Konarka and Enviromena Power Systems Collaborate on Shade Structure Projects in Middle East

LOWELL, Mass. & ABU DHABI, UAE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Konarka Power Plastic^®, a material that converts light to energy, today announced the company is collaborating with Enviromena Power Systems, leading developer of solar projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to investigate the integration of Konarka Power Plastic into various Enviromena shade structure projects. The agreement outlines an application development program that includes design through commercialization.

“We are pleased to be working with Enviromena on joint materials evaluation and application development for shade structures in the Middle East and North Africa,” stated Dr. Terri Jordan, vice president of business development for Konarka. “We anticipate a unique fit with our organic PV material, as it is well suited for flexible and lightweight product requirements. Together, we look to develop viable green architectural alternatives for the region."

The leading solar developer in the Middle East and North Africa, Enviromena has an impressive list of completed projects for clients such as Masdar and Aldar, the largest developer in the region and the largest installed capacity of any solar developer in MENA. The company develops projects for utility scale solutions, commercial solutions and remote power solutions across the Middle East, an area experiencing a huge shift towards alternative energy which is being driven by forward looking Government initiatives and an increased demand for solar technology.

“Enviromena is excited to be working with a cutting edge technology provider like Konarka,” stated Sami Khoreibi, CEO of Enviromena. “As the leading solar developer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), we are confident that this collaboration will provide innovative solar solutions into one of the fastest growing solar markets globally. Combining Konarka’s unique flexible Power Plastic solar technology with Enviromena’s experience in the MENA region, which includes the successful completion of the largest PV solar power plant in the Middle East, will surely lead to offerings specifically designed for the Middle Eastern climate.”

Konarka will be demonstrating its Power Plastic material at Solar Power International 2009, October 27 – 29, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif., booth # 1660. For more information on the event, visit: http://www.solarpowerinternational.com/.

Acro Energy Signs Third Solar Acquisition at Solar Power International 2009

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acro Energy Technologies Corp. (TSX Venture:ART), a leading U.S. solar integrator, announced today that it has signed a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc., a California corporation headquartered in Pomona, Calif. (“EE Solar”) and William “Bill” Korthof, the sole shareholder of EE Solar.

EE Solar is a full-service solar energy company that has been installing residential and commercial solar systems in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties since 1989. EE Solar generated approximately $4.2 million in revenue in 2008, servicing customers from its offices in Pomona and Orange. Korthof is the president of EE Solar and will join the Acro Energy team.

“We are excited to sign EE Solar as our third acquisition in the past eight months. Bill Korthof and his team in Pomona have done an exceptional job in building EE Solar,” said Harry Fleming, chief executive officer at Acro Energy. “Their team will be pivotal in Acro Energy’s plans to expand into the southern California market.”

“Southern California is the largest growth market for distribute solar,” said Nat Kreamer, President of Acro Energy. “Bill and the EE Solar team give Acro a strong platform for helping more southern Californians — who pay among the highest rates for electricity in the Country — save with solar.”

Under the Purchase Agreement, Acro Energy will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of EE Solar for a purchase price of $1,500,000, consisting of $250,000 cash, a promissory note in the amount of $750,000, and $500,000 of common stock issued from the treasury of the Company at a deemed price of CDN$0.24 per share. The company will also enter into an employment agreement with Korthof, as general manager, Pomona Operations.

The closing of this acquisition is subject to any necessary approval of the transaction by the appropriate authorities at the TSX Venture Exchange.

First Solar, Inc. Announces 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 26, 2009. Quarterly revenues were $480.9 million and excluded the Sarnia project, which was over 65% completed at quarter end. Revenues were $525.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and $348.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2009 were $1,424.9 million compared to $812.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2008.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $153.3 million or $1.79 per share on a fully diluted basis, down from $180.6 million or $2.11 per share on a fully diluted basis for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and up from $99.3 million or $1.20 per share on a fully diluted basis for the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

The Company has also posted its Earnings Call Presentation, which includes updated guidance for fiscal 2009 on the Company’s web site. The Company expects full year fiscal 2009 revenue at the updated guidance range of $1.975 to $2.025 billion, which is at the high end of the previously provided guidance range.

First Solar will discuss these results and outlook for fiscal 2009 in a conference call scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. MST (4:30 p.m. EDT). Investors may access a live audio webcast of this conference call or the Earnings Call Presentation in the Investors section of the Company’s web site at www.firstsolar.com. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The audio replay will remain available until Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EDT and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 if you are calling from within the United States or 719-457-0820 if you are calling from outside the United States and entering access code 1744958. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor section on the Company’s Web site approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for 90 calendar days. If you are a subscriber of FactSet and Thomson One, you can obtain a written transcript within two hours.

Fronius and SunWize Expand Partnership

KINGSTON, NY & BRIGHTON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunWize Residential Power Systems, the premier solar installation division of SunWize Technologies, Inc., has entered into an agreement with Fronius USA, LLC to utilize Fronius IG Plus and DATCOM as their preferred inverter and monitoring solutions for residential and small commercial applications.

SunWize Residential Power Systems, a leading installer in California and Oregon, determined it could lower the cost and improve service to its customers by standardizing on an inverter/monitoring solution. After evaluating a number of products, the Fronius IG Plus and DATCOM combination was selected on the basis of its technology, reliability, ease of use and value.

SunWize customers using Fronius’ top of the line inverter and monitoring solution are able to track their system’s performance from anywhere in the world via an online portal. Lifetime access is free; the only investment required is for datalogger components used in the initial system installation. In addition, SunWize can monitor the system’s performance and will be alerted automatically in the event of a service disruption. This feature allows SunWize to further strengthen its commitment to quality and absolute customer satisfaction.

“We wanted to standardize on a best-in-class inverter and monitoring solution to improve our operational efficiencies and deliver greater value to homeowners,” said Paul Garvison, vice president of Commercial and Residential Power Systems at SunWize. ”By teaming with our long-time partner Fronius, we can now offer our customers sophisticated, yet user-friendly monitoring at a nominal cost.”

“We have for many years been a manufacturer partner of SunWize’s industry-leading distribution division,” said Gord Petroski, director at Fronius USA, Solar Electronics Division. “We are very pleased to expand our relationship to include their rapidly growing Residential Power Systems Division.”

SolarCity Extends Solar Lease to Customers of Anaheim Public Utilities

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarCity®, a national leader in solar financing, design, installation, monitoring and related services, today announced that its groundbreaking solar leasing option (SolarLease™) is available to customers of Anaheim Public Utilities in Orange County, Calif. SolarCity’s lease can make it possible for Anaheim customers to adopt solar power with zero money down and save money immediately, because the solar system typically reduces the customer’s monthly electricity bill by a greater amount than the monthly lease payment. SolarLease includes installation, a performance guarantee, the SolarGuard® Web-based monitoring and free repairs.

“Anaheim is proud of the many incentives, rebates and funding options that are available to its customers, including solar leasing. We strive to create an environment where vendors can provide creative opportunities for Anaheim consumers,” said Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.

Anaheim Public Utilities has set aggressive goals for renewable energy production, with plans to generate 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydropower by 2015. SolarCity hopes that its affordable leasing option can help the utility meet those goals. SolarLease in Anaheim is part of SolarCity’s continuing expansion in Orange County. The company has hired 19 additional employees in the area since June, and now has 34 employees based in the county.

“Anaheim Public Utilities and the City of Anaheim have made a significant commitment to increasing the use of clean power in the region,” said Jim Cahill, SolarCity’s regional operating director in Southern California. “SolarLease makes cost-effective, reliable solar power a reality for Anaheim residents, and should help the city adopt even more clean power.”

SolarCity representatives are on hand at the Solar Power International conference on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Anaheim Convention Center to answer questions about SolarLease. Admission to the conference is free to the public from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. For information on public night at the conference, visit: http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/sepa/sepa2009/public/Content.aspx?ID=359&sortMenu=105009. Interested Anaheim homeowners who can’t attend the conference can also estimate their solar lease payment and potential electricity savings online by using SolarCity’s solar calculator, available at www.solarcity.com/calculator. The solar calculator incorporates information about Anaheim Public Utilities rates, incentives, local weather and solar production to create a customized estimate for each customer. Alternatively, interested homeowners can contact SolarCity directly at 1-888-SOL-CITY (1-888-765-2489) to speak with a solar advisor or arrange a site visit.

