Canadian Solar Announces 120MW of Recent Sales Orders

TORONTO--(Marketwire - June 29, 2009) - Canadian Solar Inc. ("the Company", "Canadian Solar" or "we") (NASDAQ: CSIQ) today announced it has received a purchase order from Systaic AG (SYSCF) for 30 MW of solar modules to be delivered to Spain. This is a specific purchase order under the 60 MW annual supply agreement that the two companies announced in October of 2008. Delivery under the agreement has already started.

Including this new 30MW purchase order, the Company has recently signed or reconfirmed sales contracts, contract extensions or received purchase orders for delivery of about 120MW of solar module products to 24 customers in Europe, North America and Asia. Most of these deliveries are expected to take place from June to October.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO remarked, "We have insisted on quality products and services, long-term partnerships and prudent financial management. We are pleased that our efforts have paid off. The recent 'flight to product quality and financial strength' by customers, coupled with very competitive pricing have resulted in strong demand for our solar modules. The relationship between Canadian Solar and Systaic is a good example. The two companies have developed a solid partnership since early 2008, and Systaic has been one of our Top 10 customers in 2008. We have supported each other in recent quarters, leveraging Canadian Solar's compelling product portfolio and financial strengths with Systaic's strong system integration capability and large footprint in Europe, especially in the key markets of Germany, Spain and Italy. We are looking forward to our ongoing collaboration given both companies commitment to quality workmanship, innovation and service."

Michael Pack, CEO of Systaic said: "We decided to start executing the annual agreement as the financing environment is improving, reconfirming our intention to reach the 60 MW annual target. The combination of Systaic's system technology and Canadian Solar's high performance modules has delivered high energy yields in the Spanish projects our companies have executed. As a result, Systaic recently completed a transaction to sell one of our solar farms, built with Canadian Solar's modules, to a well-known off-take fund. The transaction has successfully received a refinancing from a leading German bank, underscoring the high financial attractiveness and bankability of our projects."

Atlantic Energy Solutions Awarded Second Long Island School District Project

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--(Marketwire - June 30, 2009) - Atlantic Energy Solutions, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AESO) is pleased to announce that they have been awarded with their second multi-million dollar energy efficiency project from a Long Island, NY School District.

This exciting project entails a new 400kw solar photovoltaic system, a 500kw cogeneration system, IT Network Management, weatherization, major HVAC renovations, and boiler and lighting replacement.

Atlantic indicates that in similar fashion to the previously announced Long Island school district award, this site was also looking to be energy efficient and envrionmentally cautious in its journey leading them to Atlantic Energy Solutions. These new changes, along with over $500,000 in LIPA solar incentives, the school district and their taxpayers will realize energy savings of over $700,000 annually.

Timothy Brock, CEO, of Atlantic Energy states, "We are pleased to be working with this school district and in being able to support their objectives for green technology innovation and energy savings. I'm especially proud of the effort of the Atlantic Energy team and their relationship with school district administrators, as we were awarded this contract over several well known industry stalwarts such as Johnson Controls ("JCI"), Honeywell ("HON") and ConEdision Solutions."

Trina Solar's Glass Supplier to Invest in Changzhou Trina PV Industrial Park

CHANGZHOU, China, June 30 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, today announced that one of the Company's key solar module glass suppliers, Beijing Hua Mei Dazheng Technology Co. Ltd ("Beijing Hua Mei"), has signed an investment agreement to establish a production facility in the Changzhou Trina Photovoltaic Industrial Park. The agreement was signed with the Changzhou National High Tech District to build a production facility adjacent to Trina Solar's manufacturing campus. Construction of the facility is planned to start in the second half of 2009, with production expected to begin in the first half of 2010.

Beijing Hua Mei is one of the first PV glass companies to be established in China and has supplied Trina Solar since 2007. Trina Solar has entered into a long term agreement to purchase solar module glass produced by the new Changzhou production facility.

"We are excited by the ongoing developments of the Changzhou Trina PV Industrial Park and the opportunity to continue forming a strong partnership with Beijing Hua Mei," said Jifan Gao, Trina Solar's Chairman and CEO.

"Adding this key component supplier to the PV Park will support our goals to realize procurement and logistical advantages to accelerate our near term cost reduction initiatives. We are pleased that this important supplier has chosen to locate adjacent to the Trina Solar campus, and we believe this shows that Changzhou is fast becoming a hub for China's solar PV industry."

Perpetual Power Completes 1MW of Solar-Powered Water Pumping Systems at Limoneira Company

CYPRESS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. and Perpetual Power (P2) have announced the completion of four solar-powered deep water wells at Limoneira Company’s Ducor Ranch. The four solar 250kW AC arrays include single-axis tracking systems which are expected increase power output of each array by 15% by maximizing the amount of sunlight collected by the panels.

When operating at full capacity, the 6,400 ground-mounted, high-efficiency photovoltaic panels can generate 1MW of AC energy for the Limoneira Company, which grows and processes lemons, avocados, oranges, specialty citrus, pistachios and cherries on its orchards in Santa Paula, Calif. Limoneira’s solar electric system is expected to produce 2,300,000 kWh of electricity annually.

Perpetual Power, a San Francisco-based company, designed and installed the four 250kW AC solar electric systems for Limoneira Company. “Using solar energy to irrigate Limoneira’s orchards was a perfect compliment to their existing 1MW solar array. The four new solar systems not only save the company money, they keep the air clean, which is very important to the whole community of Santa Paula,” says Mark Palamountain, founder of Perpetual Power.

The four 250kW AC solar systems replace fossil fueled-powered water pumps and provide enough electricity to offset the annual electricity use equal to 230 average US households. This new 1MW system complements Limoneira’s existing 1MW solar orchard installed in October 2008, supplying the company with a total of 2MW AC of solar power.

“We believe that sustainable business practices are the key to a healthy future and we’re proud to add another megawatt of solar power to our property in Santa Paula, Calif.,” said Harold Edwards, Limoneira\'s president and CEO. “We’ve found that doing the right thing often yields positive financial results in the long run as well.”

The solar system is owned by a third-party company, which allows Limoneira Company to purchase the electricity for an average of $0.08/kWh, more than a third less than California’s average retail electric rate of $0.12/kWh. The solar arrays are not only good for the environment, they are expected to save the company $200,000 annually by lowering its overall electric rate and demand charges.

“Limoneira Company has really proven to be a leader in its industry by installing more than 12,000 modules in less than a year to power its facilities and irrigate its orchards,” said Gina Heng, director of sales and marketing for Mitsubishi Electric& Electronics USA’s Photovoltaic Division.

VioSolar Inc. Signs Memorandum of Understanding to Purchase an Operating Photovoltaic Solar Company in Greece

ATHENS, Greece--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VioSolar Inc. (OTCBB-VIOSF; Frankfurt-SDE-F) is pleased to announce that it has signed an irrevocable memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a privately held Greek corporation (‘target company’) to purchase eighty-five percent of its shares.

The target company has 100 kilowatts of production and licenses to build an additional 1 megawatt, with 200 kilowatts in the construction phase.

“We are very pleased with the result of this acquisition, as it establishes VioSolar as a valid player in the photovoltaic sector in Greece.” stated Rick Walchuk, President and CEO. “Greece is an excellent market, with its high feed-in-tariffs and government grant policy. We are also pleased that the founder and majority shareholder of the target company will remain as an integral part of the company. His knowledge and experience will be a valuable asset for VioSolar Inc. going forward”.

“Concurrent with this MOU we are in discussions on a number of other projects in Greece and hope to announce further acquisitions in the near future. Our management team and consultants have identified several promising targets and have negotiations ongoing.” also stated Mr. Walchuk.

Closing of the transaction is expected to take two weeks at which time VioSolar expects to release further details.

China Nuvo Solar Energy Acquires Additional Photovoltaic Intellectual Property

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--China Nuvo Solar Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “China Nuvo”) (OTCBB:CNUV) announced today that it has acquired from Photovoltaics, Inc. a variety of solar technologies/inventions consisting of six provisional or utility patents. This newly acquired intellectual property relates to enhancements of currently available technologies ranging from increases in output and efficiency to the use of lower cost newly discovered photovoltaic materials and processes.

The Company believes that each of the technologies have the potential, when commercialized, of reducing the cost per kilowatt hour of solar energy thereby making it more competitive with other energy sources. China Nuvo is in the process of finalizing utility patents for those that are currently provisional.

The Company’s plans regarding a business model to fully exploit the value of these newly acquired technologies is presently under development and will be announced when fully developed.

China Nuvo Solar Energy, Inc. is a nominally capitalized early stage company that owns a unique patent pending solar technology and is working to develop a commercially viable higher efficiency stacked photovoltaic solar cell.

QuantaSol unveils 28.3% efficient single-junction solar cell

KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--QuantaSol Ltd, a new independent designer and manufacturer of strain-balanced quantum-well solar cells, has developed what it believes to be the most efficient single junction solar cell ever manufactured. Developed in just two years, QuantaSol's single-junction device has been independently tested by Fraunhofer ISE as achieving 28.3% efficiency at greater than 500 suns.

QuantaSol was established in June 2007 as a spin-out of Imperial College London to commercialize the University’s solar cell IP and offer devices to concentrator Photovoltaic (PV) systems developers. Imperial will be featuring a QuantaSol device as part of its presence at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition in London this week.

