ESA Renewables Commissions City of Orlando Rooftop Solar Installation

Collaboration opens the door to green business opportunities, sustainable energy generation and
job creation in Orlando, Florida.

 Lake Mary, FL -March 7, 2013–ESA Renewables, an industry leader in providing turnkey solar solutions, announced the commissioning of the City of Orlando Fleet Maintenance Building Solar Project. ESA developed and constructed the 417.6 kilowatt (kW) roof-mounted photovoltaic solar array on the Fleet Maintenance Building located on South Westmoreland Drive in Orlando.

This project supports Orlando’s commitment to sustainability, facilitates green business opportunities, and promotes green and efficient policies within City departments. The installation of this solar array allowed ESA Renewables, a local business, to work hand-in-hand with Orlando’s City government and the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) to help preserve Orlando’s natural resources and promote an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

The City of Orlando Fleet Building installation is one of several solar projects ESA Renewables will be constructing in conjunction with OUC. ESA Renewables also has signed a contract to maintain and operate the system for 25 years.

“The collaboration between the City of Orlando, OUC and ESA Renewables presents a promising opportunity for Orlando,” said Jeffrey Burkett, President of ESA Renewables. “Not only does this project contribute to the sustainability of our economy through job creation, it also has a positive impact on the environment and our communities. We are excited to be involved with this project for many years to come through our Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services.”


“Solar installations like this one – and the community solar farm we will be working on with ESA later this year – add to OUC’s growing use of renewable energy while allowing us to stud yand optimize the impact large-scale solar arrays have on our electric system,” said Byron Knibbs, OUC Vice President of Customer & Sustainable Services.

The City of Orlando Fleet Maintenance Building solar project is fully operational and will generate approximately 590,000kWh annually, equivalent to powering about 54 average sized Orlando homes and offsetting 2,375 vehicles gas emissions per year. The construction of the rooftop solar array brought 20 green jobs to the City and will provide $800,000 in Energy cost savings over the life of the project.

“Through our sustainability initiative, Green Works Orlando, we are working to ensure our City remains one of the most environmentally-conscious communities in the country,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “A key part of our plan is investing in the next generation of clean, green energy, like solar, which will not only help us continue to prevent pollution, but also create new high-tech, high-wage jobs for our residents and further diversify our local economy.”

The system consists of 1,392 photovoltaic solar modules and is divided into three separate arrays with a total area utilization of about 50,000 square feet. All the power generated from the solar array will be sold to OUC under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

About ESA Renewables, LLC:
Located in Lake Mary, FL, ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of more than 500 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA’s scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing, monitoring and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables, LLC, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455.

About Green Works Orlando:
Mayor Dyer launched Green Works Orlando in 2007, and since then the City of Orlando has led by example to promote environmental stewardship, educate people about “going green” and encourage others to incorporate a concern for the environment into the everyday workings of government and private business. Some of the initial successes under Green Works Orlando include:

• Achieved more than $1 million in annual energy savings
• Expanded the Downtown LYMMO bus circulator and began SunRail construction.
• Completed eight LEED-certified municipal buildings, including the first newly constructed LEED-certified NBA arena in the country
• Performed energy efficiency retrofits to 1,200 houses
• Planted 10,000 trees and established four community gardens
• Adopted the 2012 Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan

To engage more residents in the City’s sustainability efforts, Orlando has launched GreenWorksOrlando.com. This interactive forum allows Orlando residents to provide feedback and further the ideas of other residents as to how to continue to make Orlando a more sustainable and livable community. These suggestions will be used as the foundation for Orlando’s future sustainability plans.

PCX Corporation Announces the Completion of a 500 KW Solar Array in Clayton, NC

A 500 KW PV rooftop solar installation was successfully commissioned at PCX’s manufacturing facility in Clayton NC.

February 07, 2013 Clayton, NC. – PCX Corporation LLC, the leading manufacturer of offsite fabricated and modular electrical power systems for the commercial construction and data center industry, recently announced the commissioning of a rooftop solar array at its 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Clayton, North Carolina.