Novartis Champions Renewable Energy With New Vacaville Solar Array

VACAVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Novartis announced today the completion of the new 1 megawatt (MW) solar array near its Vacaville biopharmaceutical site. The announcement was made at a ceremony which celebrated the collective effort of state and local officials, employees and business partners in championing the approval, construction and completion of the $7 million dollar power plant. The five acre array will supply 20% of the manufacturing facility’s electrical needs.

As the Group’s single largest solar energy investment, the Vacaville array more than triples the total solar power generation by Novartis facilities worldwide. In recognizing this, Robert Pelzer, CEO of Novartis Corporation, said, “Today’s dedication signals our continued commitment to the environment and to initiatives like the Kyoto Protocol, the US EPA Climate Leaders Program and our own US Energy program.”

“Novartis has demonstrated outstanding leadership and teamwork as an active and enthusiastic community partner,” shared City of Vacaville, Mayor Len Augustine, “and together we are once again demonstrating that industry and government working together on common goals can be an effective force in promoting renewable energy and environmental responsibility.”

Made up of over 4,100 photovoltaic panels, the Novartis system eliminates the production of over 1,400 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. This is the equivalent of removing 257 passenger vehicles from the road or planting 319 acres of new forest per year. The Vacaville power plant joins five other Novartis solar sites, and numerous other renewal energy operations, around the world in supporting the Group’s goal of reducing, by 2012, its greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below its 1990 level.

Initiated in 2006 by employees at the Vacaville site, and introduced as part of a corporate Energy Excellence Award program, the project benefits from Vacaville’s ideal location for solar power generation, having 25% more sunny days than the average American city. A first phase of the project, a 30 kW parking canopy, was completed in December 2008, with the larger 970 kW array becoming operational in mid-September of this year, a full month ahead of schedule.

Joining Robert Pelzer, Mayor Augustine, and Rob Carter, Vacaville Site Head, in the ribbon cutting ceremony were Novartis employees and 4th grade students from Browns Valley Elementary School in Vacaville, who participated in educational activities. As “Solar Champions” for the day, the students were the first to take part in a planned local program by Novartis to educate local youth on the benefits of renewable energy.

Applied Materials’ Next-Generation IEC-Certified SunFab Module Technology Cuts Customers’ Cost of Manufacturing

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc. announced today that it has significantly lowered the cost for customers to manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on its SunFab^™ Thin Film Line using its next-generation module technology. Executing on its aggressive cost-cutting roadmap, Applied has leveraged economies of scale with leading suppliers and has introduced key process efficiencies that reduce the cost of materials by 22%. In addition, SunFab panels using these new materials and processes have received IEC^* certification for aperture area conversion efficiencies of up to 9.7%, enabling customers to advance panel performance to this level without requiring additional certification.

“This achievement demonstrates Applied’s ongoing commitment to reducing the cost of manufacturing panels with our SunFab Thin Film Line to $1/watt and below,” said Tom Lacey, vice president and general manager of Applied Materials’ SunFab Thin Film Solar Group. “Applied Materials has a unique ability to accelerate solar PV through its 5.7m² panel size standard, innovative technology and line performance improvements, and also through its expanding global SunFab footprint that enables economies of scale by aggregating the needs of multiple customers.”

In order to achieve these cost reductions, Applied worked with leading, high-quality materials suppliers on behalf of its customers to secure lower pricing in key raw materials such as transparent conductive glass and laminating films. Applied also engineered and validated more efficient processes that significantly decrease materials consumption.

Applied’s receipt of advance IEC certification for panels produced on SunFab lines using this next-generation module package of materials and process changes will help accelerate customers’ time to market for their new panels. The IEC certification was awarded to both single and tandem junction modules in all panel sizes by TÜV InterCert, demonstrating that, like the original SunFab panels, modules produced with this next-generation technology can meet performance and safety specifications under challenging environmental conditions.

ICP Solar Provides Business Update

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR)(FRANKFURT: K1U.F), a developer and marketer of innovative, proprietary solar panels and products, announced that the Company has taken further measures to cut costs and decrease overhead even as funds start to flow from the recently-announced financing transaction with its lead investors. The Company has reduced monthly SG&A expenses by over 50% compared with 2008.

“ICP Solar continues to take the necessary steps to improve its business model ahead of the launch of our Energizer® product line,” said Sass Peress, CEO. “In addition, our investors have already begun funding strategic marketing initiatives including the development of our online retail store energizersolar.com, which is expected to go live and begin generating revenue during December. The website will feature ICP Solar’s full Energizer® solar product line and supporting content to make shopping easy and hassle-free.”

“We expect this new site to become a hub of activity for those people interested in learning more about solar energy and purchasing solar products”, added Howard Firestone, Director of Online Marketing for Energizersolar.com. “We are on track to meet all customer requirements and are excited about the months to come.”

Evolution Solar to Consolidate Ownership of Subsidiary

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evolution Solar Corp. (PinkSheets: EVSO) today announced that the Company is negotiating for the acquisition of a 45% minority stake in the Company’s Shanghai, China-based Synergy Design and Development Limited subsidiary. The Company believes that a final agreement will be reached prior to November 15^th and the acquisition will close before the end of the year.

The Company already controls a 55% stake in Synergy. Upon the completion of the acquisition, Synergy will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Evolution. Synergy’s management team will report to Michael Franklin, President of China Operations for Evolution Solar Corp.

“The consolidation of Synergy will allow us to fully integrate Synergy’s resources and capabilities with those of Evolution, while substantially increasing the amount and scope of solar products offered to Synergy’s customers,” stated Franklin. “I look forward to finalizing this acquisition and assuming a direct role in the management and growth of Synergy and its operations.”

Evolution Solar expects to benefit from growth within the solar industry along with competitors such as Sun Power (Nasdaq: SPWRA), First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), Trina Solar LTD (NYSE: TSL), and LDK Solar Co. LTD (NYSE: LDK).

Satcon Selected for 5 Megawatt CalRENEW-1 Solar Farm

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale power solutions for the renewable energy market, today announced that it has been selected for the CalRENEW-1 installation, the first utility-scale photovoltaic solar farm to be approved by the California Public Utilities Commission under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard program.

The 5 megawatt AC facility, located in Mendota, CA, will utilize five, one megawatt Prism solutions, Satcon’s fully integrated utility platform that comes complete with factory integrated medium voltage transformers, switchgear, and electronics. Introduced in June of 2009, Prism is the industry’s most advanced 1 megawatt solar PV power conversion solution, and is built on the market leading PowerGate 500 kW inverter line, which has been installed on over 170 megawatts of large scale solar power plants since 2005. Each 1 MW Prism solution is 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.

CalRENEW-1 will be one of the most advanced photovoltaic solar facilities in the world. The 5 MW plant will generate zero emission electricity for sale to Pacific Gas & Electric under a long term power purchase agreement.

“We are excited to be a part of the CalRENEW-1 project, which clearly demonstrates the increased role of large scale solar power production as an integral part of tomorrow’s energy network," said Steve Rhoades, President and Chief Executive Officer of Satcon Technology. “Our continued focus on developing the highest performing, most reliable, and most advanced utility ready solar PV inverter systems allow us to deliver the solutions that enable utilities to effectively integrate solar power as a secure and cost effective renewable energy source.”

GT Solar Commissions Solar Wafer Production Line in Spain

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR), a global provider of specialized production equipment, process technology and turnkey manufacturing services for the solar power industry, today announced that it has received final acceptance for the design, installation and commissioning of one of the most technologically-advanced turnkey wafer fabrication lines in Spain.