“Our technology is the industry’s best kept secret. This is the first time that anyone has successfully combined high efficiency with ease of manufacture, historically a bug-bear of the solar cell industry,” said Kevin Arthur, QuantaSol’s CEO. “We’re now gearing up to provide multi-junction cells of even higher efficiencies as early as Q1 2010.”

QuantaSol’s approach combines several nanostructures, of two or more different alloys, in order to obtain synthetic crystals that overcome the problems associated with current solar cell designs. It also greatly enhances the photovoltaic conversion efficiency.

The company, which has a development laboratory in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, completed a £2m second funding round last week. It will now concentrate on cutting the cost of ownership of solar energy by moving to multi-junction devices.

Satcon Added to Russell 3000® Index

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale distributed power solutions for the renewable energy market, announced today that it has been added to the Russell 3000® Index following the Russell Investment Group’s reconstitution of its family of U.S. indices on June 26, 2009.

Annual reconstitution of Russell’s U.S. indexes captures the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the Russell 3000, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000® Index or small-cap Russell 2000® Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. Russell determines membership for its equity indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes. The Russell 3000 also serves as the U.S. component to the Russell Global Index, which Russell launched in 2007.

“We are very pleased to have been included in this year’s reconstitution of Russell Indexes as it will generate greater interest in our stock among institutional investors,” said Steve Rhoades, President and Chief Executive Officer of Satcon. “The company has been very focused on building shareholder value and driving performance of our renewable energy solutions business, and inclusion in this credible global equity index is a clear indication of our progress.”

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. Russell estimates that $4.4 trillion in assets currently are benchmarked to their indexes. More information on the Russell 3000 and other Russell Indexes is available at http://www.russell.com.

Kingspan Solar Inc. Opens New Offices in Maryland

JESSUP, Md., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe's leading provider of world-renowned solar technology, Kingspan Solar Inc., has announced its arrival in Jessup, Baltimore. This follows an incredible response to the company's range of products, especially the European designed and manufactured product - Thermomax, at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas in January.

The demand for the Thermomax product - the world-leading solar thermal vacuum tube collectors* - is no surprise. Generating hot water for domestic and commercial applications, it was designed in Ireland and is used across the whole of Europe throughout a wide spectrum of weather conditions. It's a tried and tested solar collector with almost 30 years of proven high performance, that's up to 30% more effective than traditional flat plate panels. Its range of applications, including central heating support, under floor heating and solar cooling, makes it one of the world's most versatile and effective products.

Kingspan Solar Inc. is headed up by building industry professionals, Jeff Tomlinson and Seamus Cussen. Jeff comments:

"It was evident that there was a huge opportunity to introduce Kingspan Solar's leading range of solar technology to the US market and given the vast amount of potential customers, we decided to open the first US Kingspan Solar Inc. office at the beginning of May."

The roots of solar technology were firmly established in Baltimore in 1891, thanks to Clarence Kemp. He was the first man to patent a solar thermal system. So, with the arrival of Kingspan Solar Inc.'s Thermomax product, solar technology really has come full circle. Kingspan Solar's range of products will also include Thermomax FS flat panels, Kingspan Climate - the complete solar powered cooling system - and Kingspan Tribune, stainless steel quality hot water storage tanks. Kingspan Solar's growing portfolio of products provides the full solar package that is custom-designed to suit each client's specifications. It's predicted that one of the most popular products for the US market will be the Kingspan Climate system which uses the power of the sun to cool a building. This state-of-the-art system is silent and can save homeowners 90% of the energy costs associated with traditional air cooling systems.

Vice President of Sales, North America, Jeff Tomlinson, and Business Development Manager, North America, Seamus Cussen, have a combined experience of over 25 years in the building sector, specialising in sustainable products. Jeff is a former director of the Timber Frame Industry Association and was a key member of the Kingspan TEK Building System advisory team. Seamus has years of experience in Kingspan's Insulated Panels division, playing a pivotal role in developing Kingspan's first-ever Sustainability Report and was a committee member of EUROACE (The European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Building).

Welcoming Kingspan Solar to the home of solar technology, John Leopold, County Executive of Anne Arundel, Maryland, says:

"Helping to create a greener future for us all is of prime importance to Maryland. As the state where solar technology was first developed, we are very proud to welcome Kingspan Solar Inc. and its range of world-leading solar technology to the US. We are extremely pleased that Kingspan Solar has selected Jessup as the location of its first US office and hope that the company's future is bright, creating future jobs and investment in the area."

Jeff concludes:

"It's an exiting time for Kingspan Solar Inc. - moving into new markets and introducing revolutionary solar products to customers that will reduce people's carbon footprint, save money and contribute to a 'greener' future. Kingspan Solar Inc. is committed to providing efficient and cost-effective solutions to today's environmental concerns. Investment in manufacturing, technology, research & design and infrastructure are key to our company's success and we're confident that the company will continue to grow in Baltimore - the home of solar thinking."

Based alongside its sister company, Tate Access Floors, Kingspan Solar Inc. is located at 7510 Montevideo Road, Jessup, MD 20794, Office: 410 7996600. www.kingspansolar.com

* The installation of a Kingspan Solar system such as Thermomax, will provide up to 70 percent of annual hot water requirements. The Thermomax solar collectors use vacuum technology to deliver an unrivalled transfer of solar energy into heat.

Mercury Solar Systems Expands Footprint in the Northeast with Acquisition of K-Star Solar

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercury Solar Systems, Inc., one of the leading solar integrators in the Northeast, today announced that it has acquired K-Star Solar, Long Island's leading residential solar installer. The acquisition strengthens Mercury's presence in the Northeast and its solar business in Long Island, NY. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Long Island is an important market for us with Long Island Power Authority ranked as one of the top ten solar utilities in the country," said Jared Haines, President, Mercury Solar Systems. "With K-Star we have an instant footprint in this market and we believe together we can offer commercial and residential customers cutting edge, highly efficient solar solutions at affordable prices. The federal and state incentives for solar systems have also never been better, but customers need a company with local knowledge to help them leverage the benefits of solar."

Upon closing, K-Star Solar will be re-branded Mercury Solar Systems and Kevin P. Harvey, K-Star's current President, will join Mercury's Long Island team as its Divisional President. Kevin will focus on Mercury's Long Island operations and installations. He will be joining Mercury's existing Long Island sales team that is led by Jeffrey Amorosana.

"Mercury Solar Systems is one of the key players in this market with in-depth commercial and residential solar experience, a strong sales and operational team and an expansive list of products and services," said Kevin P. Harvey, President, K-Star Solar. "They are a logical partner to take K-Star to the next level and we believe this is a win-win for Long Island residential consumers that are looking to go green with solar as we can now offer them SunPower premier products."

Solar EnerTech Enters into Sales Contract with German System Integrator

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 26 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Solar EnerTech Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: SOEN) (the "Company") today announced it has entered into a 10MW contract to deliver its solar modules to Solarzentrum Allgau, one of the leading solar system integrators in Germany.

The total shipment value to Solarzentrum Allgau under the contract is approximately US$20 million. Shipments, aimed for solar power installations in Germany, are scheduled to begin immediately and will be delivered throughout the current calendar year.

Solarzentrum Allgau was founded in 1985 in Altdorf, Germany. The company has benefitted from Germany's introduction of the Renewable Energy Sources Act in March 2000 and has grown its operations through its specialization of sale, assembly and installation of photovoltaic systems. The company is also the founder of an information and advisory center about solar energy in the county of Allg?u. Its President, Willi Bihler is considered a visionary in the field for his innovations in solar power installation (Photon magazine, June 2008 issue).

Mr. Leo Young, CEO of Solar EnerTech, commented, "This is an exciting new project for Solar EnerTech which can accelerate our financial performance for this calendar year. It shows that our strategy of enhancing our operating facility and improving our product efficiency is paying off. The quality of our solar modules are well known to Solarzentrum Allgau as we have served as a supplier to their rooftop projects in the past. Our high-quality, efficient and reliable products continue to garner increased attention among many well- known PV system integrators, which has improved our competitive advantage in winning new contracts."

Willi Bihler, Proprietor of Solarzentrum Allgau commented, "Solar EnerTech's solar products and support services meet the criteria for high quality and performance that we demand from our suppliers. When we encounter some technical issues during our installations, Solar EnerTech's team is always available to assist us with the appropriate solutions. We look forward to further developing our relationship with Solar EnerTech and believe that through their support, we have a compelling opportunity to gain a larger share of the German market going forward."

Spire Secures Expanded $8 Million Revolving Credit Facility with Silicon Valley Bank

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and solar systems worldwide, today announced that it has amended its current Revolving Credit Facility. In addition to the amended $3 million facility, the Company has added an additional $5 million revolver under an Export-Import Credit Facility which is backed by a guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (the “Ex-Im Bank”). The existing Equipment Credit Facility will be retained with no additional funds available under that line. In the aggregate, the Company will have availability of up to $8 million over the next year.

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, commented, \"We are pleased to receive these credit facilities, which improve our liquidity to support our growth. Silicon Valley Bank has been a good financial partner. Even with the tough banking environment, we were also able to increase the loan availability with the assistance of the guarantee offered by Ex-Im Bank.\"

“Spire is well positioned in the growing PV solar renewable market,” said Jay T. Tracy of Silicon Valley Bank’s Boston office. “We are glad we are able to renew our commitment to the Company and help it meet its growth objectives, particularly in such a challenging economy.”

Trina Solar Secures $57 Million Credit Facilities

CHANGZHOU, China, June 25 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, today announced it has secured from Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited new credit facilities totaling approximately $57 million, consisting of trade financing and defensive hedging products. The facilities are aimed to provide financial support to Trina Solar's raw material procurement and product sales while helping Trina Solar to mitigate foreign exchange risks associated with market volatilities.