PCX is very proud to host one of the first large roof mounted solar arrays energized in the Johnston County area. It demonstrates our commitment to the environment and our participation in the Green Energy movement with all of our customers.” said Gary Pollock, VP and General Manager of PCX Corporation.

The solar farm is expected to generate approximately 650,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power annually, which would be enough electricity to power approximately 46 average sized homes. The installation is comprised of 2,030 solar panels supplied by Yingli Green Energy and is assembled on approximately 54 thousand square feet of unused roof space on PCX Corporation’s manufacturing facility. The system will offset 670 tons of CO2 emissions equivalent to 78 passenger vehicles and keep 1,100 barrels of oil from being used each year. All of the power generated from the system will be sold back to the utility under a 20 year power purchase agreement.

“It has been a pleasure to work with PCX Corporation, MP2 Capital, and ESA Renewables to bring solar-powered manufacturing to Johnston County, North Carolina,” commented Robert Petrina, Managing Director of Yingli Americas. “As a global leader in its industry, PCX Corporation is setting an influential example as one of the first solar adopters both in its local community and globally.”

MP2 Capital, a leading investor in the renewable energy industry, provided the financing for the project. ESA Renewables, a turnkey solar solution provider, was responsible for overseeing construction and will be maintaining the system and providing operation and maintenance services (O&M).

“More and more companies are recognizing the need to move towards greener energy solutions to offset this country’s independence on foreign oil,” said Jeffrey Burkett, President of ESA Renewables.

About PCX Corporation, LLC:

PCX Corporation has over 20 years of experience of providing Prefabricated Modular Solutions to the Industrial, Utility and Commercial Construction Industry. With over 9,000 solutions provided in over 600 cities across North America as well as key installations in Asia and the European Continent, when it comes to prefabricated modular solutions, PCX Corporation continues to grow, innovate and lead. For more information about PCX Corporation visit www.pcxcorp.com or call 919-550-2800.

About ESA Renewables, LLC:
Located in Lake Mary, FL, ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of more than 500 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA’s scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing, monitoring and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables, LLC, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455.

Licensed Solar Electricians Needed!

ESA Renewables has an immediate need for licensed solar electricians.  If you are looking to showcase your solar skills with a cutting edge organization, this position just may be fore you.  If so…apply now!

CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS – Texas, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina, New Mexico, Indiana & Massachusetts:
Duties

View the job on their website.

• Assist the Lead Installer with superior quality PV installations in the following areas: laying out Balance of System (BOS), making conduit and wiring runs, installing DC & AC disconnects & inverters, grid interconnections, homeruns, wiring combiner box, and performing voltage testing.
• Communicate to the General Foreman, Site Superintendant or Construction Manager potential problems encountered during construction that would affect the schedule or require added materials to be procured.
• Carry out O&M electrical tasks like electrical inspections, preventative maintenance, electrical checks and completing O&M reports.
• Carry out O&M mechanical tasks like visual mechanical inspections, torque checks on racking and completing O&M reports.
• Carry out O&M monitoring tasks, I&C checks, communication connections and complete O&M reports.
• Travel to all sites for O&M and/or Construction duties.
• Ensure sites are operating at full power and with the efficiency required.
• Site conditioning.
• Site vegetation control.
• Alarm response as needed.

Compensation:

• Competitive base salary.
• Full range of company paid benefits including
  • Paid Medical Insurance
  • Dental Coverage
  • Vision Plan
  • Life Insurance
  • 401k
  • Generous Vacation Package
  • Company Vehicle

Desired Skills & Experience
Requirements:

• Two years minimum experience installing monitoring / communications equipment.
• Two years minimum experience with field work installing grid connected solar systems.
• Ability to read electrical / mechanical drawings, equipment manuals and technical specifications.
• Knowledge of building and structural construction techniques.
• Able to do equipment layout and read architectural plans/blueprint
• Knowledge and experience in commissioning procedures.
• Ability to efficiently troubleshoot system failures.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong prioritization skills.
• Proficient with the use of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with metering and test equipment.