Created for Leon-based DC Wafers, the state-of-the-art wafer production line (GT-WAFFAB^TM) includes GT Solar’s GT-DSS450^TM ingot growth technology, coupled with advanced wafering systems, and automated in-line inspection tools. GT Solar’s turnkey services process experts worked closely with DC Wafer’s engineers to optimize the wafer line to increase productivity, boost quality and line yields, and lower production costs. The line was designed to produce 30-megawatts (MW) of multi-crystalline solar wafers annually; it will likely exceed that target by up to an additional 5 MW, as the line is already operating at a better than expected polysilicon consumption rate.

“GT Solar’s proven technology and manufacturing know-how, in combination with the expertise of our manufacturing team, have enabled DC Wafers to build an extremely efficient, cost-effective facility that is allowing us to produce high-quality silicon wafers to meet our customers’ very specific needs,” said Ismael Guerrero Arias, DC Wafers’ director and chief technology officer. “Our company is conscious of the positive implications that generating clean energy has for the environment and our local community in terms of job growth, and we are committed to the development of the photovoltaic industry. To those ends, we will continue to focus our R&D strategies on reducing costs, saving energy and achieving maximum quality and efficiency.”

“The successful commissioning of DC Wafer’s new wafer line was accomplished through great teamwork between our teams,” said Ron Jones, vice president and general manager of GT Solar’s turnkey business. “We believe that DC Wafers is well situated in today’s market and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership with them to help optimize their competitive position as they expand their business.”

GT Solar provides turnkey solutions for every process of the PV manufacturing value chain including wafer, cell, and module lines. The company has successfully installed a variety of turnkey line configurations in countries around the globe including China, Greece, India, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

SolarNet Names New Chief Executive Officer

HEALDSBURG, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarNet LLC, the leading California-based distributor and integrator of photovoltaic (PV) systems, announces that Kevin Shimokobe has been named CEO, effective immediately. Comprised of system distributor DC Power Systems and systems integrator Stellar Energy, SolarNet was acquired in April 2009 by ITOCHU Corporation. Mr. Shimokobe, a veteran of ITOCHU, is currently CEO of Solar Depot, another leading wholesale distributor of solar systems, which joined ITOCHU through acquisition in 2007. Going forward, he will serve as CEO of both SolarNet and Solar Depot in anticipation of an eventual merger of the two companies.

“Having had the opportunity to become familiar with SolarNet’s talented management team and impressive business operations, I am especially pleased to join SolarNet as its new CEO. We face a challenging but exciting time in the solar industry, and I am convinced SolarNet has all the right tools to continue building on its strong growth and world-class solar services,” said Mr. Shimokobe.

Other recent moves by SolarNet to strengthen its business base and prepare for future growth include the hiring of Andrew Miesiak as the company’s CFO and industry veteran Matt Lugar as VP of Sales for Stellar. DC Power Systems has also introduced new financing programs aimed at strengthening dealer sales, such as its commercial “Carry Grant Program” for financing the Department of Energy’s grant-in-lieu-of-tax credit program and a residential loan program for financing the purchase of solar systems in cooperation with its partner financial institution, EGIA. In addition, DC Power Systems will open a new warehouse in Rohnert Park, CA in November, allowing it to better serve its dealers nationwide with prompt and efficient service and increased inventory levels.

Taking advantages of the combined resources of the two companies and the synergies between them, ITOCHU plans to expand the business of both SolarNet and Solar Depot to establish a truly national distribution footprint. Already, the companies operate four full-service warehouses — three in California and one in New Jersey — and have multiple sales offices outside California, including in Florida, New Jersey, Washington, DC, Arizona, Montana, North Carolina, Colorado and Idaho.

ITOCHU is active globally in the solar industry, which it has targeted as a strategic growth area. It supplies manufacturing equipment to solar module manufacturers globally and is involved in the systems integration, financing and development of solar energy projects in various countries. The company recently exercised its option to increase its ownership of Ecosystem Japan, a leading systems integrator in the Japanese solar market, from 67% to 85%, following its initial investment in the company in March 2009. In April 2009, ITOCHU integrated all its solar energy-related business in a new business department in order to provide a more coordinated and streamlined approach to building and executing its solar business.

SOLON Corporation Introduces Breakthrough Modular Solar System for Utilities

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SOLON Corporation, the largest crystalline silicon solar manufacturer in the U.S. and a fully owned subsidiary of SOLON SE, today unveiled the SOLON Velocity MW^TM Solar System to provide electric utilities a faster, more cost effective way to integrate reliable solar power into clean energy programs. The SOLON Velocity MW Solar System is a first of its kind, providing preconfigured, one-megawatt modular solar fields, which can quickly scale to capacity in as fast as four months.

Emerging polices such as renewable portfolio standards and renewable energy credits are driving utility companies to pursue solar projects for clean energy generation. The SOLON Velocity MW System was engineered with utilities in mind, providing a streamlined concept that eliminates most of the time, cost and performance risks currently associated with integrating solar. SOLON created the Velocity MW System by leveraging its experience designing and implementing turnkey solutions to U.S. utilities such as Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP) to help them improve peak load demand and meet their renewable energy goals.

“Tucson Electric Power is committed to developing innovative strategies to expand the use of solar power in our community, and SOLON has been a valuable partner in that effort,” said Denise Richerson-Smith, TEP’s Director of Renewable and Conservation Programs. TEP’s proposed Bright Tucson Community Solar program would give customers an opportunity to purchase their own shares of the solar energy generated by a new 1.6-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic array developed by SOLON. “SOLON is helping us provide a cost-effective solar solution for renters, low-income residents and others who prefer an alternative to rooftop systems. We hope our work with SOLON to quickly roll out an efficient, turnkey solar power plant will encourage other utilities across the country to seek similar solutions.”

The Velocity MW Solar System is packaged in compact, one-megawatt clusters that are standardized to reduce the number of system components with a proportional reduction in field installation labor. The Velocity MW preconfigured designs help accelerate plant permitting and site development, which can stall a project for months or even years. As the first turnkey solar plant designed to truly optimize system technologies, the Velocity MW System also offers a centralized, collocated power conversion for the inverter and step up transformer, which enables significantly faster field assembly and higher performance than competitive solutions.

Globally recognized for the quality and reliability of its module and component technology, SOLON continues to underscore its reputation by including its new 375 watt panel in the Velocity MW System. SOLON’s 375 watt panel is the largest monocrystalline module on the market, cutting down on the total number of modules needed in the field, improving energy yields up to 25 percent and providing low levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale systems. As with all of SOLON’s photovoltaic technology, the new modules are being manufactured in the U.S., at the company’s plant in Tucson, Ariz.

“As we developed the SOLON Velocity MW System, we thought a lot about the ways in which design and engineering can benefit utility scale solar installation,” said Olaf Koester, president and CEO at SOLON Corporation. “Utilities currently face risks when it comes to rolling out solar—the risk of getting it running in a timely manner, the risk of it underperforming or the risk of the associated costs becoming too large to bear. We address these risks head on with our Velocity MW System, delivering a breakthrough design to fast, reliable solar energy.”

Suniva, FLS Energy Target Southeast U.S. With High-Performance U.S. Solar Farm

NORCROSS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, and FLS Energy, a North Carolina-based solar energy generation company, today announced they will integrate Suniva’s high-power, solar modules in a series of installations in the southeastern U.S. The first project is a 550 kW solar farm that will occupy a former landfill; implementation is underway in North Carolina. FLS Energy has a 20 year power purchase agreement to sell the solar generated electricity to Progress Energy.

“We’re seeing unprecedented demand in the Southeast for solar,” said Michael Shore, president of FLS Energy. “In order to address the rapidly expanding market here, FLS is committed to using the most advanced, efficient, and cost-effective solar technology available. Working with Suniva will allow us to address growing demand with technology that combines high-yield solar power with high-quality U.S. manufacturing content.”

Suniva’s UL and IEC certified, CEC listed solar modules contain more than 90% U.S. content and offer a 25-year performance warranty, representing the highest quality standards in today’s industry. The modules are powered by Suniva’s high-efficiency ARTisun® series solar cells and deliver peak power output up to 300watts, one of the highest in the industry. High power output is a key factor in reducing installation and balance-of-system costs in all installations.