"The credit facilities offer us greater flexibility to strengthen our cash flow position to further enhance our capital resources", said Terry Wang, Trina Solar's Chief Financial Officer. "We are very pleased to work with Standard Chartered, a well-known international bank with extensive experience and presence in China. Our strategic collaboration with Standard Chartered confirms Trina Solar's financial strength and ability to secure funding in a challenging economic environment."

The Company's total credit facilities stand currently at approximately $520 million, up from $460 million as previously announced. The new credit facilities are part of the Company's on-going strategy to optimize its long- term capital structure.

Radiance Solar and Cox Enterprises Complete Solar Thermal Hot Water Installation

ATLANTA, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiance Solar LLC announced today the completion of one of Georgia's largest solar thermal hot water installations at Cox Enterprises' Manheim Georgia facility. The system will supply hot water to Manheim Georgia's auto detail operation, offsetting more than 300 million BTUs of energy per year with clean, renewable solar energy.

The system has a life expectancy of more than 25 years and will reduce annual energy costs and environmental impact by more than 50 percent. The solar installation consists of forty 4'x10' solar thermal collectors and 2,000 gallons of solar hot water storage.

"Cox Enterprises was great to work with throughout the development, design and installation," said Jamie Porges, Radiance Solar's founder and COO. "It's great to work with partners like Cox who are forward-thinking in their approach to sustainability and understand the long-term financial benefits awarded by renewable solar energy."

The Manheim project underscores both Cox's commitment to renewable energy as well as the increasing vitality of the solar energy industry in the Southeast. The recent federal stimulus bill includes a series of state and federal stimulus grants available to businesses that invest in renewable energy.

"Renewable energy projects are good for the environment and the bottom line - especially with new stimulus incentives," said Mike Mannheimer, vice president, supply chain services and chief procurement officer, Cox Enterprises. "Across the country, Cox is acting now to ensure a greener tomorrow."

This project follows the recent completion of Cox's 10,000-square-foot photovoltaic rooftop solar panel installation at its Manheim DRIVE facility in Stockbridge, Ga. Both projects are part of Cox Conserves (www.coxconserves.com), the company's national sustainability program to conserve resources, embrace renewable forms of energy and reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2017. The program also encourages Cox's 77,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

First Solar Held 2009 Analyst and Investor Meeting

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Executives from First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today gave a series of presentations to approximately 175 analysts and investors during a meeting in Las Vegas.

First Solar’s executive team highlighted the following items:

* First Solar’s module manufacturing cost roadmap
* A new balance of system cost target
* The Company’s plans for growth
* The importance of opening sustainable markets to photovoltaic technology
* The Company’s project development pipeline
* An updated financial model that includes First Solar’s systems business

A replay of today’s investor and analyst meeting is available on the First Solar’s investor relations Web site at http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-calendarPast. Those seeking additional information can also download today’s executive presentations.

Lighthouse Solar™ Reaches Renewable Energy Summit Through Power Purchase Agreement with World’s First Zero-Energy Climbing Gym

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lighthouse Solar™, a premier supplier of renewable energy solutions to residential, commercial and industrial consumers nationwide, announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a new cutting-edge climbing gym. This ground-breaking agreement raises clean energy standards through a financing structure that pays investors while reducing the building owner’s energy costs.

When the world’s first solar-powered climbing gym, Movement Climbing and Fitness, opens in Boulder in July, its electricity will be produced by a 100-kilowatt photovoltaic array and its water will be heated with a 90-square-foot evacuated tube solar thermal system. The project was financed in part by the PPA, in which Lighthouse Solar™ owns the system and the building owners purchase the electricity it produces. The building owners benefit from a fixed power cost 10% below the current grid electrical rate, with savings increasing as electrical rates rise. Lighthouse Solar™ benefits by taking advantage of local, state and federal incentives and tax breaks which, combined with the monthly revenue stream from selling the electricity, provide investors in the PPA with a solid and predictable return on investment.

Scott Franklin, CEO and President of Lighthouse Solar™ explains, “The PPA concept is not new but by serving as both owner and installer Lighthouse Solar™ has streamlined third party ownership of clean energy systems, maximizing the value for everyone involved by avoiding distributor and subcontractor markups on both materials and labor.” The installation utilizes highly efficient and cost-effective photovoltaic panels and evacuated tube solar thermal collectors from Lumos™, a division of Lighthouse Solar’s parent company Clean Energy Solutions.

Tim Harrington, the gym’s general contractor said of the Lighthouse Solar™ PPA, “It is a state-of-the-art deal. Now I want to do it on my office. The biggest problem with commercial real estate is the utility bills - they’re enormous.”

To most effectively utilize the sun’s power, the gym was designed by Jim Logan Architects, a renowned zero-energy design firm. A smart-lighting system senses the ambient light and increases or decreases the interior lighting accordingly. A heat exchanger will utilize outside air to cool or warm the interior. Using Lightgauge™, Lighthouse Solar’s proprietary web-based data monitoring system, electrical production versus consumption will be prominently displayed on a monitor at the entrance of the building.

Walgreens Opens the Nation’s First LEED Registered Drugstore in Mira Mesa, Calif.

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, will celebrate today the grand opening of the first drugstore nationwide to meet top environmental requirements for efficiency and design. The new store in Mira Mesa, Calif., is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards – a certification only granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Walgreens officials and guests will mark the grand opening of this eco-drugstore with a tree planting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by a host of activities and earth-friendly product giveaways for the local community. A $5,000 donation also will be made to the Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego chapter. The non-profit environmental group aims to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through education, conservation and research.

“We are proud to showcase our commitment to the environment here in the San Diego area, a region recognized for its sustainability efforts,” said Walgreens market vice president Matt Sesto. “Walgreens is making great progress on our environmental initiatives in stores chainwide. We’re cutting our electricity and water usage, recycling tons of cardboard and shrink wrap each year and upgrading equipment for maximum efficiency.”

The Mira Mesa Walgreens offers reserved parking for hybrid vehicles. It also offers bike racks and is located close to public transportation. Inside, skylights and solar tubes allow the sun to light 75 percent of the store. Coolers, freezers and exterior signs all use LED lights, reducing energy use by 50 percent over fluorescent lighting. The store will save enough electricity to power 19.3 homes per year. In addition, the use of native and adaptive plant species will eliminate water usage for landscaping, and 95 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills and recycled.

“Signage posted inside the store will inform customers about the features that make this location unique,” said Sesto. “We want people to feel good about shopping here and maybe even be inspired to live greener lives.”

Walgreens opened its first store in Southern California more than 15 years ago and now has 19 locations in San Diego County. This is the company’s first Mira Mesa location. Another nine Walgreens stores are planned to open in the area by the end of 2011.

“We welcome Walgreens to the community and look forward to working with them on community events,\" said Mira Mesa Town Council president Jeff Stevens.

The Mira Mesa Walgreens is registered under the LEED Green Building Rating System. It will be reviewed by the USGBC and given a specific level of certification in four to six months.

Walgreens plans to open its next LEED registered store in Chicago this fall, with two more locations to follow by the end of the year. The company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint also include the use of solar panel systems on 63 of its locations in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Oregon. For more information on Walgreens green efforts and commitment to corporate social responsibility, visit www.walgreens.com/responsibility.

Canadian Solar to Offer Six Year Product Warranty

TORONTO, June 24 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. ("the Company", "Canadian Solar" or "we") (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced it would offer a six year warranty on module material and workmanship, extended from two years previously. Under this extended warranty, Canadian Solar warrants its standard solar module products, which account for more than 90% of the Company's production, to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a duration of 72 months from the date of delivery (EX-work). Some of the company's off-grid and specialty solar products may carry different warranty terms.

Dr. Shawn Qu, the President and CEO of Canadian Solar, commented, "This is one of the best product workmanship warranties in the PV industry and Canadian Solar is pleased to offer this extended warranty. This was a logical step for us given the high confidence we have in our product workmanship and positive real world feedback from customers. Our solar modules are designed and manufactured to the highest industry standards. For example, Canadian Solar is the only major solar module manufacturer accredited with ISO:TS 16949, the automotive Quality Management System standard since 2003. By extending the product warranty to 6 years, we want to make sure our customers can sit back and relax after they have completed their PV system with our modules. Importantly, while we are giving our customers a significant benefit we do not expect this to impact profitability. Rather, we believe our policy change will help increase sales and margin."

Dow Corning and Leading Solar Energy Companies Call for Policies to Make America a 21st Century Solar Power

WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of Dow Corning, a leading producer of silicon-based materials used in solar energy technologies, and representatives of America's top solar energy companies visited Washington D.C. today to call for new federal policies to encourage the growth of a domestic solar energy industry that will promote economic growth, create jobs, and help meet greenhouse gas emissions goals.
"Solar energy is a clean, efficient and readily available technology that with the right support could help transform America's energy, environmental and economic future. To make America a 21st century solar power, we need smart and effective government policies from Congress that will help the private sector grow, thrive and create thousands of new jobs," said Dow Corning Chairman, President and CEO Stephanie A. Burns.
During the visit, Dow Corning and representatives from several of its leading solar technology customers met with key members of Congress and the Administration. They delivered to policy makers a Four Point Policy Plan that outlines the steps needed to encourage the adoption of solar energy technologies and support a new renewable energy manufacturing sector in America. The plan calls on Congress and the Obama Administration to:

• Enact a broad federal legislative and regulatory package, designed to encourage the rapid growth of a viable renewable energy industry and encourage consumer adoption.
• Increase investments in research and development to support innovation in solar energy technologies.
• Increase renewable energy-related education, training and job creation.
• Establish the federal government as a leader in the utilization of clean energy technologies.