Licenses

• Valid Driver’s license.
• Journeyman or licensed industrial electrician.
• NABCEP certification.
• Must be reliable, hard working, and safety-minded

Submit your resume and salary requirements to: careers@esarenewables.com

It is ESA Renewables policy to recruit, employ, promote and take other personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability or membership in any other group(s) protected by federal, state, local or international laws or regulations, and to take affirmative action as required by law.

Orlando Mayor Dyer Works-Along with OUC and ESA Renewables to Install Solar Panels on City Facility

Orlando, FL – January 24, 2013 – Yesterday, Orlando Mayor Dyer worked along with OUC Vice President of Customer& Sustainable Services Byron Knibbs and ESA Renewables to install solar panels on the roof of the City’s Fleet Management Division Building. The solar project is part of Green Works Orlando, the City’s sustainability initiative to engage everyone who lives, works and visits Central Florida in the effort to “go green.” “Through Green Works Orlando, the City is working to ensure Orlando remains one of the most environmentally-conscious cities in our country,”said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “A key part of our plan is investing in the next generation of clean, green energy, like solar, which will not only help us continue to prevent pollution, but also create new high-tech, high-wage jobs for our community and further diversify our economy.”

Mayor Dyer installs solar panel.
Photos courtesy of The City of Orlando.

At the event, Mayor Dyer and Knibbs joined the ESA Renewables construction team to help mount the three-foot by six-foot solar panels to the roof of the City facility. When complete in February, a total of 1,392 solar panels will be installed in the three array system, which covers about 50,000 square feet.

“OUC is proud to help power Orlando’s designation as a Solar America City through projects like this,” Knibbs said. “In fact, later this year we will begin work on Central Florida’s first community solar farm at our Gardenia facility. The community solar farm will allow customers to purchase solar power without the expense and hassle of installing it at their home or business.”

ESA Renewables Project Manager Kirk Kieffer,
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer,
OUC Vice President of Customer &
Sustainable Services Byron Knibbs
and City of Orlando Energy Manager Nate Boyd.

The 417 kilowatt solar array is estimated to save the City $800,000 in energy costs over its 25-year life. In total, the project will generate enough energy to power about 43 average Orlando homes and offset emissions equivalent to planting 2,400 trees and taking 2,375 vehicles off the road per year.

“We are proud to be a part of the City’s efforts to move towards sustainable energy,” said Jeffrey Burkett, President of ESA Renewables. “Not only does this project contribute to the health of our environment, it also has a positive effect on our economy through the creation of 20 green jobs.”

Watch the Mayor's interview on YouTube.  
 
ABOUT GREEN WORKS ORLANDO: Mayor Dyer launched Green Works Orlando in 2007, and since then the City of Orlando has led by example to promote environmental stewardship, educate people about “going green” and encourage others to incorporate a concern for the environment into the everyday workings of government and private business. Some of the initial successes under Green Works Orlando include:

• Achieved more than $1 million in annual energy savings
• Expanded the Downtown LYMMO bus circulator and began SunRail construction.
• Completed eight LEED-certified municipal buildings, including the first newly constructed LEED-certified NBA arena in the country
• Performed energy efficiency retrofits to 1,200 houses
• Planted 10,000 trees and established four community gardens
• Adopted the 2012 Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan

To engage more residents in the City’s sustainability efforts, Orlando has launched GreenWorksOrlando.com. This interactive forum allows Orlando residents to provide feedback and further the ideas of other residents as to how to continue to make Orlando a more sustainable and livable community. These suggestions will be used as the foundation for Orlando’s future sustainability plans.  

ABOUT OUC:
Established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, OUC—The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida. OUC provides electric and water services to nearly 228,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more about our commitment to reliability, affordability and sustainability.  

ABOUT ESA RENEWABLES:
Located in Lake Mary, FL, ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of more than 500 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA’s scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing, monitoring and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables, LLC, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455.

ESA Renewables Secures Spot on Top 100 Solar Contractors List

The year 2012 proved to be an exciting one for ESA Renewables with many significant benchmarks including placing 25th on Solar Power World’s 2012 Top 100 Solar Contractors.