“Working with FLS Energy, Suniva will play a major role in driving growth in the southeastern solar market,” said John Baumstark, CEO of Suniva. “Our solar modules Powered by Suniva™ cell technology will enable FLS’s installations to deliver some of the highest levels of performance and reliability in the industry.”

A Suniva module will be on display at the Solar Power International conference in Anaheim, CA Oct. 26 - 29 at Suniva booth #2010.

Satcon Announces General Availability of Solstice

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale power solutions for the renewable energy market, today announced the general availability of Satcon Solstice®, the industry’s first complete utility grade solar PV solution for large scale solar power plants.

Satcon Solstice revolutionizes energy production, while utilizing traditional solar design. It delivers fine grained power harvesting and control with advanced utility ready grid interconnection, and will boost total power production by 5-12 percent over designs using standard inverters while at the same time reduce overall system material costs.

“Satcon Solstice sets the new standard for large scale, utility class solar PV power production.” said Steve Rhoades, Chief Executive Officer of Satcon. “By addressing the performance of the entire system, Solstice introduces a highly optimized energy harvest architecture and combines it with advanced grid interconnection and utility control capabilities. This delivers significant performance gains, improved system safety and reliability, and an overall reduction in balance of system costs.”

Building on Satcon’s leading solar PV inverter technologies, Solstice™ is the next generation of solar PV power harvesting. It is the industry’s first complete power conversion system, utilizing our next generation inverter and unique subcombiners, called SSBs, which are populated with Satcon’s proprietary dc to dc power converters. The fine grained harvesting of each panel string provided by the dc to dc conversion stage, coupled with a highly efficient inverter design, insures the Solstice platform will deliver more power over the lifetime of the pv system, while lowering the overall installed cost of the of the power plant. Solstice™ will also be the company’s first solution released with the full suite of utility features and functionality designed by Satcon, that among many benefits, enable the role of the inverter in the Smart Grid.

“Solstice represents the next generation of solar power production and is a critical link in the integration of large scale solar onto today’s utility grid network,” said Dr. Leo Casey, Chief Technology Officer of Satcon. “Traditionally, designers have been chasing fractional improvements in throughput efficiency out of their power plants. With Solstice, traditional losses from shading, soiling and panel mismatch are virtually eliminated, and we see power production gains that range from 5-12%. Solstice also introduces the next generation of advanced control capabilities that will enable utilities to leverage their solar installations as proper dispatachable assets on the grid.”

Satcon Solstice is now available North America and will be available in Europe and Asia in the first half of 2010. For more information, please visit http://www.satcon.com/pv_inverters/solstice.html

Vela Solaris Demonstrates Solar Cooling Module at Solar Power International 2009

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At Solar Power International 2009, Vela Solaris AG a privately-held Swiss corporation providing software solutions for the renewable energy sector, will be demonstrating the solar cooling module of their Polysun family of products during the show (Booth #2655). Solar cooling systems are slated to be a hot topic at the show, taking place October 27-29, due to their recent entrée into the United States market.

“Solar cooling has been prevalent in Europe for many awhile, but it’s just recently become more common in the US,” said Simon Geisshuesler, chief marketing officer of Vela Solaris. “Accuracy and efficiency is of paramount importance when planning a solar cooling system, and Polysun’s solar cooling module is the only simulation software that allows users to reliably predict the performance and energy consumption of every single component through physics-based simulation, as well as effectively calculate energy efficiency.”

Solar cooling’s ability to not only efficiently cool in the summer, but heat hot water and buildings in the winter, has been a major reason for its increase in US installations. As such, an effective and efficient solution is necessary for system simulation. Polysun’s solar cooling simulation allows a user to look at a system as a whole and answer pertinent questions that allow for a more complete simulation that results in optimized results for system optimization, communication and documentation.

Vela Solaris recently received some real world data from customers that has demonstrated remarkable improvements to system performance using Polysun optimization programs. For example, Vela Solaris is finding that optimizing the site and system increases solar fraction by about eight percent on average resulting in a 20 percent reduction in consumed energy. At the same time, the energy output of the system increases about 20 percent and the payoff time for system can be cut by 1.5 to two years. These are significant numbers with huge potential impact on the renewable energy market.

Additionally, Polysun’s solar cooling simulation allows for system variants to be easily compared, choosing between compression cooling machines, solar cooling and free cooling.

The Polysun family is the world’s most flexible and accurate software for the simulation and design of renewable energy systems optimized for any particular site and structure. While other software programs are based on fixed inflexible templates, Polysun takes input for variables in building design, energy system components, and climactic variables to create a highly accurate energy analysis and system design that can be tailored to any site and structure.

The Polysun family includes three product lines: Polysun PV targeting photovoltaics (PV), Polysun ST targeting solar thermal and Polysun HP targeting geothermal ground loop and heat pump systems. Polysun enables system designers, installers, planners, manufacturers, and other users to design an optimized system for their site, calculate energy and carbon savings, and generate accurate ROI reports for cost analysis. Polysun also produces reports with the data needed to obtain state and federal energy tax rebates.

Each family of Polysun products can be purchased in three different configurations with feature sets tailored to the needs of different types of users: Polysun Light, Polysun Professional and Polysun Designer.

Vela Solaris offers software updates every three months for one year with the purchase of a software license. Polysun Light ranges in price from $159 to $239, Polysun Pro is $489 to $1,169, and Polysun Designer is $1,949 to $2,919. Prices are dependent on the options included in the purchase.

For more information on Vela Solaris, please visit www.velasolaris.com.

Dynamic Energy Resources Enters Development Agreement with BP Solar

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dynamic Energy Resources LLC, a renewable energy developer whose principals have more than 30 years of experience in real-estate and commercial development, announced today that it has secured an agreement with BP Solar International, Inc., a global leader in providing solar solutions with the highest lifetime value to customers.

Under the agreement, BP Solar will provide the modules and install the solar arrays at various locations under development in the U.S. by Dynamic Energy for photovoltaic (PV) installations. “BP Solar and Dynamic Energy Resources share a common vision of increasing the adoption of affordable solar energy through aggressive expansion of projects and installations. The depth of Dynamic Energy’s solar portfolio and strong industry credibility will enable a material and efficient deployment of many upcoming projects,” said Mark Kerstens, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for BP Solar.

Sunergy Power Solutions, a division in Dynamic Energy specializing in commercial and industrial solar development for businesses, has developed a large pipeline of 20 locations in New Jersey, and is expanding its focus to additional locations in Vermont, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Sunergy’s planned installations range in size from 1 to 10 MW, with plans to install in excess of 40 MW in 2010.

Marc Feder Esq., CEO of Dynamic stated, “Our agreement with BP Solar solidifies our business model of enabling the construction of large-scale installations for the business community. BP Solar’s reliability and reputation in excellence bring us closer to our main goal of generating solar at greatly reduced electrical costs, while ensuring that we meet our energy needs through a deep respect for the environment.”

“The U.S. faces great challenges in meeting environmental and regulatory imperatives while striving to keep energy costs low,” said Steven Gabel, President of Gabel Associates, a leading energy, environmental and public utility consulting firm in New Jersey. “This agreement between Dynamic and BP Solar to implement efficient and low cost solar for the business community is backed by the credibility of two strong companies working together to fulfill the potential for increased growth of solar in New Jersey and elsewhere in the US.”

Ascent Solar Unveils FlexPowerTM Modules at Solar Power International

THORNTON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of lightweight flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, today unveiled its FlexPower^TM line of products. The FlexPower^TM class of modules, which includes Light, Mobile and Extreme, carries an industry leading power to weight ratio, achieves the highest power density of any flexible product currently available in the market and provides a unique form-fit capability. The FlexPower^TM line is now available and on display at Solar Power International at the Company’s booth 1254.

FlexPower^TM Light modules are manufactured for the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) market. The FlexPower^TM Light line features a 5 Meter long product that delivers 123 watts and is the world’s largest monolithically interconnected flexible module. Manufacturers of building materials and BIPV systems can now utilize the unique nature of the FlexPower^TM Light class for large area BIPV installations and seamless integration into building surfaces.

