five year contract covers the supply, implementation, operation and maintenance of Landis+Gyr's best-in-class Gridstream smart grid solution. The collaboration also includes deployment of 1.1 million endpoints, comprised of advance SGP+M anti-tampering meters and automation of power vaults and reclosers.
With over R$400 million investment in its distribution system last year alone, the contract is part of Light's ongoing effort to improve the efficiency and reliability of its electricity grid.
The new intelligent, Gridstream network offers improved measurement and automated management functions on a single secure platform, and will also facilitate adoption of electric vehicles and wind and solar micro-generation technologies.
As a result of the project Light will be able to take advantage of enhanced monitoring and control points throughout its network, helping to reduce commercial losses. In the future the utility also hopes to provide its customers with greater pricing options and more information on their energy consumption patterns, helping them to manage their usage more efficiently.
"The goal of Light is to provide an intelligent electricity network to 1.6 million consumers, equivalent to around 40 percent of our total customer by 2018,"said Paulo Roberto Pinto, president of Light.
Marcelo Machado, general director of Landis+Gyr South America, said, "As the first major South American deployment of a smart grid and smart metering system this is a landmark announcement, which will demonstrate to utilities and consumers firsthand the tangible cost, safety and user-experience benefits that come with smart energy."
Valued at approximatelyR$750 million ($313 million), the five year contract covers the supply, implementation, operation and maintenance of Landis+Gyr's best-in-class Gridstream smart grid solution. The collaboration also includes deployment of 1.1 million endpoints, comprised of advance SGP+M anti-tampering meters and automation of power vaults and reclosers.
With over R$400 million investment in its distribution system last year alone, the contract is part of Light's ongoing effort to improve the efficiency and reliability of its electricity grid.
The new intelligent, Gridstream network offers improved measurement and automated management functions on a single secure platform, and will also facilitate adoption of electric vehicles and wind and solar micro-generation technologies.
As a result of the project Light will be able to take advantage of enhanced monitoring and control points throughout its network, helping to reduce commercial losses. In the future the utility also hopes to provide its customers with greater pricing options and more information on their energy consumption patterns, helping them to manage their usage more efficiently.
"The goal of Light is to provide an intelligent electricity network to 1.6 million consumers, equivalent to around 40 percent of our total customer by 2018,"said Paulo Roberto Pinto, president of Light.
Marcelo Machado, general director of Landis+Gyr South America, said, "As the first major South American deployment of a smart grid and smart metering system this is a landmark announcement, which will demonstrate to utilities and consumers firsthand the tangible cost, safety and user-experience benefits that come with smart energy."
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