As we ring in the New Year, one thing is for certain, 2013 will prove to be an exciting year for ESA Renewables. New solar projects are on the horizon and ones under construction now will soon be commissioned. The solar industry in itself is expanding and growing with new demand. There’s no denying, future of solar keeps getting brighter!

 Looking back on 2012, a few specific events come to mind that put in focus ESA’s achievements and growth for the year. Let’s recap them now:

 1. The first event was receiving the Intersolar AWARD. In July of 2012, ESA Renewables was presented the Intersolar AWARD for Solar Projects in recognition of its Martins Creek Elementary School Solar PV project which demonstrated strong innovation. The Intersolar Award recognizes projects, both large and small, which utilize advanced technology, incorporate aesthetic and architectural concepts and exemplify outstanding services and products. ESA Renewables’ Martins Creek Elementary School installation in Murphy, North Carolina is one of the largest solar farms on school grounds in the US at 1MW. The system, which covers 5 acres, produces 20% more energy than initially projected: 1.3 million kWh of electricity. Some funds generated by the project equate to keeping approximately two school teachers employed annually.

 2. ESA is expanding across the globe! In August of 2012, ESA announced its expansion to Central and South America. As part of the great strides ESA is achieving in these regions, the company opened a new development office in Chile.

 3. Focusing on high quality workmanship, perfection of installation methods and quick commissioning, ESA was able to construct a 500kW rooftop solar installation in just three weeks from start to finish. The rooftop solar installation located in the Asheville, North Carolina area is expected to generate the annual amount of electricity as consumed by 45 houses in the area.

4. ESA’s fourth notable achievement happened just as the year was coming to a close. Solar Power World released a list of the Top 100 Solar Contractors of 2012. ESA Renewables was awarded the number twenty-five slot on the list having installed multi-megawatts of power in 2012. Having been founded in 2009, ESA Renewables is clearly a growing, stable and indeed an exciting place to work!  

About ESA Renewables, LLC: Located in Lake Mary, FL, ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of more than 500 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA’s scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing, monitoring and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables, LLC, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455.

Solar-Panel Company Opens in Elmsford, Cites State's NY-Sun Investment

A national solar-panel company has quietly opened a new warehouse and offices in Elmsford to capitalize on New York’s $800 million solar-energy expansion plan.

Drew Dyer, an installation training instructor for SolarCity in
Elmsford, leads a safety class for new employees on Wednesday

SolarCity has leased 32,500 square feet at 203 Ridgewood Drive, where the company will store solar panels and train installers, technicians and sales staff. About 50 people work in the building, a former distribution center for the DHL delivery service.

The Elmsford location is SolarCity’s second in New York and a third is on the way for Long Island. The San Mateo, Calif.-based company’s first New York location was in Albany.

“We’ve grown from a tiny group to a staff of 49 people (in Albany),” said Ed Steins, SolarCity’s Northeast region vice president. “We have some 20 job openings in New York.”

Steins said that SolarCity decided to move into Westchester County because of its central location along the Northeast Corridor and because it expects increased demand for solar panels due to The NY-Sun Initiative, which has a stated goal of doubling the amount of annual customer-sited solar-power installations. The state program will invest $800 million through 2015 by offering incentives like rebates and grants to homeowners and businesses that install photovoltaic systems.

“The bottom line is that it makes solar more affordable,” said Steins. “We also provide financing and leasing, which allows many residents and businesses to install it for free.”

In his State of the State address in January, Gov. Andrew Cuomo promoted The NY-Sun Initiative’s investment, and in August Cuomo signed a series of bills for solar tax credits and exemptions for solar installations.

“Together with other NY-Sun incentives, these bills demonstrate the state’s commitment to reducing energy costs, growing our green energy sector, creating jobs, and protecting the environment,” Cuomo said in August.

Founded in 2006, SolarCity has about 2,100 employees in 14 states. Its 2012 expansion in the region includes a new operations center in Cranbury, N.J., and new service to Connecticut.