FlexPower^TM Mobile is designed for the Electronic Integrated Photovoltaic (EIPV) market. These modules are optimized for 12-volt battery charging applications, provide seamless integration into consumer electronics and are available encapsulated or un-encapsulated as a build to suit solution.

FlexPower^TM Extreme for Defense is a durable and deployable photovoltaic solution for Defense applications. The Extreme class of modules is designed to provide excellent power density and match existing battery recharging ecosystems allowing for more supply line independence.

Farhad Moghadam, President and CEO for Ascent Solar stated, "This is an exciting event for Ascent Solar as we unveil our line of products to the public. Our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules provides a unique and enabling solution to various premium market opportunities. FlexPower^TM is not only a brand name, but it also best represents our manufacturing capability at Ascent Solar."

New Solar-Powered, Portable Charger from i.Tech Charges Most Mobile Devices, Day or Night

ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--i.Tech Dynamic today introduced SolarCharger 906, a portable unit that lets on-the-go consumers charge their cell phones, PDAs and other handheld mobile devices with solar energy wherever they are—day or night.

The company also introduced the SolarSet 905, which combines SolarCharger 906 and i.Tech’s portable in-car speakerphone in one package. When used together, the products provide more than 30 hours of in-car talk time, longer than any other product currently on the market.

SolarCharger 906 Charges Most Mobile Devices Anywhere, Anytime

Roughly the size of a deck of cards, SolarCharger is small and light enough to fit comfortably in a purse, tote, briefcase or glove compartment, and it is compatible with most mobile devices.

“It happens to everyone: You need to use your cell phone, but it’s out of power and there’s nowhere to charge it. That’s when SolarCharger can be a real life-saver,” said Christopher Parsons, vice president, sales and marketing for Sino Regent Services, i.Tech’s exclusive distributor in the Americas. “SolarCharger is ideal for taking anywhere you go as a backup charger, and it’s perfect for emergency use. When your iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry or other power-hungry portable device runs out of juice and you’re away from an electrical outlet, SolarCharger can get it up and running again quickly.”

Superb Performance

SolarCharger features highly efficient solar conversion due to a high-performance monocrystalline solar panel and special solar chipset. The panel-and-chipset combination enables the unit to quickly respond to solar energy and generate more power from the solar panel’s surface area than other solar charging devices.

When fully charged, the eco-friendly unit will completely charge one or more USB devices, depending on the target device’s charge capacity and current charge level, and it can store a charge for up to a year. What’s more, SolarCharger only needs to be 40 percent charged to provide a cell phone with enough power for an emergency call.

In addition, unlike other mobile chargers, SolarCharger is designed to perform even in hot conditions: It charges at temperatures up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, and it charges mobile devices at temperatures up to 127 degrees Fahrenheit—higher than any other portable charger on the market today.

The elegantly designed unit also includes an internal, high-density lithium-ion battery, so it can be charged through a computer USB port (cable included). It fully charges within 22 hours in optimal sunlight and within three hours with USB connection. (USB connection should be used when SolarCharger is being charged for the first time, when the device is totally drained or when it has been idle for three months or more.)

Many User-Friendly Features

SolarCharger comes with 10 adapter tips for use with a variety of mobile phones and entertainment devices, including iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry and other name-brand products.

“Other solar chargers only include a few adapter tips,” Parsons said. “By including a large assortment of adapters standard, i.Tech minimizes the chance that customers will need to order additional ones for charging all of their portable devices.”

Perfect for in-car use, SolarCharger comes with a cradle, suction cups and plastic tips for attaching to a windshield.

A red light indicates when the unit is charging: The light flashes when the unit is solar charging and is solid red when charging via USB. A separate row of four battery status indicator lights specifies the device’s charge level.

Other specifications include:

• Battery capacity: 1260 milliamp-hours
• Dimensions: 4.13 (L) x 2.52 (W) x 0.59 (T) inches
• Weight: 3.53 ounces

SolarSet 905 Provides The Longest In-Car Talk Time

SolarCharger is ideal for use with i.Tech’s Bluetooth i.Carkit 305, a compact, in-car speakerphone. The two products are packaged together in i.Tech’s SolarSet 905, the first solar charger and car speakerphone set.

Easy to use and easy to install, i.Carkit boasts features and controls perfect for use on the road. Digital signal processing, echo cancellation and a high-quality speaker provide clear phone calls, and Multipoint technology lets the speakerphone simultaneously connect to two cell phones.

The small, lightweight unit’s talk time is eight hours when used on its own, but talk time increases to 32 hours with SolarCharger. Standby time is 800 hours, or 1,800 hours when connected to SolarCharger.

Other i.Carkit specifications include:

• Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR Class 2
• Headset and hands-free Bluetooth profiles
• Dimensions: 4.33 (L) x 2.19 (W) x 0.64 (T) inches
• Weight: 3.17 ounces

Abengoa Solar Signs Contract with PG&E to Supply Solar Power in California

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abengoa Solar announces the signing of a power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to supply the electricity generated by the new solar plant “Mojave Solar.” The project will generate 250 megawatts (MW) of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and is to be located in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, between Barstow and Kramer Junction, approximately nine miles northwest of Hinkley, and 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The project is expected to bring 1,200 green construction jobs and, when completed, approximately 80 permanent jobs to this desert area.

Once it starts operating in 2013, it will generate nearly as much electricity as all of California’s present-day commercial CSP installations combined, enough to power about 90,000 average homes, and avoid over 431 kilotons per year of greenhouse gas emissions.

On August 10, 2009, Abengoa Solar filed an Application for Certification with the California Energy Commission for its Mojave Solar Project. The project has been deemed data adequate by the CEC and public meetings are anticipated to begin in December.

Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar explained that “Mojave Solar is a project we have been working on for several years. The permitting and engineering effort is very advanced and we are very proud to partner with PG&E to make this project a reality.”

The project will be sited on 1,765 acres of private, previously disturbed land that had been farmed since the 1920s but is now largely fallow. The solar plant will use significantly less water per acre than was used for agricultural purposes.

“The location has been carefully chosen and the plant has been specifically configured to minimize environmental impacts on the desert,” said Scott Frier, COO of Abengoa Solar, Inc.

The spinoff economic benefits, including jobs created, are expected to be significant near an area that was farmed for alfalfa from the 1920s but was later largely abandoned.

Mojave Solar Project will contribute to meeting California’s aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standard, which calls for moving away from fossil fuels to solar energy and other renewable energy sources that avoid pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

We expect to start construction by the end of 2010, subject to financing under the U.S. economic stimulus legislation.

The Mojave Solar Project will use a similar size and type of Abengoa Solar parabolic trough technology as the system that will be installed at the Solana Electrical Generating Station announced in 2008 near Phoenix, Arizona. This is a highly innovative system that maximizes power production in trough plants.

The plant uses parabolic mirrors that are arranged in long troughs and track the sun’s movement continually during the day, concentrating the solar radiation onto a heat-absorbing pipe at the focal point of the mirrors. A heat transfer fluid circulating inside the pipe reaches temperatures of more than 700 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat is then used to generate steam that drives a conventional steam turbine.

In addition to the Mojave Solar Project in California and the Solana Project in Arizona, Abengoa Solar has seven CSP plants under construction or operation and others under development. In August 2009, Abengoa Solar announced that it was selected by Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility company, to build a demonstration parabolic trough concentrating solar power plant at Xcel Energy’s Cameo coal plant near Grand Junction, Colorado. Abengoa Solar has also used recently parabolic trough technology to make industrial process heat for a major food processor to cook snacks in Modesto, CA and for the U.S. Department of Energy to treat contaminated groundwater in Tuba City, AZ.

For interviews and more information about Abengoa Solar’s Mojave Solar Project in California, please contact Allison Lenthall, allison@renewcomm.com, 202-558-7739.

NextEra Energy Resources to Supply Solar Power to PG&E

JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, already the country’s leading generator of wind and solar power, announced today that it has entered into a contract to sell 250-megawatts of solar thermal power from the proposed Genesis Solar Energy Project to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

The proposed Genesis Solar Energy Project will be comprised of two 125-megawatt units. Once both units are fully operational, the project is expected to produce approximately 560 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity each year. This is equal to the annual usage of more than 80,000 homes.