Dow Corning was joined by nine of its customers representing the solar energy value chain:

• Abengoa Solar
• BP Solar
• Kyocera
• National Semiconductor Corporation
• Sanyo
• SCHOTT Solar
• Solar Power Industries
• SolarWorld
• Suniva, Inc.

Dow Corning's silicon-based materials are used in solar cell manufacturing, solar module assembly and installation. In the past five years, Dow Corning and its joint ventures at the Hemlock Semiconductor Group have announced investments of more than $5 billion to research and develop as well as to expand production of materials critical to the solar industry.
To learn more about Dow Corning's efforts to promote a comprehensive energy policy that will support the growth and success of a vibrant American solar energy industry visit www.dowcorning.com/solarpolicy.

Signet Solar Appoints Bruce Horn as Chief Financial Officer

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Signet Solar, a global manufacturer of thin film silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, today announced a key addition to its executive team with the appointment of Bruce Horn as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Horn will oversee Signet’s financial development and offer strategic support as the company scales its manufacturing capabilities.

Bruce Horn has over 20 years of accounting, finance and management experience with public and private high-technology companies. Prior to joining Signet, Horn was CFO at StrataLight Communications, Inc., which was acquired by Opnext, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPXT) earlier this year. Horn also served as CFO and Treasurer of Oplink Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPLK), and CFO and VP of Finance of Larscom, Incorporated. He directed the execution of the IPO process for both companies.

“I was impressed with Signet’s aggressive growth plans and uncompromised determination to bring large area thin film silicon PV technology to the mass market,” said Horn. “I look forward to lending my assistance to this already stellar executive team and helping to provide ‘Clean Affordable Renewable Energy’ to citizens around the world.”

“With a rich history in Silicon Valley’s financial underpinnings, Bruce brings critical experience raising public and private capital and supporting the growth of rapidly maturing technology companies,” said Signet Solar founder and CEO Dr. Rajeeva Lahri. “We will utilize his financial expertise to assist in the sophistication of our fiscal roadmap as we continue to expand our global operations.”

In 2008, Signet Solar produced the industry’s first “Generation 8.5” large-area silicon thin film solar module from its production facility in Dresden, Germany. Signet has been shipping products to its customers since October 2008 for installations across Europe. Signet recently announced plans to build the company’s first North American production facility in Belen, New Mexico, scheduled to begin operations in 2010.

Solar Energy Initiatives Announces Securing Land to Build up to 18 Megawatt Solar Park in California

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (OTCBB:SNRY), executing on a grass roots campaign, “RENEW THE NATION”, to help redeploy a portion of the U.S. work force and focus on reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels by selling solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies, today announced that the Company signed a contract securing land for the design, construction and operation of a solar park in Southern California. The project could generate over $80 million in revenue within a 5-year time period.

Construction of up to an 18 megawatt system represents Solar Energy Initiatives first contract in the rapidly expanding solar park market. Preliminary work, including zoning, permitting, EPA and other activities, is expected to begin immediately. At full capacity, the solar park could generate enough green renewable energy to displace over 55,600 metric tons of carbon emissions, annually, that would have otherwise been produced by non-renewable power generation. The project could produce enough energy to provide power to more than 3,000 homes.

Solar Energy Initiatives, Chairman, Brad Holt, who initiated this project stated, \"Our entire organization is excited to announce this groundbreaking solar park agreement. Our Company was chosen over several other solar development firms, including some who far exceeded us in size. The landholder\'s confidence in the team we have assembled allowed us to be granted this monumental contract. While working with the landholder, we assembled a world class development team from within our own ranks, a construction crew with extensive knowledge in renewable projects and a finance team with over 15 years of experience in energy financing. We are all excited and prepared to commence work on this project which will be completed over the next several years and may lead to future projects for the SNRY team.\"

John Jaffray, President of JJR Power LLC, a partner in the project, states, \"We look forward to working with SNRY on this and future projects. This opportunity is very attractive to JJR because of the area\'s demand for solar, ideal location, great incentives and the proximity to the grid.”

JJR has assembled a syndicate of financing sources for funding the installation and permanent capital requirements for this project. SNRY is expected to provide in excess of $100 million of additional financing opportunities to JJR from their robust development pipeline through year-end 2010.

“The growing demand for solar parks are proof that the federal government is dedicated to working alongside trusted industry partners to embrace cleaner and more affordable green technology,” stated, David Fann, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Energy Initiatives. “Management is extremely pleased with the direction the Company is headed and this approximately $80 million project is proof that our strategic business plan is not only working but allowing us to rapidly increase our market share in the fast growing solar sector. We believe that our disciplined focus of our business model will allow us to secure additional contracts, increase market presence and achieve our overall goal of improved shareholder value.”

Auria Solar Ramps Up 60 MW Micromorph® End-to-End Line In Record Time

TAINAN, Taiwan & TRUBBACH, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Auria Solar today announced to be the first manufacturer to reach the mass production stage with Oerlikon Solar’s industry leading end-to-end manufacturing technology for high efficiency Micromorph® thin film silicon solar PV modules. Oerlikon Solar’s advanced process integration technology and on-site customer support helped Auria Solar reach the mass production stage, and attain IEC certification from TÜV Rheinland, in record time. Oerlikon Solar and Auria Solar ramped up the entire 60 MW Tainan facility and brought it to mass production in less than eight months after the move-in of equipment.

“Oerlikon Solar was our preferred supplier because of its proven technology, superior panel performance, comprehensive customer service and unmatched track record in delivering the fastest time-to-market. We are extremely impressed with the speed in which Oerlikon Solar’s expert team was able to bring our Micromorph® end-to-end fab to mass production,” says Dr. Chi-Yao Tsai, CEO of Auria Solar. “With our own innovations and state-of-the-art technologies, Auria Solar can already produce modules with 120 W stabilized power output and 9% conversion efficiency. Furthermore, the low-cost manufacturing process enabled through Oerlikon Solar’s leading-edge, end-to-end solution will help us reach the target of grid parity in the foreseeable future.”

Oerlikon Solar’s tandem-junction Micromorph® process will enable Auria Solar to produce 60 MW of highly efficient, cost-effective thin film silicon solar PV modules per year. “We congratulate Auria Solar in being the first end-to-end producer of our Micromorph® technology. Auria Solar achieved a fast ramp-up of certified high-performance PV modules resulting from our proven end-to-end line solution,” states Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar.

Dramatically Accelerated IEC Certification

The TÜV Rheinland IEC master certificate enables Oerlikon Solar’s customers like Auria Solar to accelerate their own IEC certification process, reducing time-to-market for certified high-performance modules from six months to less than six weeks. “We believe Oerlikon Solar is one of the premier equipment and module technology providers in the thin film silicon solar PV market. They have proven their ability to scale world-class technologies and processes to mass production, and passed all of our tests,” stated Willi Vaassen, Head of Renewable Energy division, TÜV Rheinland. The TÜV IEC master certification is valid worldwide and is just one part of the established portfolio of solutions Oerlikon Solar offers its customers to enable rapid ramp-ups to mass production of thin film solar PV modules.

Cost competitive Solar PV solution

Oerlikon Solar’s Micromorph® process significantly boosts solar cell efficiency by adding a second microcrystalline absorber to the amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer. This layer converts the energy of the red- and near-infrared spectrum, yielding efficiency and module power gains of up to 50 percent. The Micromorph® technology enables module manufacturers to produce thin film silicon solar modules at competitive cost.

Dr. Tsai: “With Auria Solar’s TÜV Rheinland IEC certificate, we are well positioned technically and competitively to compete in the worldwide PV market.” In late 2008, Auria Solar expressed aggressive growth plans to expand its manufacturing capacity to 500 MW by 2012.

“Oerlikon Solar’s competitive time-to-market for the Auria Solar facility is another example of the world-class experience, support and knowledge Oerlikon Solar can offer to all of its customers,” adds Sargent. “We are dedicated to helping make solar PV an economically viable alternative energy option, and our ability to quickly ramp our high-performance Micromorph® end-to-end fab illustrates this commitment.”

“Just one more milestone in Oerlikon Solar’s mission to make solar power economically viable”

Solar Supplier Chooses Toledo for First North American Facility

TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Toledo and Northwest Ohio area’s involvement in solar energy production took another major step forward with the announcement of plans to develop North America’s most advanced polycrystalline silicon (c-Si) production facility in Toledo.

Officials of California-based Sphere Renewable Energy Corp. (SREC) said the company will develop a wholly-owned subsidiary, Buckeye Silicon (BeSi), in Toledo. The initial production module will be located at The University of Toledo’s renowned Center for Renewable Energy.

“Toledo is an outstanding community, one with the human resources that readily can be applied to our manufacturing business,” said Harrison Choi, BeSi’s President and CEO.

Polycrystalline silicon is the key component and essential raw material used to produce 90 percent of the photovoltaic (PV) solar cells currently being manufactured.

Product produced by BeSi will be sold predominantly to PV producers in North America and Europe. SREC recently has entered into a joint venture with strategic, East Asian investors to begin using SREC’s proprietary process to mass produce c-Si for the PV market.