Source: http://www.lohud.com/article/20121004/BUSINESS/310040046/Solar-panel-company-opens-Elmsford-cites-state-s-NY-Sun-investment?nclick_check=1

Gestamp to Develop 300 Megawatts of Solar Projects in Japan

Gestamp Solar, a unit of Spanish industrial company Corporacion Gestamp, plans to develop 300 megawatts of solar power in Japan during a three-year period, mainly on rooftops.

The company is projecting the cost at $5,000 per kilowatt, Jorge Barredo, chief executive officer of Gestamp Solar, said today in Tokyo. Investment would be $1.5 billion at that rate.

“As an investor, we believe Japan offers a good environment and the Japanese market is one of our priority markets,” he said through a translator at a news conference.

The company plans to use mainly Japanese panels, Barredo said. “Japanese panels fit Japanese culture and we want to have businesses with local suppliers,” Barredo said.

Gestamp Solar develops and operates utility-scale solar plants. The company is among new entrants to Japan following the introduction of an incentive program for renewable energy in July to encourage investments in clean energy projects.

Included as part of the 300 megawatts, the company plans to develop at least 30 megawatts of solar on rooftops with Environmental Management Strategy Research Institute Inc., a Japanese consulting agency on energy management, Gestamp said in a statement today.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-04/gestamp-to-develop-300-megawatts-of-solar-projects-in-japan.html

Home Solar PV Power Packs Coming to Punjabi Homes

Back in August, the largest blackout in history affected between 600-700 million Indians, roughly 10 percent of the world’s population. Researchers estimate that another 300 million Indians lack access to electricity. Despite an economy that’s been one of the fastest developing and growing in the world, it’s clear that energy access and energy security still pose critical economic, social and environmental challenges for the Indian government, society and commerce and industry.

The collective choices and decisions Indians make regarding energy supply and demand will either set the nation on a path of ongoing and increasing fossil fuel reliance and dependency or a more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable path of development centered on more local, distributed power generation from cleaner, renewable energy sources.

With developing nations predicted to account for the large majority of human greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as economic growth out to 2050 and beyond, the ramifications of their choices will extend well beyond India’s borders. One thing appears clear and certain, emulating the fossil fuel, water and natural resource-intensive and consumption-driven development path of the U.S. would not only be unsustainable, it would be doomed to failure in the first place, potentially wreaking havoc across India and beyond.

Setting the course for India’s future energy supply and demand

Fortunately for all, many Indians are well aware of these issues and challenges, including at least some of the country’s political leaders. On June 30, 2008 the Indian government launched a National Action Plan on Climate Change. Part and parcel was the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, a strategic mechanism to incentivize and support development solar power throughout the country.

“Our vision is to make India’s economic development energy-efficient. Over a period of time, we must pioneer a graduated shift from economic activity based on fossil fuels to one based on non-fossil fuels and from reliance on non-renewable and depleting sources of energy to renewable sources of energy. In this strategy, the sun occupies centre-stage, as it should, being literally the original source of all energy,” Indian Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh stated upon introducing the National Solar Mission.

“We will pool our scientific, technical and managerial talents, with sufficient financial resources, to develop solar energy as a source of abundant energy to power our economy and to transform the lives of our people. Our success in this endeavour will change the face of India. It would also enable India to help change the destinies of people around the world.”

Blackout leads to critical crossroads

Since enacting the National Solar Mission, India has quickly grown to become one the world’s leading and largest markets for solar energy. August’s massive blackout puts pressure on the government to increase power generation capacity and upgrade grid infrastructure.

Long reliant on coal-fired power plants for the large majority of national power generation, powerful coal and fossil fuel energy commercial interests are using the blackout to push for the development of more coal mines and coal-fired power plants. Similarly, Indian and overseas solar, wind and renewable energy technology providers and project developers are keen to expand India’s power generation capacity. Striking a sustainable balance between meeting immediate needs and those of future generations is no easy task, certainly for elected public representatives in open, democratic societies where the wealth of multinational corporations exceeds that of many nations.