“This agreement is an important step forward in the development of solar power in California,” said Mitch Davidson, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources. “With increasing concerns about greenhouse gases, solar electricity can have a meaningful impact in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In addition to clean energy, this project will create jobs and many positive economic impacts for Riverside County.”

“Solar energy is a reliable and environmentally-friendly way to help meet California’s peak energy demands,” said Fong Wan, senior vice president for energy procurement at PG&E. “Through our agreement with NextEra Energy, we will significantly increase the amount of clean, renewable energy we provide to our customers in the years to come.”

This is NextEra Energy Resources first contract to sell solar power to PG&E, and it is subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. In August, NextEra Energy Resources filed an Application for Certification with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to construct, own and operate this 250-megawatt solar plant in the Sonoran Desert. In addition, NextEra Energy Resources has filed for a right-of-way grant with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for this project.

For the Genesis Project, NextEra Energy Resources plans to utilize proven and scalable parabolic trough solar thermal technology that has been used commercially for more than two decades. NextEra Energy Resources has nearly 20 years of experience operating similar technology at its SEGS solar facilities in the Mojave Desert.

The proposed Genesis Solar Energy Project will be located on an approximately 1,800-acre site between Desert Center and Blythe, on land managed by the BLM in Riverside County, California. The more than 500,000 parabolic mirrors will be assembled in rows to receive and concentrate the solar energy to produce steam for powering a steam turbine generator. Genesis is one of about a dozen solar projects identified by BLM for fast track consideration to receive permits by the end of 2010.

Assuming timely regulatory approvals, NextEra Energy Resources plans to start construction on the project late in 2010 with operations expected to begin approximately 30 months later. Once complete, this project will reduce the emissions of CO2 by approximately 500,000 tons per year, when compared to a high-efficiency natural gas plant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates this is the equivalent of removing about 83,000 passenger vehicles from the road each year.

The recently filed Application for Certification with the CEC is the latest example of NextEra Energy Resources ongoing leadership and commitment to renewable energy generation. This is the second Application for Certification the company has filed with the CEC. In March 2008, NextEra Energy Resources filed an Application for Certification with the CEC for the 250-megawatt Beacon Solar Project to be located in eastern Kern County. The company is waiting for a final determination from the CEC on its pending application.

In addition to being the largest operator of solar power in the United States with 310 megawatts, NextEra Energy Resources, through its subsidiaries, is also the largest owner and operator of wind power in the country with more than 6,600 megawatts currently in operation. NextEra Energy subsidiaries also currently own and operate nearly 700 megawatts of wind in California.

Applied Materials Opens Advanced Solar Research and Customer Demonstration Facility in Xi’an, China

XI’AN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc. the world’s largest supplier of equipment to the solar photovoltaic industry, today opened an advanced solar research and demonstration facility in Xi’an, China. Applied Materials’ Solar Technology Center, the largest non-government solar energy research facility in the world, is comprised of laboratory and office buildings covering more than 400,000 square feet and contains an entire Applied SunFab™ thin film manufacturing line and a complete crystalline silicon pilot process. These lines are configured to closely simulate customer fabrication (fab) environments.

“This opening represents a critical breakthrough for the photovoltaic industry and China and a tremendous benefit to our customers,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO of Applied Materials. “Establishing this center in China is an integral part of Applied’s global strategy and an important step toward the industrialization of the global solar industry.”

Applied Materials is celebrating its 25^th anniversary in China this year and today has more than 800 employees and 13 offices in the country, with approximately 300 employees in Xi’an. Applied first broke ground in Xi’an in 2006 and the total investment in the multi-phase project is more than $250 million dollars. The completed facility includes a solar technology center for R&D, engineering, product demonstration, testing and training for crystalline silicon and thin film solar module manufacturing equipment and processes. Employees in the center will work closely with local suppliers to test and qualify new materials and tools and evaluate potential new cost saving technologies. The center has the largest solar array in Xi’an, a 56 kW array on a parking lot structure.

“We believe this technology center will provide important contributions to driving down the cost of solar around the world,” stated Mark Pinto, senior vice president, general manager, Energy and Environmental Solutions and Applied’s chief technology officer. “In addition to housing Applied’s state-of-the-art research into solar manufacturing techniques, customers and potential customers from around the world will be able to work side-by-side with our technologists to reduce their time to market and improve factory productivity and cell efficiency.”

Xi’an is located in the Shaanxi province in northwest China and is a growing center of energy technology excellence in China. The local province boasts more than 40 colleges and universities and Xi’an is recognized as one of the leading high-technology research areas in the country. Applied has worked closely with local governments, contributed to research and awarded 166 university scholarships since 2005 through an R&D fund with the Xi’an Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Xi’an High Tech Park.

“As China works to build its renewable power infrastructure we are pleased to offer such a unique facility. In the laboratories, local suppliers of systems and materials will be able to work closely with our engineers to reduce development costs, accelerate the industrialization of clean energy technology and contribute to decreasing the cost of solar,” said Charlie Gay, president, Applied Solar. “This is a powerful benefit we are bringing to our customers and to China, and we look forward to immediately putting these capabilities to work.”

Soaring Heights Communities at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Become Largest Solar-Powered Community in the Continental U.S. to Date

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Housing developer Actus Lend Lease, SolarCity®, Tucson Electric Power (TEP), and financing parties National Bank of Arizona and U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (USBCDC) are working to create one of the nation’s largest distributed, community-wide solar power systems at Soaring Heights Communities at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Upon completion, the community is expected to be the largest solar-powered community in the continental U.S. The solar systems are expected to produce more than 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually—sufficient to provide an estimated 75 percent of the residents’ energy use next year—and could eventually offset 100 percent of Soaring Heights Communities’ electricity use.

Soaring Heights Communities at Davis-Monthan will also be Arizona’s largest solar-powered community. The complete installation is expected to include six megawatts of total solar capacity in a combination of a ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system and rooftop solar systems that will be installed on approximately 900 residences. National Bank of Arizona will own the 45,000 panel ground-mounted system, which accounts for more than 3.3 megawatts of solar capacity. The balance of the system is expected to consist of 36,000 more panels in the rooftop arrays. The rooftop systems are being financed within an existing SolarCity fund, which was financed by U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (USBCDC) earlier this year.

The solar systems will be designed and installed by SolarCity and will be interconnected by TEP. The entire project is estimated to represent an increase of more than 15 percent over Arizona’s current grid-tied solar capacity. Collectively, the installation is expected to offset more than 570 million pounds of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, the equivalent of taking approximately 50,000 cars off the road for a year, or planting more than 300,000 trees.

Soaring Heights Communities will also be one of the first solar-powered communities on an Air Force Base in the U.S. Actus Lend Lease is currently developing one of the world’s largest solar powered communities at its Army Hawaii Family Housing complex. Upon completion, the Army Hawaii Family Housing project will be the largest solar-powered community in the U.S. Through its partnership with the U.S. Air Force, Actus Lend Lease leases Soaring Heights Communities homes to military families.

“We are very excited about the Soaring Heights Communities project because it allows us to leverage our background and expertise in renewable energy initiatives as they relate to community development,” said Dale Connor, Actus Lend Lease managing director. “We look forward to working closely with our partners and the Department of Defense to set a standard for sustainable living here in Arizona and throughout the country.”

Starting earlier this month, SolarCity began installing 1,000 PV modules per day on previously vacant land near Soaring Heights Communities. Homes in the community have been selected for solar installations based on their specific location and suitability for solar panels. Most of the homes selected for solar system installations are new dwellings built to the rigorous energy efficiency standards of TEP’s Guarantee Home Program, while some are existing homes.

“As Arizona’s largest community bank, and driver in the growth of our state’s economy, National Bank of Arizona is making a sound investment in Arizona’s renewable energy future by funding the ground-mounted solar array. We’re pleased to finance what will generate positive economic and environmental impact in Arizona,” said Craig Robb, National Bank of Arizona executive vice president and chief financial officer.