Solar cell manufacturers in the Toledo market currently use a process that does not require c-Si to produce PV solar cells. With the addition of BeSi’s manufacturing base, the Toledo area will be capable of boosting its photovoltaic manufacturing portfolio, spanning the entire PV value chain.

A ceremony in conjunction with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was held at UT’s Center for Renewable Energy. Signatories included BeSi, UT, the City of Toledo and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

With an eye toward the future of both his company and the area’s role in solar energy, President Choi said: “Over the next several years, we look forward to working with each of the MOU parties to create many net-new skilled jobs for Toledoans. Our plan is to grow to become a dominate, global polysilicon supplier as well as to further improve the NW Ohio platform so other solar-focused companies will base their businesses here.”

Michael J. Stolarczyk, President and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, endorsed BeSi’s move to Toledo. \"The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority strongly supports the further development of the solar industry in Northwest Ohio, and we are committed to working with BeSi on the development of its financing,\" Stolarczyk said.

Sphere Renewable Energy Corp’s approach involves a light industrial, modular process which requires much less space and energy than a traditional polycrystalline silicon production facility. Also, SREC’s development is more efficient. The approach up until now has involved massive chemical infrastructure facilitation, similar to an oil refinery, with many of the related concerns that refineries experience.

SREC’s process does not have the environmental problems other polycrystalline silicon manufacturer’s experience.

GT Solar Launches Engineering Solution to Enable the Manufacture of Silane Gas

MERRIMACK, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GT Solar, a global provider of specialized equipment and technology for the solar power industry, today announced the availability of its Silane Production Package, which bundles GT Solar’s silane technology expertise with its proprietary equipment. This new package enables companies in the semiconductor, solar, and flat panel display industries to secure their own source of ultrapure silane gas using cost-effective, local production facilities.

“Increased demand from the semiconductor, photovoltaic, and flat panel display industries has resulted in shortages of silane gas accompanied by rising prices,” said Dave Keck, vice president and general manager of GT Solar’s polysilicon business. “As the need for silane gas continues to grow, companies around the globe are beginning to seek more secure solutions. With silane production a natural extension of our existing, well-proven polysilicon and trichlorosilane production plant capabilities, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of these adjacent market opportunities.

“Similar to what we are experiencing in polysilicon production, where GT Solar’s efforts with new entrants are drastically augmenting polysilicon supply, we expect that our technology and know-how will help create a new class of regional competitors in the silane market. As a result, we anticipate that silane users will have more choice, and there will be a reduced reliance on the one, primary supplier that currently exists.”

GT Solar’s Silane Production Package is a modular equipment solution and basic engineering package that enables companies to construct silane plants and begin delivering silane gas within 24 months. The package includes design, fabrication, quality control, training and technical support services; as well as a modular silane production plant, complete with piping, instrumentation, and analytical equipment.

Silane (or monosilane) gas is one of the most widely used silicon-containing gases utilized in the production of the thin silicon layers that are the foundation for semiconductor and photovoltaic products, as well as flat panel displays.

Solar Power, Inc.’s 200-watt Class Module Receives Number One PTC Ratings From California Energy Commission

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. (“SPI”) (OTCBB: SOPW) announced today that two of its 200-watt modules, have been ranked number one and number two in comparative performance ratings awarded by the California Energy Commission (“CEC”). In April, SPI announced another of its 200-watt modules had been ranked number three by the CEC.

Solar Power, Inc. currently sells three versions of its 200-watt module. Each of SPI’s modules has been tested using the Photovoltaic USA Test Conditions (“PTC”) to achieve the PTC rating that is the basis for their comparative rank. At present, the CEC lists 13 modules within the 200-watt category that have been tested using the PTC test conditions. Solar Power, Inc.’s SP200 modules currently hold rankings in the numbers one, two and three positions placing them squarely at the top of their class. The performance difference between SPI’s number-one ranked 200-watt module and the fourth-ranked competing module is 1.7%.

SPI’s modules are tested to evaluate performance characteristics by the independent, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, Intertek located in Lake Forest, CA. PTC ratings provide a measurement of how modules will behave in real-world conditions and is widely recognized by solar professionals as the best way to compare module performance. PTC test results are used by the CEC to rank and rate solar module performance for the CEC’s SB1 Guidance Listings. PTC values on this list are calculated using strict laboratory tests to establish comparative rankings. Higher performance ratings translate into greater rebates for home and business owners when installing solar systems within the state of California. The CEC’s SB1 listing of modules reflecting these new rankings will be published in early July.

“These most recent rankings by the CEC demonstrate our commitment to quality and performance,” said Steve Kircher, CEO of Solar Power, Inc. “California has historically been a trend setter and the state’s adoption of solar energy is no exception. The standards and practices that are being applied to solar in California are being adopted in other states as well. We are very pleased to see our modules achieve consistently superior performance evaluations under rigorous test conditions,” Mr. Kircher concluded.

All SPI modules are UL-listed for the US market and IEC-rated for the European market. The SP200 modules are also sold through the company’s growing U.S. national franchise network of Yes! Solar SolutionsTM retail energy outlets under the Yes! Solar SolutionsTM brand name. Additionally, Solar Power, Inc.’s SP200 modules are sold throughout Europe, Asia and Australia for both residential and commercial solar energy systems. The SP200 modules are featured in the arrays atop the STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and 18,000 of the highly rated modules will be used in the 3.5-megawatt Aerojet installation now under construction in Sacramento, California.

Satcon Delivers Fully Integrated Utility Class One Megawatt Power Conversion Solution

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale distributed power solutions for the renewable energy market, announced today the general availability of Prism®, a fully integrated one megawatt medium voltage solution optimized for utility scale solar PV installations.

Leveraging Satcon’s industry standard setting PowerGate® Plus 500kW solar PV inverters, Prism is a fully customizable one megawatt platform, complete with factory integrated step-up transformers, switchgear, and electronics. The solution will be delivered complete in an all-climate outdoor enclosure and ready to connect to the PV array and utility grid, enabling rapid installation through a modular prepackaged design.

Prism will dramatically increase the ease and speed of a typical utility scale PV installation, while also providing the unparalleled power production efficiencies that can only be realized through this full factory integrated and tested power conversion platform. Satcon’s Prism one megawatt integrated medium voltage solution is based on factory integrated pairs of Satcon’s highly efficient PowerGate Plus 500kW solar PV inverters, which recently eclipsed 150MW of total units installed globally.

“We are at an inflexion point in the solar PV industry, where utility scale projects are becoming more prevalent,” commented Dr. Leo Casey, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering for Satcon. “Satcon’s solutions have been used on some of the largest renewable energy sites in the world with hundreds of millions of grid connect kW hours delivered to date. Our customers were asking for a highly efficient, completely integrated package for large scale installations, and Prism offers the most flexible, efficient and powerful solution on the market today.”

The Prism solar PV solution is available for order immediately. The complete solution will come with Satcon’s standard five-year warranty included, and available optional warranty terms up to 20 years. Integrated transformers and switchgear are fully customizable, and Satcon system consultants are available to assist with project requirements and configurations.

Amtech to Introduce New Technology-Solar PSG Removal Equipment at Intersolar North America, July 14-16, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, today announced that its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, plans to introduce its new PSG removal technology at the Intersolar North America 2009 solar industry trade show (booth #8023), taking place July 14-16 in San Francisco, California. This newest solar product represents the third product in Amtech’s solar portfolio and, combined with its PECVD tool launched a year ago, will significantly increase the company’s total available market size.

This process step in the manufacturing of solar cells removes phosphosilicate glass (PSG) that naturally occurs during the diffusion process. A vast majority, if not all of existing PSG removal equipment utilizes conventional wet chemistry technology. Amtech’s new technology utilizes a dry chemical process that does not require large quantities of hazardous wet chemicals that impose large disposal burdens, resulting in potential lower cost of ownership.

J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, “The introduction of our third solar production tool is an important milestone for the company, coming approximately one year after the introduction of our PECVD equipment. In addition to the significant benefits of dry chemical technology, this PSG solar product has the potential to contribute to higher cell efficiency, aiding the overall solar market goal of reaching grid parity. As we introduce our PSG removal equipment into the market, we continue to focus on our strategy of further expanding our offerings with the introduction of additional solar products in the future. With a healthy balance sheet and expanded product line, we are determined to emerge from the current recession as a stronger player in solar market.”

QD Soleil™ Announces Allowance of Claims for Nano-enabled Solar Concentrators

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--QD Soleil™, a division of Nanosys, Inc., announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed the company patent claims based on the use of nanostructures for solar concentrators. Solar concentrators magnify the sun’s rays on a small area of highly efficient solar cells. Such concentrators can dramatically reduce the cost of solar energy systems because the active solar cells can be made much smaller and thinner. Concentrator technology can be used in traditional utility-scale solar farms in addition to novel window glass applications, where the window tinting can be used to generate electricity by integrating a PV cell at the glass edge. QD Soleil uses its quantum dot technology to efficiently capture and concentrate light in a very narrow band at the edge of the glass. The properties of quantum dots make them particularly well suited and superior to other approaches for light concentration, such as organic dyes which have short lifetimes.

“We feel strongly that these new nano-enabled light concentrator systems will allow U.S. companies to replace large areas of expensive crystalline solar cells with cost-advantaged metal and plastic concentrator systems and efficient small-area solar cells,” said Vijendra Sahi, vice president and general manager of QD Soleil. “Our quantum dot technology and strong IP position provide a winning advantage for companies that want to establish a leadership position with these new enabling solar applications.”