Looking to promote and foster local clean energy self-sufficiency, the government of Punjab has launched a program that aims to have Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Packs installed in households across the state. Solar energy potential is vast in the state. Bordering Pakistan in western India, Punjab benefits from having more than 330 sunny days in an average year.

Potential solar energy is estimated at 4-7 kilowatt-hours per square meter, and the government is committed to realizing that potential, Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Bikram Singh Majithia was quoted as saying in a Business Standard news report.

Promoting home solar energy in the Punjab

With approval and financial support from India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, the Punjab government has set up Akshey Urja retail shops in all state districts where people can purchase the Solar Photovoltaic Power Packs with a 30 percent government subsidy.

Ranging in capacity from 500 watts peak to 1,000 watts peak, the solar power packs produce clean, emissions-free renewable electricity sufficient to meet basic household needs.

Hyderabad solar energy systems provider RenewAbility offers Indian households Solar PV Power Packs that are complete, turnkey home solar power systems. They include an array of PV panels that can be roof or ground-mounted, a PV charge controller, battery bank for energy storage a DC-AC power inverter and an optional connection to the grid.

The Indian solar energy start-up sees itself not only as a provider of clean energy technology, but as a social enterprise committed to promoting sustainable living in communities across the Indian sub-continent.

Extending beyond its Solar Power Packs, RenewAbility is taking a whole-systems approach to home energy production and use in India. On the supply side, it offers small wind and bio-energy as well as solar PV systems. On the home energy demand side, it offers energy efficiency and home energy technology including LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances and gadgets.

Homegrown entrepreneurial renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses such as these point the way toward healthier, sustainable economic growth and development and a brighter future for Indians, as well as the vast wealth of ecosystems and biodiversity for which the Indian subcontinent is home.

Source: http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/10/home-solar-pv-power-packs-coming-punjabi-homes/

Germany’s SMA Solar Supplies Largest Japanese Solar-Power Plant

SMA Solar Technology AG (S92), Germany’s biggest solar company by market value, said it will supply Japan’s largest solar plant with its products.

SMA will supply the 70-megawatt project operated by Kagoshima Mega Solar Power Corp. in Kagoshima City in southern Japan with inverters, the company said today in an e-mailed statement. Construction started last month and is due to be completed by the fall of 2013, SMA said.

“The introduction of a feed-in tariff for solar power three months ago and the decision of the government to phase out nuclear power by 2040 announced last month underline Japan’s desire to establish itself as a major market for photovoltaics worldwide,” Chief Executive Officer Pierre-Pascal Urbon said. “In the coming years, we expect strong growth in all market segments.”

Japan introduced the world’s highest feed-in tariff, or fixed-premium rate, for power from solar plants in July to boost output and accelerate the nation’s shift away from nuclear following the Fukushima disaster. Inverters are devices that convert the power generated by photovoltaic panels for use in the grid.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-04/germany-s-sma-solar-supplies-largest-japanese-solar-power-plant.html

A Tug of War Over Solar Tariffs

The United States trade case against Chinese manufacturers of solar panels took a step toward completion Wednesday with a final hearing before the International Trade Commission on whether cheap Chinese imports have injured or threatened to injure the domestic solar industry.

Workers packing solar panels at a factory in Baoding in Hebei Province.

The Commerce Department found earlier this year that Chinese companies, which dominate the global panel business, were benefiting from unfair government subsidies and were selling their products below the cost of production on the American market. In March, the department imposed anti-subsidy tariffs of 2.9 percent to 4.73 percent, and in May, it added anti-dumping duties of at least 31 percent. Those rulings were preliminary, and the department is due to announce its final decision on both on Oct. 10.

But for any tariffs to go into effect, the trade commission must find that the Chinese pricing practices have actually harmed or threatened to harm the American industry, a determination that is not expected until November.

The solar case has become one of the sharpest sticking points in growing trade tensions between the United States and China, which have surfaced in the presidential contest as well.