TEP will provide incentives through its customer-funded SunShare program to reduce the long-term cost of Soaring Heights Communities’ photovoltaic installation. Both systems’ output will help TEP work toward the renewable energy goals established by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC).

“Through the SunShare incentives that make this project possible, every TEP customer will be invested in the success of this remarkable new solar-powered community,” said David Hutchens, vice president of energy efficiency and resource planning for TEP and its parent company, UniSource Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS). “This project will help shrink the carbon footprint of Tucson’s largest military base while setting a new standard for distributed solar power systems.”

SolarCity will be outfitting the solar systems with SolarGuard® monitoring systems to measure solar electricity production, and to measure the performance of the ground-mounted arrays against the rooftop arrays. The monitors will ensure that the system performs as predicted and inform both SolarCity and TEP about how such arrays might interact with the smart grid of the future.

“Soaring Heights Communities is truly a solar city, and our largest installation to date,” said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. “We expect this project to be a springboard for additional clean power development in Arizona, one of the best locations for solar in the world.”

Solar Panels Plus Launches USA-Made Evacuated Tube Collector for Efficient, Reliable Solar Water Heating in All Climates

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Panels Plus (SPP), designer and manufacturer of innovative solar water heaters, solar air conditioning/heating systems and photovoltaic solar panels, today launched the SPP-30a, the first USA-made evacuated tube (ET) collector for solar water heaters. The SPP-30a is an important addition to the SPP product family, enabling distributors, dealers and contractors to offer a high-quality ET solution that complies with the “Buy American Act” section of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

In addition to being the top-rated ET collector, the SPP-30a has many advantages over traditional flat plate collectors. Because the absorber is completely enclosed, evacuated tubes function in almost any environment, including cold or freezing climates. The SPP-30a is also a more powerful and efficient solar water heater, meaning it works well in environments where water temperatures up to or above 200ºF are needed or in cloudy climate conditions.

Solar Panels Plus will display the SPP-30a at Solar Power International, America’s largest solar panel conference, in booth # 2484 from Tuesday, October 27-Thursday, October 29. SPP will begin accepting orders on the SPP-30a in November 2009 for delivery in Q1 2010.

“SPP is relocating the manufacturing of the popular SPP-30 ET to the United States for compliance with the ‘Buy American Act’ and to create many local jobs,” said John Williams, chief operating officer, Solar Panels Plus. “The SPP-30a will be the only SRCC-certified ET collector built in the United States.”

Like its predecessor the SPP-30, the US-made SPP-30a will utilize a double-wall glass tube that works similarly to a Thermos bottle—where the inside can be very hot but the exterior of the container is cool to the touch—as a Thermos also uses an evacuated space between the inner and outer wall. The main difference in performance between evacuated tube and flat panel collectors is that by preventing heat from escaping back into the atmosphere as the absorber gets hot, the evacuated area of the ET collector forms a thermal barrier that allows sunlight to enter but blocks the escape of heat, which is therefore more concentrated and more efficiently harvested and used.

KINGSTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunWize Technologies, the solar industry’s leading wholesale distributor, will be a strategic distributor of SOLON Co

KINGSTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunWize Technologies, the solar industry’s leading wholesale distributor, will be a strategic distributor of SOLON Corporation’s top quality, made-in-the-USA modules in North America. The SOLON Blue 220/01 is in stock and available for immediate shipment.

The quality of the SOLON product is reflected by its industry-leading ten year workmanship and 25 year performance guarantee warranties. With its proven German design and state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturing, SOLON Corporation strives to deliver the highest quality and most reliable solar solutions on the market. SOLON Corporation is a subsidiary of the German-based SOLON SE, one of Europe’s largest solar module manufacturers and a supplier of solar power plants. The Tucson, AZ manufacturing facility began operations in 2007 and sources many of its materials from U.S. suppliers.

SunWize currently stocks the 225 and 230 watt versions of the SOLON Blue 220/01, providing solar installers exceptional value at an extremely competitive price point. It is a highly efficient polycrystalline solar module with module efficiencies of up to 14.02 percent. The SOLON Blue is ruggedly constructed, incorporating stout 4mm solar glass with a twin-wall frame for ultra high load capacity.

SunWize and SOLON will be exhibiting the Blue 220/01 and a prototype of the all-black monocrystalline 230/15 prototype at Solar Power International 2009 in Anaheim, CA, October 27-29, Booths 201 and 409.

“We are excited to announce our newest module manufacturer relationship. After extensive evaluation, we selected SOLON modules because of their superior quality and value,” reports David Kaltsas, executive vice president at SunWize. “In addition to providing a best-in-class product, we have a partner that shares our commitment to customer satisfaction and the growth of green jobs in America.”

“We are extremely pleased to partner with the premier distributor in the industry,” states Olaf Koester, CEO of SOLON Corporation. “SunWize mirrors our focus on quality and customer satisfaction. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration.”

Evergreen Solar Announces Opening of New European Headquarters in Berlin

MARLBORO, Mass. and BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evergreen Solar, Inc. (NasdaqGM: ESLR), a manufacturer of String Ribbon™ solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer technology, today announced that it has opened a new European headquarters in Berlin, Germany, further increasing the company’s presence in the German market.

Evergreen Solar began its European operations in 2002 and became a fully-registered German company in 2004. Since that time European sales have grown nearly 20 times, equivalent to a 180% compound annual growth rate. The new Berlin headquarters will help the company keep pace with the rapid business growth in the European market, particularly in Germany, a country featuring notable incentives for commercial and residential solar installations.

The new headquarters is located at Wallstraße 65, 10179 Berlin.

“Berlin is an ideal location for us to establish our European headquarters,” said Peter Rusch, Managing Director of Evergreen Solar GmbH and Vice President of Sales for Evergreen Solar, Inc. “Our excellent products and strong relationships with customers have allowed us to establish ourselves very quickly as a leader across the European market.”

Evergreen Solar produces high output solar panels that are the most environmentally friendly of any silicon-based panel. They have the smallest carbon footprint with the quickest energy payback of any silicon based panels in the industry.

“Evergreen Solar’s panels produce more electricity and less impact on the environment than any other silicon based panel,” Rusch said. “If you want to judge the performance of a panel the delivery of kilowatt hours per kilowatts installed is the best measure. From an ecological impact of a solar panel, the carbon footprint and energy payback are the most important factors. That’s what stands behind our slogan: More electricity, less impact.”

The European headquarters is in addition to the company’s worldwide headquarters in Marlboro, Mass., USA. The company also has a sales office for the Asia Pacific Region in California, as well as manufacturing plants in Devens, Mass., Midland, Michigan and one currently under construction in Wuhan, China.

Solar Innovator named one of Canada’s Top 10 Cleantech Companies

VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carmanah Technologies (TSX: CMH) has been named one of Canada’s top green technology companies on Corporate Knights Cleantech 10™ list, published earlier today. Now celebrating its third year, the Cleantech 10™ list is compiled annually by Corporate Knights Inc, an independent Canadian-based media company focused on fostering sustainable development in Canada. An established pioneer in solar-LED innovation, Carmanah has been named to the list all three years. According to today’s announcement, the Cleantech 10 list recognizes those technology-driven growth companies that make a big impact on resource efficiency, while demonstrating “purity (percentage of revenues or income from Cleantech business…), quality (strategy, management, financial strength, sector leadership),” and strong growth, earnings, liquidity, capitalization and technology.

“Canada is first in the world in the number of cleantech stocks we can invest in at home, and the Cleantech 10™ are the best of the crop,” said Toby A. A. Heaps, editor-in-chief of Corporate Knights. Today’s announcement by Corporate Knights’ also revealed that this year’s Cleantech 10™ outperformed the S&P/TSX by 50 per cent this year (using an unweighted average of the Cleantech 10™’s returns for the past year).

Headquartered in Victoria British Columbia, Carmanah Technologies designs, manufacturers and distributes solar-powered lighting, signaling and power systems for industrial applications worldwide. Since introducing the world’s first self-contained solar-powered LED marine lantern in the early 1990’s, the company has developed a range of solar-LED products for the marine, aviation and traffic industries. Based on this proven technology, Carmanah is again at the leading edge with its newest innovation: solar-LED lighting for streets, parking lots, pathways and more. Carmanah’s EverGEN™ solar-LED lights offer a stand-alone source of bright, uniform illumination wherever it’s needed, without trenching, cabling, grid access or a monthly utility bill. Recent applications of this Canadian technology include NASA’s Stennis Space Center Mississippi, and Southern California Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

In response to today’s news, Carmanah CEO Ted Lattimore commented that this years’ Cleantech list underscores the strength and resilience of Canada’s technology sector, and reinforces the value, practicality and real-world benefits of today’s green technology innovations. “The way I see it, 2009 was the year sustainability and financial responsibility became partners,” said Lattimore. “In today’s challenging economy, it’s hard for organizations to go green unless it makes good financial sense,” said Lattimore. “Fortunately, our industry has reached the point where green tech is not only environmentally responsible, it’s cost effective; today, doing the right thing could save you money!”

For a complete listing of Corporate Knights’ Cleantech 10 companies for the past three years, visit www.corporateknights.ca/cleantech. For more information on Carmanah Technologies, visit www.carmanah.com.

Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2009 Conference Call

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 will host a conference call on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss the Company's financial and operational results for the Fourth Quarter and Year End 2009. During the call management will discuss the company’s $100 million pipeline and the spin-off of Solar Park Initiatives.

Conference Call Details

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009

Time: 4:15 p.m. (EDT)

Dial-in Number: 1-888-549-7742

International Dial-in Number: 1-480-629-9857

It is recommended that participants phone-in approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start of the 4:15 p.m. call. A telephonic replay of the conference call may be accessed approximately two hours after the call through November 05, 2009, by dialing 1-800-406-7325 or 1-303-590-3030 for international callers and entering the replay access code 4176848. A webcast of the event will also be available via the Company’s website www.solarenergy.com.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available at www.solarenergy.com.

Solarmer Energy, Inc. Continues to Break World Records with 7.6% Efficient Plastic Solar Cell

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solarmer Energy, Inc., a leading developer of plastic solar panels, has done it again, breaking the plastic solar cell world record for a second consecutive time. Solarmer announced today their champion plastic solar cell efficiency of 7.6%, certified by the Newport Corporation’s Technology and Applications Center’s Photovoltaic (TAC-PV) Lab. The Newport Corporation is a globally recognized leader in advanced technology products and solutions.

Plastic solar panels, the next generation of solar products, will be flexible, transparent, and able to generate low cost clean energy from the sun. Attractive and colorful, customizable shape and sizes, and better low light performance are just a few in a long list of unique characteristics of plastic solar panels. These solar panels will transform the renewable energy industry, because of their ability to drive cost down to 12-15 cents/kWh and much less than $1/Watt.

In the process of completing their pilot manufacturing line, this efficiency milestone increases anticipation for Solarmer’s plastic solar panels, which will be available next year. "Breaking the 7% efficiency barrier for organic photovoltaics is a huge accomplishment for Solarmer and the organic photovoltaic (OPV) industry." said Dr. Gang Li, Vice President of Technology Development. "We are thankful for the contributions of our two primary collaborators, Prof. Luping Yu at the University of Chicago and Prof. Yang Yang at UCLA. We believe that our world class team will ensure that we continue along the path to the commercial success of OPVs."

“We are pleased that Newport’s recently launched certified PV lab is helping Solarmer in achieving outstanding results in efficiency. Our collaboration in material research and certified testing is a great example of how two very different companies can benefit by working together,” says Dr. Ruben Zadoyan, Director of Technology and Applications Center of Newport Corporation.

Solarmer Energy, Inc. will be speaking more to the public about this achievement at this year’s Solar Power International conference in Anaheim, California. The company will be exhibiting at booth #3073 from October 27^th to the 29^th.

SoloPower Expands Team With Two Photovoltaic Industry Veterans

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SoloPower, a California-based manufacturer of thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced two strategic additions to its team: Arthur Rudin, Vice President of Product Development and Robert Muhn, General Manager of Sales.

“Arthur and Robert both will play instrumental roles as SoloPower nears high volume manufacturing and commercialization in 2010,” said Interim CEO, Lou DiNardo. “Arthur possesses product technical expertise and Robert is a proven success in developing global solar markets. We’re excited to have them join the SoloPower team.”

Mr. Rudin will draw on his 30 years of photovoltaic industry experience to guide the next wave of SoloPower’s Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIGS) product development. Before joining SoloPower, Mr. Rudin served as Vice President of Product Development and Systems Engineering at Solar Integrated Technologies, a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devises; Director of Engineering at the Solar Energy Solutions Group of SHARP Electronics Corporation; and started his career at Shell Solar Industries (formerly Siemens Solar and ARCO Solar). Throughout his career, he has been involved in standards development for the photovoltaic industry through his involvement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He has held positions with the National Electric Code committee at Sandia National Laboratory, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, SolarTech Committee, and the PV Assistance Center Board. Mr. Rudin earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and attended Arizona State University, where he received a certificate of achievement in direct energy conversion.

Mr. Muhn joins SoloPower from Kyocera Solar, where he was responsible for the company’s sales to the grid-connected, off-grid industrial and rural electrification markets in the Americas and Australia. Prior to Kyocera Solar, Mr. Muhn worked at AstroPower, where he implemented a global sales strategy and co-managed a manufacturing and sales joint venture with Atersa in Spain. He also worked for Siemens Solar / ARCO Solar, where he delivered several new products to market and oversaw the company’s Latin America business operations. Mr. Muhn served as a subcontractor to Sandia National Labs and the U.S. Department of Energy, developing programs focused on productive uses of renewable energies in developing countries. He earned a BS in Engineering from the University of Colorado and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Energy Innovations Achieves World-Leading Efficiency with New Sunflower HCPV System

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy Innovations, Inc., manufacturer of high concentration solar modules and systems, announced today that its latest generation Sunflower module has achieved a world leading 29% conversion efficiency – almost double the average efficiency of flat plate PV systems.

This significant achievement represents the culmination of substantial research and development work across a broad range of disciplines including advanced optics designs, cell thermal management, tracking systems design and automated robotic assembly techniques. Only with a fully integrated system approach, as employed in the Sunflower Highly Concentrated PV (HCPV) system, can this type of world-leading performance be achieved.

Energy Innovations’ Sunflower HCPV system makes solar more cost-effective, more powerful and a smart investment. “Achieving this world-leading efficiency is another example of the advantages our proprietary HCPV architecture provides,” said Joe Budano, CEO of Energy Innovations. “We are now starting to see real commercial products delivering on the promise of CPV, for today and into the future.”

Even with this remarkable result, there are still many improvements on the horizon. Energy Innovations’ Sunflower system uses proprietary silicone on glass (SoG) Fresnel lenses and advanced secondary optics to focus the sun 1,200:1 onto high efficiency triple junction cells. Current generation triple junction cells operate at greater than 38% efficiency. For example, Spectrolab, an Energy Innovations supplier, recently announced a 41.6% efficient triple junction cell that will further enhance the performance of our Sunflower system.

“The rapidly increasing performance of triple junction cells in combination with Energy Innovation’s aggressive cost down program is the multiplier effect that substantially reduces our installed dollar per Watt,” added Gregg Bone, CTO of Energy Innovations. “This clearly demonstrates how our Sunflower HCPV technology will offer lower cost of energy compared with traditional Thin Film and crystalline silicon PV over the long term.”

This significant milestone in module efficiency was achieved while tracking the sun on EI’s fully integrated 2-axis tracking system. Sunflower’s advanced optics allow for a remarkable +/- 0.9 degrees of acceptance angle, another industry first. Large acceptance angles make tracking systems less complicated and lower cost while producing more power even in high winds. This represents another significant accomplishment given Sunflower’s high 1,200:1 concentration ratio. Typical lower concentration CPV systems employ 500:1 concentration.

Energy Innovations’ new high efficiency system has been submitted to Underwriters Laboratories for UL and IEC certification.

Energy Innovations will be showcasing the latest generation Sunflower HCPV Solution in their booth (#1724) at next week’s Solar Power International show in Anaheim, Calif.