Largest Global Photovoltaic Testing Network Gets Even Bigger

NEWTOWN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TÜVRheinland® is increasing its domination of the photovoltaic market, expanding its global reach once again by opening a new test laboratory in Cologne, Germany this month.

The new Cologne location offers state-of-the-art technology for inspecting photovoltaic modules and solar thermal collectors and systems. It includes six climate chambers and five sun simulators, as well as two stations for mechanical load testing. The 1,800 m2 facility is three times larger than the previous Cologne test site, which could no longer meet the requirements of the rapidly growing solar energy market. The company also operates two external facilities – one in Cologne and another in Italy – for testing modules under real-weather conditions.

TÜVRheinland plays a key role in the international development of solar energy usage and quality assurance of solar modules. Since 1995, the company has continuously expanded its laboratory capacity and resources to address the needs of the ever-growing production of photovoltaic systems.

“Approximately 70% of all manufacturers of solar modules worldwide have their products tested in TÜVRheinland laboratories in order to obtain international market licenses and gain the recognition of both users and investors,” said Stephan Schmitt, President & CEO of TÜV Rheinland North America Holding Company. “Our newest test lab in Cologne demonstrates our leadership position and further solidifies our stronghold in the solar testing arena.”

With an international network across six continents, TÜVRheinland® maintains the largest network of Solar Energy Laboratories worldwide with five major laboratories on three continents, providing services that include product testing and certification, production monitoring, system testing and monitoring and research and development. In addition to the German test center, the company has established solar laboratories in Japan, China and the United States.

The US laboratory, based in Tempe, Arizona, is TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC, a leading provider of safety and performance testing, and market certification serving every sector of the photovoltaic marketplace, from the supply chain through installation. TÜV Rheinland PTL is a unique partnership between Arizona State University, an institution with more than 50 years of research on solar energy and extensive solar testing know-how, and TÜVRheinland®, a $1.5 billion global provider of independent testing, assessment, and certification services.

BioSolar’s BioBacksheet™ May “Revolutionize the Solar Power Industry,” According to Media Reports

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSolar, Inc. (OTCBB:BSRC) has introduced “a robust protective backing for solar cells derived from cotton and castor beans, which may possibly revolutionize the solar power industry as we know it today,” according to a June 3, 2009 article on Green Energy News.

The article notes that BioSolar is “the primary initiator of this resilient bio-based plastic, which substantially reduces solar manufacturing costs and entirely ceases any need for petroleum exploitation.”

BioSolar’s line of proprietary BioBacksheet™ protective coverings are designed to replace expensive and hazardous petroleum-based film with a bio-based one derived from cotton and castor beans, creating a more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective solar panel component.

“With the market for solar power already in explosive growth mode, BioSolar is singularly positioned to lead the development of truly sustainable and cost-effective solar technology,” according to YESWECANSOLVEIT Blogspot.

Dr. David Lee, Chairman and CEO of BioSolar, recently announced that the BioBacksheetTM-C will be the company’s first product to be commercially available during the second half of 2009. The announcement follows BioSolar’s recent news that two of its products are currently in the preproduction stage and nearing qualification for full production.

US Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall Visit Ascent Solar to Discuss Colorado Job Creation in the New Energy Economy

THORNTON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of state of the art flexible thin-film solar modules, hosted a press conference and facility tour Saturday for the Honorable Michael Bennet and the Honorable Mark Udall, U.S. Senators for Colorado, at the company’s world headquarters in Thornton, Colo. Joined by Ascent Solar employees, the Senators highlighted the potential for job creation in the New Energy Economy as evidenced by the company’s growth to date.

“Companies like Ascent Solar are helping Colorado become a national leader in the clean energy economy,” Senator Bennet said. “They are providing new energy options that also create new, good-paying jobs right here at home and help move Colorado and our economy forward.”

Bennet and Udall cited Ascent Solar’s breakthrough photovoltaic technology achievements and its plans to create 200 new jobs for Colorado’s New Energy Economy over the next several months. In March, the company opened its new facility and announced its planned 30 megawatt (MW) capacity manufacturing lines that will produce solar modules that can power homes, commercial buildings and consumer devices, among other applications.

“Ascent Solar is proud to be at the heart of Colorado’s renewable energy industry growth,” said Dr. Mohan Misra, Ascent Solar’s chairman and CEO. “Our company is benefiting from renewable energy tax incentives from the Recovery Act to fuel job creation and economic growth in the state.”

Ascent Solar expanded from its existing Littleton, Colo., facility, where its 1.5 MW capacity manufacturing line currently produces fully integrated lightweight thin-film CIGS modules using a flexible plastic substrate. The company is working with its partners to develop products that include building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) that can be part of rooftops, awnings and siding, for example, to provide solar power.

Custom-Bilt Metals Shines with FusionSolar™ More Affordable Solar Power System

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Custom-Bilt Metals, a company with a long history of environmental leadership through product innovation, launches its new FusionSolar™ system, a more-affordable, turn-key rooftop solar power system.

When builders, contractors and homeowners specify FusionSolar with a standing seam roof, they get a complete system, including all necessary components, detailed schematics and specifications for wiring and electrical components that an electrical subcontractor needs for installation. Since no specialized solar installer expertise is required, sheet metal and roofing professionals are able to install the standing seam roof just as they would a standard metal roof.

“By focusing on two core principles, simplicity and a lower cost of installation, we’re delivering a better solar power system,” said Tony Chiovare, president of Custom-Bilt Metals. “Additionally we are providing builders, contractors and their prospective customers with an ROI report to help them determine their payback period and to understand how much of their total power consumption they stand to offset by generating clean, renewable and dependable solar power.”

Custom-Bilt Metals has consistently led the market in metal roofing materials by delivering environmentally sustainable metal roofing products through “cool roof” innovation. The new and innovative solar system is an effective roofing solution for virtually any roofing project, new building or replacement roof.

The company is also pleased to have the FusionSolar system awarded the PCBC 2009 “Cool Product” designation in the energy saver category.

Solar satisfaction

Unlike visually obtrusive polycrystalline panels that are “racked” and attached by drilling through a roof, FusionSolar is fused directly to the standing seam panel, visually blending in without penetrating the roof. Lying flat on top of the surface, the flexible thin film flows with the roof profile even on curved designs.

Once installed, the laminate can be safely walked on without causing damage and unlike solar glass can’t be damaged by a neighborhood kid’s baseball or other flying objects.

Offering a lower cost-per-watt than roof-mounted polycrystalline panels, FusionSolar will pay for itself within ten years or less in most cases. Once installed, it’s a fixed cost that is immune from rate hikes that may be likely in an unstable economy. In addition, FusionSolar currently qualifies for a variety of federal and state tax credits and other incentives.

The FusionSolar difference

Simplicity, affordability and good looks are the big differences with FusionSolar. Unlike rack-mounted solar roofing, FusionSolar thin-film laminate blends in with the roof’s intended style, covering all or just a portion of any standing seam roof.

The green building envelope attributes of FusionSolar in combination with energy savings make it the ideal solar product for this day and age. The FusionSolar thin-film laminate technology achieves a higher relative efficiency under high temperatures and low light than solar glass.

Project savings are derived from the use of fewer roofing and racking materials and the more cost-effective solar thin-film technology purchased right from the builder, sheet metal or roofing professional.

Additional benefits of the FusionSolar more affordable solar system include:

* A durable thin-film laminate solution adhered to standing seam metal roofing and able to withstand winds of up to 160 miles per hour
* The capacity to be individually tailored; delivered on standing seam panels in 9’ or 18’ lengths, the system is able to be scaled to deliver 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 120 kW-sized output
* Specifications and hardware so that any electrical contractor can make the simple connections to the home’s electrical service
* A 20-year warranty on FusionSolar systems in addition to Custom-Bilt Metals’ already generous warranty on its standing seam metal roofing materials
* The capability to qualify for up to 7 LEED points in the on-site renewable energy category, a strong step forward in achieving this nationally recognized green building designation
* The ability to qualify for local, state and national tax incentives; log onto www.dsireusa.org to find out about a solar incentive program near you

To learn more about Custom-Bilt Metals’ FusionSolar standing seam-integrated rooftop solar power generation system and other energy-efficient products, visit www.custombiltmetals.com/products.php.

Former First Solar Executive to Lead HelioVolt

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HelioVolt Corporation, a producer of highly-efficient thin film solar products, announced today that Jim Flanary has joined as chief executive officer. A business leader with a proven track record at both large and small companies, Jim Flanary brings vast expertise in growing high-tech manufacturing businesses. As COO of First Solar, during a critical scale-up phase of the Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) module manufacturer, Jim implemented the core manufacturing process methodologies that allowed First Solar to rapidly scale while addressing early product quality issues. Most recently at HelioSphera, Jim was once again responsible for helping the newly established micromorph thin film module manufacturer bring up its operations in Tripolis, Greece.

“HelioVolt is one of a small number of CIGS companies positioned for commercial scale-up,” said Scott Sandell, General Partner at New Enterprise Associates and member of HelioVolt’s Board of Directors. HelioVolt is developing a suite of high performance copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic products suitable for a variety of solar applications, including for use in commercial rooftops and Building Integrated (BIPV) systems. The company’s first Austin, TX based factory is gearing up for production in the second half of 2009. “We are extremely pleased to have Jim joining the HelioVolt team. His knowledge of the solar market and expertise in building companies will be invaluable,” added Sandell.