In trying to make a case for harm, a group of American solar industry executives told the panel of commissioners on Wednesday that they had been forced to close plants, scale back production and lay off workers at a time when they should have been able to take advantage of rising demand for their products. They said that they were unfairly undercut by Chinese suppliers that had been able to sell at a loss and continue operating, despite tottering on the brink of bankruptcy, because of generous support from state-owned banks.

Kevin Kilkelly, president of sales in the Americas for SolarWorld, the German-based manufacturer that originally filed the trade complaint, said that his company had already shut down one facility and laid off nearly 200 workers.

“Now, more workers and production at our Hillsboro, Oregon, facility are threatened,” he said. “We hope that with relief from this case, we will be able to stop the harm to this industry and return to fair competition in this market.”

But tariff opponents argued that SolarWorld had largely brought its problems on itself, and had proved unable to compete in a world where the low price of natural gas and declining subsidies were putting pressure on solar manufacturers to cut their prices sharply in order to survive. SolarWorld, they said, had bet on a more expensive technology for its panels and failed to pursue the potentially lucrative utility sector quickly enough.

Alan King, general manager of Canadian Solar’s business in the United States, said that it was critical to pick an efficient technology, but one that would work in the marketplace. He named Evergreen Solar and Solyndra, both bankrupt, as companies that had not made good choices.

“The continuing importance of innovation in the solar industry cannot be overstated,” he said. “Our goal has to be to reach grid parity.”

Some said that the trade dispute had harmed their businesses because of a preliminary finding of “critical circumstances” that allows the tariffs to be applied retroactively to goods entering the country 90 days before the ruling. The International Trade Commission will uphold or reject that finding, assuming that it remains in the Commerce Department’s final determination in the case.

Marco Mangelsdorf, a solar contractor from Hilo, Hawaii, told the panel he had received a notice that he owed about $138,000 in duties — his profit for the year — on a $54,000 order placed before the tariff announcement.

He said that he had become “collateral damage in a much wider economic and political dispute between countries and titans of the solar electric industry.”

“To harshly penalize me and my small business and employees, along with the other independent American businesses caught in this same government retroactive tariffs dragnet, cannot and should not be seen as just or fair,” Mr. Mangelsdorf said.

Source: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/a-tug-of-war-over-solar-tariffs/

14 Colorado Schools ‘Flipped The Switch’ On 5,000 Solar Panels

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) flipped the switch Monday on 1.4 MW of green energy generated from more than 5,000 solar panels installed on 14 different schools across the district. The ceremony was held Monday at Foothill Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado.

The 14-school project may be one of the largest undertaken by a school district in the country, at least a district the size as Boulder Valley. This increases the number of buildings in the district with solar arrays to 30, half of the buildings in the system.

The panels were installed by SolarCity, a national provider of clean energy services. SolarCity owns the panels and installed them at no cost to the School District. The District entered into a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the company to buy the electricity from SolarCity. In turn, SolarCity will provide full maintenance on the system.

This project provides environmental benefits to the region, eliminating over 110 million pounds of annual carbon dioxide emissions, which is the equivalent of taking roughly 300 cars off Colorado’s roads each year.

The systems will also allow the district to pay less for solar electricity than it currently pays for utility power. The amount varies from school to school because of the differences in the size of the school, but it is estimated to save the District between 10% and 15% annually on the electric bills of each of the 14 schools according to Eric Wittenberg, regional vice-president of SolarCity for Colorado.

“We are gratified to be able to contribute to the educational life of BVSD’s students and to help districts such as theirs demonstrate the economic and environmental advantages of renewable energy,” Eric Wittenberg said. “Solar power can become a mainstream source of energy so it is increasingly critical that our youth understand how it works, what it means for their futures.”

The money that is no longer going to the utility company will be used for educational programs for the district’s school children. This savings comes with no cash outlay by the District.

The Boulder Valley School district is one of the greenest districts in the nation. They contacted SolarCities to find a way to get solar on its schools. This project was the result. It took only nine months to go from concept to flipping the switch.

Speaking at the ceremony were various dignitaries from the School District, SolarCity, and the US Green Building Council Colorado Chapter. Also in attendance were the 5th grade students who sat on the lawn attentively during the entire program. Clearly the students are excited about this project.
The students sat so attentively because they are involved in this project. Students at these 14 schools will have access to on-site educational resources with SolarCity’s web-based monitoring. Students will be able to track in real-time how much power their solar system is generating and how much electricity their school is using. This data is displayed graphically, thus allowing students to easily see the relationship between production and consumption.

“The primary goal of this ambitious initiative was to increase the amount of carbon-free solar energy the district uses, and we are delighted to have achieved it,” said BVSD Sustainability Coordinator Ghita Carroll, Ph.D. “These solar installations will enable us to teach our students about the benefits of clean, renewable energy while delivering clean electricity to the district.”

The school district will also implement an extensive learning program called Schools Going Solar, which helps schools teach solar basics to students in grades five through 12. Developed by the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, the program approaches the subject from mathematical, scientific, social and cultural perspectives.

The ceremony coincided with the first annual Green Apple Day of Service, a global initiative of the U.S. Green Building Council to educate children in sustainably built schools that conserve energy and inspire students.

This project should become a model for school districts across the nation. The program offered by SolarCity allowed the District to save money on its utility bills without investing scarce tax dollars to do so. In addition, the schools have a new educational tool to help introduce children to green energy. Perhaps the students will teach their parents about the value of solar energy.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/14-colorado-schools-flipped-the-switch-on-5-000-solar-panels

Portable Solar Panels Bring Light, Save Lives in Developing World

Juliette Alyek came here all the way from Uganda to learn how to drill holes in a corrugated tin roof.

Dr. Juliette Alyek, a pediatrician from Uganda, learns to
install a solar panel with We Care Solar, a Berkeley nonprofit.

Over the sound of drilling, I hear laughter, mixed with frustration. “Let’s try it again,” Alyek says, then “Got it, bingo. Just right!”

Alyek is a pediatrician, who — along with 13 other women from around the world — has travelled to Berkeley for a week-long training to become a special kind of ambassador. Back in Uganda, her home city is big enough to have consistent electricity. But she says only about five percent of Ugandans are connected to the grid. That’s a big problem if a woman is giving birth at night.

“These facilities are using kerosene lamps, or they’re using torches, or they don’t have anything at all,” she says.

Berkeley obstetrician Laura Stachel saw the same problem when she traveled to Nigeria four years ago to study ways to reduce maternal mortality in state hospitals. At the time, Nigeria had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Tens of thousands of women died during childbirth every year.

At the hospital Stachel visited on that trip, she saw first-hand a major contributing factor — sporadic electricity. She saw a Cesarean section conducted by flashlight, critically ill patients waiting until dawn, or later, for urgent surgical procedures.

“And because they haven’t had that experience of 24-hour electricity,” Stachel says, “they don’t expect 24-hour electricity.”

Together, Stachel and her husband, Hal Aronson, hatched an idea — create a small kit with everything needed to bring enough power and light for doctors and health workers to safely deliver babies. Aronson is a solar energy educator, and he designed the prototype, now called a solar suitcase.

Together the couple then created a nonprofit organization, We Care Solar. Over the last four years, they have installed more than 200 of solar suitcases in 11 countries. But the first hospital to get one was the NIgerian hospital Stachel had visited in 2008. At that hospital, maternal mortality has dropped 70 percent.

At a cost of only $1,500 dollars, there’s been interest from all types of groups, including the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The solar suitcase charges cellular phones and walkie-talkies, used for in-facility communication in many places.

We Care Solar hopes to deploy as many as 10,000 solar suitcases in the next five years.

Aronson created a mock-clinic in his backyard, so the 14 women here this week from India, Africa and Mexico could be trained to install the solar suitcase’s panel. In addition, the women will take classes in maternal health and solar energy.

Once they go home, these women will be the newest “We Care Solar Ambassadors,” helping in the organization’s solar programs around the world.


Source: http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2012/10/03/portable-solar-panels-bring-light-save-lights-in-developing-world/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=portable-solar-panels-bring-light-save-lights-in-developing-world