“HelioVolt has developed a unique method for rapid manufacturing of advanced solar technology with potential to reach module efficiencies comparable with poly-silicon modules and at competitive installed costs,” said HelioVolt founder and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. BJ Stanbery. “Jim brings a unique combination of entrepreneurial drive and operational capabilities with solid business growth, experience that aligns him well with our plan to deliver the most efficient and cost effective products to the market.”

Known for his execution and focus on operational excellence, Jim has held a number of key roles such as Chief Operating Officer of First Solar from 2001 to 2003, and as President of OEA Aerospace, and President of Networks Electronic Corporation. During a 10 plus year career at ITT Night Vision, Jim developed his operational skills in robust engineering, six sigma, and lean manufacturing and became their Division President and General Manager. Jim was awarded the coveted ITT Ring of Quality and the Harold S. Geneen Award as part of a leadership team that helped establish ITT Night Vision as the world leader in military and commercial night vision products.

“HelioVolt is one of the most promising thin-film companies in the solar industry today and I feel honored to lead the company through its next growth phase,” said Flanary. “The market has seen the potential of thin-film technology in the past 2 years and I believe HelioVolt has the next generation technology and process that will allow our customers and partners to reach new levels of commercial growth.”

Southern California Edison Signs Contracts for More Than 900 Megawatts of Renewable Power

ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed agreements with wind and solar suppliers for up to 960 megawatts of clean, renewable power.

The recent agreements, subject to approval of the California Public Utilities Commission, include two contracts with Solar Millennium for a potential 726 megawatts of power from solar-thermal trough generators. When complete, those projects call for two 242 megawatt facilities with the option to expand one to include an additional 242 megawatts. The projects would be located in Blythe, Calif., and Ridgecrest, Calif., and are expected to come on line in 2013 and 2014.

“Southern California Edison is committed to expanding our renewable energy portfolio to benefit our customers, our suppliers and the environment,” said Stuart Hemphill, SCE vice president, Renewable and Alternative Power. “As the nation’s leading utility in renewables, we applaud the innovation that these companies show, and we look forward to productive, long-term partnerships.”

Other recent renewable power contracts — both scheduled to come on line in the fourth quarter, 2010 — include an agreement with Columbia Energy Partners for 40 megawatts of wind power, expandable to 104 megawatts, in Central Oregon; and one with BP Wind Energy & Ridgeline Energy, LLC for 90 megawatts of wind power, expandable to 130 megawatts, in Southeast Idaho.

To date, SCE has executed 12 contracts from the 2008 renewable solicitation representing potential annual deliveries of more than 6.5 billion kilowatt-hours per year. In addition, SCE is in the process of preparing to issue the 2009 renewable solicitation with an expected launch date by the end of June.

SCE delivers more renewable energy to its customers than any other utility — 12.6 billion kilowatt-hours in 2008 — and 16 percent of its total energy portfolio comes from geothermal, wind, solar, small hydro and biomass resources. In addition, SCE delivered 65 percent of the nation’s solar energy to its customers in 2008. For more about SCE’s work in renewables, visit www.sce.com/renewables.

“In Light” of Summer Solstice, Americans Call for More Solar Energy

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Americans prepare to enjoy the longest day of the year on Sunday, June 21 during the summer solstice, Applied Materials, a leading supplier of solar manufacturing equipment, has released a survey reflecting the general public’s understanding and opinions about solar energy. The findings indicate that a majority of people surveyed believe in the potential of solar technology and want the U.S. government and utilities to do more to speed its adoption, although some have outdated views.

“The summer solstice is a good time to celebrate the unique power of the sun,” said Dr. Charles Gay, president of Applied Solar. “Applied Materials is working to build a better understanding of how solar technology can provide the country with energy that is efficient, beneficial and now cost-competitive for peak usage in specific regions.”

According to the survey, Americans are calling for more solar energy and faster integration of renewable power into the U.S. energy mix:

* Half of the people surveyed (50%) think the U.S. Government’s goal to have 25% of its power generated by renewable energy by 2025 is too slow.
* Four out of five (81%) agree that solar energy should play a greater role in meeting our nation’s energy needs in the next five years.
* More than two-thirds (68%) think utilities should include solar electricity as a part of their energy generation.
* Just over half (52%) would be willing to pay more per month if their utility company increased its use of renewable energy. But many consumers (41%) would not be willing to pay more, demonstrating the important role that government incentives, to bring down solar costs, will have on advancement of the technology.

Dispelling Myths and Providing Solar Solutions

“Applied Materials’ solar energy strategy is to bring significant change to the solar industry by enabling lower cost-per-watt solutions for solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing,” said Gay. “Our goal is to make solar energy a more meaningful contributor to the global energy supply.”

One important step to meeting the company’s goal is to help educate the public about the true potential of solar energy and refute common myths about the sun as an energy source.

Considerable progress has been made advancing solar technology during the past two decades, although many in the survey were not aware of this. Applied Materials, for example, has introduced the SunFab Thin Film Line™, a fully integrated production line for manufacturing the world’s largest solar panels. A full-size SunFab panel measures 5.7m2, or four times the size of traditional panels, and covers an area about the size of a garage door. These larger panels will help increase solar energy output and drive down costs. Experience shows that increasing scale reduces costs–for each doubling of solar installations worldwide, the cost per watt of solar energy has declined by nearly 20%.

The survey also showed that Americans overestimate the amount of solar energy used in this country. One in five people stated that 20% or more of our energy comes from solar power. But solar energy accounts for less than 0.01% of U.S. energy generation, even though solar is already cost-competitive with fossil fuels for peak demand in such places as Hawaii, California and New York.

Another misconception held by over half of the persons surveyed is that solar panel installations on homes are the most efficient way to harness solar energy. In fact, “solar farms” represent an underutilized source for solar energy. The United States could supply its entire energy needs by covering just 1.6% of its land area with solar cells. In fact, putting solar cells on 1% of the area of global deserts would be sufficient to produce electricity for all the people in the world.

Germany and Spain lead the world in solar energy use, thanks to the revolutionary effect of government incentives. But one in four people surveyed believe that the U.S. is the world leader. Policy changes at the federal, state and local level can help the United States assume more of a leadership role in solar energy use. Applied Materials, headquartered in the Silicon Valley, has the nanomanufacturing technology and capabilities to accelerate the growth of the United States solar market. A single Applied SunFab™ tandem junction thin film line can produce enough panels to generate 80 MW of electricity each year, or enough to power over 35,000 homes during peak hours. In addition to the environmental benefits, a solar factory containing one SunFab line has the potential to generate an estimated $2 billion of economic development and create over 2,500 local jobs over five production years, according to an independent analysis.

To review the full findings of this survey and learn more about Applied Materials\' solar photovoltaic business, visit http://www.appliedmaterials.com/summer.

First Solar to Webcast Its Analyst/Investor Meeting on June 24, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) will host its 2009 Analyst/Investor Meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Investors may access a live audio webcast and presentations of this event in the Investor Calendar section of the Company’s Web site at http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-calendar. Presentations by First Solar’s management team are scheduled to begin at 10:35 AM PDT and conclude by 4:30 PM PDT. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Calendar section on the Company’s Web site at http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-calendarPast approximately two hours after the conclusion of the event.

Eltek Valere Brings Solar Power to Wireless and Broadband Telecom Networks

DRAMMEN, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eltek Valere today announced a new solar converter that makes solar power an even more viable option for remote wireless cell sites or broadband telecom applications. The company’s new Flatpack2 HE Solar delivers unrivaled performance in terms of energy efficiency, heat loss, solar panel utilization, lightning/surge protection, modularity and reliability.

Four to six solar panels are connected to each Flatpack2 HE Solar converter, which converts the solar power into controlled 48VDC for supply to telecom equipment. The centre of the solution is the advanced Smartpack monitoring and control unit that optimizes the system with regard to battery performance, network management, diesel consumption on hybrid sites as well as controlling additional Flatpack2 HE rectifiers where applicable.

The power output from solar panels varies depending on time of the day, shading effects, weather conditions and seasonal position of the sun. A traditional ‘direct feed’ telecom system typically only utilizes 70% of the panel’s available power output and does not provide isolation between the panels and the telecom equipment.

To reach 100% panel utilization, the Flatpack2 HE Solar converter features maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technology to generate maximum power from the solar panels under all conditions. The converter regularly scans the panels to ensure peak output during changing conditions.

The solar charger is based on Eltek Valere’s High Efficiency (HE) technology, which delivers 96% power conversion efficiency across the whole load range. This is the highest power efficiency today and cuts the power conversion losses in half compared to conventional technology – finally making solar power a green and profitable alternative for the future of communications.

“The features, intelligence and efficiency that we’ve built into the Flatpack2 HE Solar converter makes solar solutions ‘telecom-ready’ and eliminates the obstacles that have kept carriers from rolling it out in their networks. The solution provides an unrivaled technical and commercial solution to expand communication to areas without access to reliable commercial power,” said Morten Schoyen, Eltek Valere chief marketing officer. “We’ve been able to leverage our exclusive HE technology and other key features to help solar power deliver for carriers.”

The Flatpack2 HE Solar converter is suitable for all telecom applications in both autonomous (solar only) or hybrid solar power applications. The converter integrates with Flatpack2 rectifier systems in combination with the advanced Smartpack monitoring and control unit in a unique solution managing the power from all different sources, such as solar, grid and generator.

Galvanic isolation between solar panels and batteries/telecom equipment provides high level of surge protection and reliability.

Availability

The Flatpack2 HE Solar converter and corresponding solutions have already been supplied to several carriers and are available from Eltek Valere’s worldwide sales force and offices.

Solar Manufacturing, Inc. Ships High Temperature Sintering Furnace

SOUDERTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Manufacturing, Inc. recently completed the shipment of a high temperature sintering vacuum furnace to an industry leader in the design, development and production of advanced specialty metal components for the aerospace and defense industries. This custom furnace, a model HFL-5748-2EQ with additional graphite felt hot zone insulation, is capable of an operating temperature of 1800° C.

Solar Manufacturing designs and manufactures heat treating and brazing furnaces with a focus on energy efficiency and durability. “Our customer needed a robust vacuum furnace to sinter heavy tungsten alloys at very high temperatures. We demonstrated that our vacuum furnaces can achieve high performance operation with low cost-of-ownership through the use of state-of-the-art materials,” said Pete Reh, vice president of sales.

The working dimensions of the hot zone measure 36″ wide X 36″ high X 48″ deep. Due to the extremely high maximum temperature this end user desired and the need for superior temperature uniformity, the hot zone is super insulated with eight (8) layers of 0.5″ thick high purity graphite felt insulation for superior energy efficiency. The insulation pack is protected by a hot face of 0.040″ thick Flex Shield, a durable, flexible carbon fiber reinforced graphite foil. Thin graphite heating elements are mounted cylindrically in the hot zone and divided into multiple trim zones. The weight capacity of the graphite hearth is 2,000 pounds.

Solar Manufacturing’s state-of-the-art, interactive control system, the SolarVac 3000, will perform monitoring and control. The external gas quenching system utilizes a high-capacity copper heat exchanger, 150 HP drive motor and a radial blade fan for high velocity gas quenching through unique “forward tapered” graphite nozzles. The chamber’s front door features a pneumatically operated, locking ring closure to facilitate positive pressure quench to 15 psig (2 bar). A 20″ Varian diffusion pump allows for high vacuum performance of 1 x 10-5 Torr.

Solar Manufacturing, Inc. is part of Solar Atmospheres, Inc., a progressive company of one of the largest independent commercial heat treaters in the USA. To learn more about their diverse product line, contact Peter Reh, vice president of sales pkr@solarmfg.com visit their website at www.solarmfg.com.

PowerSat Files Patent That Accelerates Viability Of Space Solar Power (SSP) Satellite Systems

EVERETT, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PowerSat Corporation (www.powersat.com), a pioneer in safe and reliable energy generation from space, today announced the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 61/177,565 or “SPACE-BASED POWER SYSTEMS AND METHODS.” The patent includes two technologies, BrightStar and Solar Powered Orbital Transfer (SPOT), which enable the reduction of launch and operation costs by roughly $1 billion for a 2,500 megawatt (MW) power station.

“This patent filing is a watershed moment not only for PowerSat but for a renewables industry that, until now, could neither compete economically nor generate power at the base load scale of oil or coal,” said PowerSat CEO William Maness. “Today, the convergence of technology and energy demand, combined with the political will to wean us off of fossil fuels, enables space solar power (SSP) to fill a widening clean energy supply gap.”

SSP is a clean, viable solution to our world’s growing energy problems. Not limited by weather or geography, SSP solves the intermittency problems of earth-based renewables by providing a reliable and flexible energy source that is available 24/7. The underlying technology components are proven and systems will be deployable within a decade. Solar energy is captured via solar power satellites (known as powersats) and transmitted wirelessly to receiving stations at various points around the globe. Thousands of megawatts can be harnessed and shifted between receiving stations thousands of miles from each other—all in a matter of seconds.

PowerSat Corporation’s first patented technology, BrightStar, allows individual powersats to form a wireless power transmission beam without being physically connected to each other. This “electronic coupling,” conceptually similar to cloud computing, effectively eliminates the need to handle large (gigawatt) levels of power in a single spacecraft. Because of BrightStar, one transmission beam may now come from hundreds of smaller powersats. Another advantage of Brightstar is increased reliability. If any of the individual component satellites fail they can be easily replaced without significantly affecting the performance of the system, thus establishing much greater reliability.

The other technology being patented by PowerSat, Solar Power Orbital Transfer (SPOT) propels a spacecraft to an optimal, Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) using electronic thrusters that are powered by the same solar array that is eventually used for wireless power transmission. Until now, all satellites have had to use chemical propulsion or a chemically fueled “space tug” to move from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is 300-1,000 miles in altitude to GEO, which is 22,236 miles in altitude.

SPOT technology also decreases the weight of a powersat by 67%, dramatically reducing launch costs, and enabling PowerSat modules to fly on rockets to LEO, deploy their solar powered electronic thrusters and then fly themselves out to GEO. GEO, the orbit for most communications satellites, is optimal because it allows a powersat to harvest the sun’s energy continuously.

Satcon Selected for Largest Solar Energy Rooftop Installation in the Southeast United States

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale distributed power solutions for the renewable energy market, announced today that it has installed four 250 kilowatt (kW) PowerGate® Plus inverters at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), the largest solar rooftop installation in the southeast of the United States. The Orange County Convention Center 1.1 megawatt rooftop monocrystalline PV system occupies 200,000 square feet and was designed and built by Johnson Controls Inc, a global multi-industrial leader in energy efficiency, sustainability and renewable energy.

The four 250 kW Satcon PowerGate® Plus inverters are expected to deliver over 1.1 million kilowatt hours in the first year of operation, enough energy to power over 100 homes. The project is expected to significantly reduce the convention center’s total energy costs and carbon emissions. An education center inside the convention center will display the system data, performance and solar energy information to the millions of visitors of this world class venue.

“The Orange County Convention Center project is a significant step in the growth of utility scale solar power generation in Florida,” said Don Albinger, Vice President of Renewable Energy Solutions at Johnson Controls. “We were pleased with the performance characteristics of the Satcon inverters, and their availability helped us get this project designed and installed on time.”

Satcon’s PowerGate® Plus inverters have delivered hundreds of millions of kilowatt hours of field tested performance across thousands of commercial and industrial installations worldwide. Consistently chosen around the globe for its high reliability and advanced feature set, the Satcon power conversion platforms are regarded as the industry standard for large commercial and utility scale renewable energy plants.

“The Orange County Convention Center installation continues to set the standard for clean, utility grade energy in North America,” said Pete DeGraff, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Satcon. “The project showcases both Orange County’s and the state of Florida’s commitment to solar energy as a reliable source of power to supply their energy demands. We applaud their innovation and are honored to be a part of this world class team of industry leaders.”

Solar Power, Inc. Enters Into 2-Megawatt Product Supply Agreement with German Installer of Residential and Commercial Solar Systems

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. (“SPI”) (OTCBB: SOPW) announced today that it has executed a supply agreement with Bayer and Raach, a German solar installation company serving the residential and commercial market segments throughout Germany and Southern Europe. The two-megawatt agreement calls for SPI to provide one megawatt of SPI’s 200-watt modules and one megawatt of modules with SPI’s proprietary SkyMountTM commercial mounting system. SkyMountTM is designed for minimal or non-penetrating commercial rooftop applications.

“We look forward to providing the Bayer and Raach team with our products. They have built a superb reputation on the quality of their installations throughout their market area. We are very pleased to have our products become an integral part of the systems they are building,” said Bradley Ferrell, President of SPI’s Commercial Sales Division. “This supply agreement further extends our penetration into the European market and adds incremental reach into the German market, which is currently one of the most significant markets for solar anywhere,” Mr. Ferrell concluded.

SPI continues to make significant strides in 2009 advancing its international sales strategy through sales of its modules and proprietary commercial systems, SkyMount and Peaq solar canopies. As a firm engaged in the practice of renewable energy consulting, as well as planning and installation of photovoltaic systems, Bayer and Raach is ideally positioned to sell SPI’s products throughout the company’s European market area. Bayer and Raach serves Germany, Italy, and recently expanded into the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Entech Solar Appoints Sandy J. Martin as Chief Financial Officer

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entech Solar (OTC BB: ENSL.OB), a leading developer of concentrating solar energy systems, announced today that Sandy J. Martin has been named Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective June 11, 2009. Ms. Martin is a CPA, MBA and has served in finance and accounting leadership positions primarily with publicly-held companies during the past 25 years. At Entech Solar, she is responsible for the Company’s finance and investor relations strategy, accounting, SEC reporting, treasury and financial planning & analysis.

Ms. Martin joined Entech Solar in March 2009 as Corporate Controller and was appointed Chief Accounting Officer in April 2009. Since joining the Company, she has directed the restructuring of the Finance & Accounting organization through a transitional move of the headquarters from New Jersey to Texas.

“I am pleased to announce this promotion. Sandy brings significant finance and accounting experience from publicly traded companies, including investor relations and capital raise capabilities,” stated Frank Smith, Entech Solar CEO. “Since joining the Company a few months ago, Sandy has focused on driving costs out of the business and developing a platform for Entech to approach the capital markets with strategic growth plans.”

Ms. Martin added, “I am very pleased to accept this new role for the Company and look forward to providing financial leadership and stewardship as we position the Company for product launch next year. With Entech’s next-generation products, the Company has a very exciting growth story that I am eager to communicate to both industry and investor constituencies.”

Before joining the Company, Ms. Martin held leadership positions in finance and accounting with increasing responsibilities for companies including Sally Beauty Holdings and Pier 1 Imports. Ms. Martin began her career as an auditor for a national public accounting firm. Ms. Martin earned an M.B.A. from the M.J. Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University and a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington.