SunPower Announces Agreement to Acquire Tenesol SA

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 23, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tenesol SA, a global solar provider headquartered in La Tour de Salvagny, France.  Tenesol, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total SA, has operations in 18 countries and solar panel manufacturing facilities in France and South Africa.

Under the terms of the agreement, SunPower will acquire Tenesol from Total for $165.4 million in cash.  Concurrently with the closing of the acquisition, Total has agreed to purchase 18.6 million shares of SunPower common stock in a private placement at $8.80 per share, a 50 percent premium to SunPower's December 22, 2011 closing price.  The transaction has been approved by an independent committee of SunPower's board of directors and is expected to close early in 2012 following the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. SunPower expects the acquisition will positively affect its financial position in 2012.  After the sale of Tenesol, Total will own approximately 66 percent of SunPower's common shares.

Tenesol has been designing, engineering, manufacturing, installing and managing solar energy systems for its global customer base since 1983.  It is a top-tier solar energy operator in Europe and a leader in the French market for large industrial and commercial photovoltaic rooftop solutions.  The company has installed more than 15,000 solar systems worldwide totaling 500 megawatts (MW) dc.  With a significant footprint in Europe, and as being a leader in the off-grid emerging market sector, Tenesol recorded revenue of EUR 240 million in 2010 and expects to record revenue of approximately EUR 200 million in 2011.  Post acquisition, the combined company will have deployed more than 2,500 MW dc globally.

"Our acquisition of Tenesol is another step toward differentiating ourselves in the competitive solar market, further expanding our downstream presence and benefiting from the strong backing of Total," said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO.  "We said on day one that the partnership with Total would provide strength to our balance sheet, access to new markets and investment in research and development.  In six short months, we have seen these benefits accrue to SunPower."

"Combining the activities of Tenesol with SunPower is a step forward in Total's strategy to become a world player in the promising solar industry," said Philippe Boisseau, president, Total Gas and Power Division.  "SunPower brings the world's highest efficiency, highest reliability technology to market with guaranteed performance.  Tenesol's well-established channels, manufacturing base and complementary global footprint will help expand SunPower's market reach and accelerate its share gain during market consolidation."

Total and SunPower also reached new agreements that further strengthen SunPower's balance sheet and liquidity position.  In addition, Total has agreed to pursue negotiations for several additional agreements with SunPower related to directly investing in SunPower's research and development, developing the first initial, full-scale, commercial concentrator power plant with the SunPower® C7 Tracker, and purchasing10 MW of SunPower products for the development of projects worldwide.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. provided a fairness opinion to the independent committee of SunPower's board of directors in connection with the acquisition.

Eco Building Products Receives Confirmation to Proceed With Desert Crest Development in West Lancaster, California

VISTA, Calif., Dec. 22, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Eco Building Products, Inc. (OTCBB: ECOB) announced today the Company has been notified that the Desert Crest Development in West Lancaster, California is now ready to proceed with construction of four models in first quarter 2012. This project awarded to the Company in February 2010, was delayed due to the tight financial markets and has now secured funding to proceed. ACS Development Corporation plans to build 4 model homes with production units to follow shortly after.  Desert Crest is a unique project consisting of two phases, representing over $1,200,000.00 in additional contract orders to the Company for 2012.  The first phase is twenty-two homes ranging from 2,100 to 2,700 square feet with a targeted sales price from the low 300,000 with expectations to sell out the first phase within six to eight months, cited Century 21, the sales and marketing agent for the project.

Desert Crest development is one of the few remaining new home developments available in Lancaster due to the water district not issuing any new water permits for new home builder tracts. All homes are being designed and certified as a GREEN development with integration of solar panels and other technically advanced building materials like Eco Red Shield™ protected lumber, EWP and Trusses.

"The Antelope Valley region has rebounded very quickly following the downturn in housing over 18 months ago.  When we first selected this area to build, Lancaster was ranked the fastest growing city in the U.S.  New homebuyers are now jumping back into this market because the homes are conveniently located for the many who work in Los Angeles, coupled with the fact that homes in this area are very reasonably priced," stated Rick Wackeen, President of ACS Development Corporation.

"We have worked very hard to assist ACS Development with designing Green homes knowing that the market would eventually turn. This week's movement of the Desert Crest project supports the recent headlines in the news of November housing starts surging in the USA. The Company is extremely pleased to be in a position to capitalize on this trend," stated Steve Conboy, President and CEO of Eco Building Products.

Nautilus Solar Energy Nets $25 Million Revolving Facility From De Lage Landen

SUMMIT, N.J., Dec. 22, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Nautilus Solar Energy ("Nautilus"), a leading independent solar power producer, has executed a financing agreement with De Lage Landen to fund a minimum of $25 million of Nautilus Solar Energy installations across key markets in the United States throughout 2012.

The De Lage Landen facility will be used to fund several megawatts of photovoltaic generation in Florida, California and the Northeast. "Nautilus is extremely excited to enter into the facility with De Lage Landen, which will enable the company to accelerate development through the expiration of the 1603 cash grant program," said Laura Stern, President at Nautilus Solar Energy.

Under the Sale-Leaseback structure, Nautilus will develop, construct, finance and operate the photovoltaic facilities at host locations. The power will be sold either to commercial and industrial host customers or to utilities under long-term Power Purchase Agreements.

"We're very pleased to partner with Nautilus Solar Energy and to have the opportunity to help them expand installations throughout the U.S.," said Mark McGovern, General Manager, Clean Technology for De Lage Landen.

About Nautilus Solar Energy

Nautilus Solar Energy, LLC is a Summit, NJ-based independent solar power producer that develops, constructs, owns and operates solar photovoltaic generating facilities. Founded in 2006 to promote the development of clean, renewable solar energy under a PPA model, Nautilus has projects in NJ, CT, MA, MD, CA, FL and Canada, with approximately 63 MW owned and managed.

About De Lage Landen

De Lage Landen, a fully owned subsidiary of Rabobank Group, specializes in asset-based financing programs for equipment manufacturers, dealers and distributors worldwide. Our programs cover our customers' total distribution chain, as well as the entire lease lifecycle. We offer customers a single source for leasing, administration, risk and asset management solutions. De Lage Landen's diversified solutions include car leasing in the European market and consumer finance and factoring in the Dutch home market.

Establishing a close and long-lasting relationship with our customers is at the heart of our company culture. This requires genuine interest in and a thorough understanding of our customers' business needs and goals. We partner with our customers to tailor solutions and develop programs that support mutual growth and profitability.

We care not only about our customers, but also about the communities in which we operate. We strive to have a positive social and environmental impact through our products and the way we conduct business.

For more information, please visit our website: www.delagelanden.com.

New Discovery Could Ignite Solar Boom by Cheaply Doubling Solar Panel Efficiency

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(Solar Energy News)--Onyx Service & Solutions Inc (OTCQB: ONYX) is applauding news released from the University of Texas at Austin stating that one of its chemists has discovered a way that may allow solar panel efficiency to be doubled, possibly reaching as high as 66%. Such a development is capable of causing a positive “sea-change” in the solar power industry.

At the heart of current solar panel functionality, the panel absorbs photons from the sun. Photons are then converted into electrons. An issue with regular photovoltaic panels is that much of the energy delivered by sunlight results in the conversion of “hot” electrons, which are too high-energy to be converted to electricity in silicon and are instead lost as heat. University of Texas Chemistry professor Xiaoyang Zhu and his team discovered that an organic plastic semiconductor could double the number of electrons harvested out of one photon of sunlight.

“At current, approximately 31% insolation-to-electricity efficiency of a silicon solar cell is considered to be the maximum in the solar industry,” stated ONYX President Malcolm Burleson. “Being able to cheaply double the efficiency and even being able to reach 66% efficiency could potentially erase the barriers of competing with cheap fossil fuels very quickly.”

Professor Zhu’s process involves absorbing the photon of sunlight in Pentacene (a form of plastic) to produce a dark quantum “shadow state” from which two electrons can be retrieved, instead of just one.

ONYX management is closely following this new development and the timing of when this new technology could be available in the marketplace. The Company’s unique business model of concentrating on competing in energy markets that could yield higher margins and avoiding reliance on subsidies and government loans appears to have given the Company an edge in the current shakeout.

“It is apparent that the solar companies with weaker business models will struggle, possibly lessening the field of competition for ONYX in the future,” said Burleson. “Having access to economical 66% efficiency panels after the industry shakeout could potentially be extremely lucrative for a Company positioned like ONYX.”

ONYX is currently developing the construction of multiple solar power projects in Honduras - one as large as 22 megawatts, as well as developing solar projects in Panama and solar product distribution arrangements in Peru and Columbia.

Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. acquires, develops and markets the most promising and potentially profitable energy projects and technologies possible. Management has focused on benefiting citizens of Central and South America with energy alternatives to costly power options by achieving multiple business accomplishments there. The Onyx mission is to manifest cutting edge energy technology, products, manufacturing advances and construction projects to successfully compete in a global energy marketplace, which includes GE (NYSE: GE), JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS), Empresa Nacional de Electricida (NYSE: EOC) and CPFL Energia S.A. (NYSE: CPL)

For more information on the Company see: www.OnyxService.com

U.S. Customers and Market Support Company During Investigations of Harmful Chinese Trade Practices

HILLSBORO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar manufacturer, has been supported by a wide spectrum of installers, distributors and project developers during a turbulent year that led to antidumping and anti-subsidy trade cases that SolarWorld filed against China.
   
SolarWorld filed the trade petitions with the U.S. government on Oct. 19 in hopes of restoring robust and fair international competition; in response, the U.S. government issued a unanimous preliminary determination agreeing that Chinese practices are harming the U.S. industry.

Since the cases were filed, many customers have begun or expanded their business relationships with SolarWorld. Both new and existing customers have stated their confidence in the company and its commitment to U.S. manufacturing and environmental practices:

•     Glenn Maltais, vice president of business development and sustainability for Munro Distributing Inc., Fall River, Mass.: “With the realities of globalization impacting economies here and abroad, there comes an indisputable need for U.S. job growth and balance with respect to trade. In the solar industry, that means growing domestic manufacturing jobs and ensuring fair competition in the PV sector. At Munro Distributing, we believe in supporting U.S. job growth, competitive pricing and quality domestic production. It is for these reasons that Munro began carrying SolarWorld's product line. We are proud to be aligned with SolarWorld and the value it enables us to provide to our customers.”
•     Josh Aldrich, manager of the solar division of Rodda Electric, Brentwood, Calif.: “We recently became a SolarWorld authorized installer to help us meet demand for sustainably produced solar technology made in the USA. In early 2012, we plan to order more than 2.5 megawatts of SolarWorld panels to supply two new projects. We prefer that our customers do not to have to wonder whether they’re getting what they paid for: solar panels made to the high environmental and trade standards that they expect.”
•     Mike McKechnie, president of Mountain View Solar, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.: “We’ve seen new business since SolarWorld filed its trade case from people who want clean energy products that live up to their billing in terms of manufacturing and trade. Some also mention wanting to support U.S. manufacturing and jobs. As SolarWorld authorized installers, we feel the same way. This fall, we boosted our partnership with the company to include selling Sunkits, SolarWorld’s custom systems.”

A recent report from Switzerland’s Bank Sarasin titled “Solar Industry: Survival of the Fittest in a Fiercely Competitive Marketplace” highlighted SolarWorld as one of the “fittest” photovoltaic companies to navigate an industry shakeout, partly in light of its coveted sustainability record. SolarWorld also is rated the world’s most sustainable producer on the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition’s annual Solar Scorecard.

“We would like to thank our strong and growing customer base for their loyalty and commitment during an extremely difficult year for the U.S. solar manufacturing industry,” said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas, the company’s commercial arm in the Americas. “With the support of our customer partners, we look forward to better years ahead once China’s unfair trade practices are addressed.”

SolarWorld also reported that it would close out 2011 with increased sales in the U.S. market, compared with 2010. The gain in unit volume came despite abruptly lower industry pricing, according to SolarWorld, as a result of China’s use of illegal subsidies and artificially and temporarily low prices to destroy U.S. manufacturers. Leading the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) (www.americansolarmanufacturing.org), a coalition of more than 150 industry companies employing more than 11,000 U.S. workers, SolarWorld contends that China’s anti-competitive trade is neither commercially nor environmentally sustainable.

China’s campaign has caused at least a dozen U.S. domestic manufacturers to lay off workers in the last two years. Unfortunately, Chinese manufacturers are continuing to expand their subsidized manufacturing capacity and to sell at dumped prices, according to CASM, in a sustained effort to take control of the U.S. market.

Natcore Receives Exclusive License From NREL to Develop "Black Silicon" Solar Cells

RED BANK, N.J., Dec. 20, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has been granted a patent license agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop and commercialize a line of black silicon products--including equipment, chemicals, and solar cells---based on NREL patents. The license grants Natcore exclusivity in the field of diffused emitters with liquid phase passivation.

Natcore and NREL have also agreed to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to develop commercial prototypes that embody NREL's black silicon inventions.

"Black silicon" refers to the apparent color of the surface of a silicon wafer after it has been etched with nano-scale pores; the black color results from the absence of reflected light from the porous wafer surface. R&D Magazine awarded the black silicon technology an R&D 100 Award in 2010, identifying it as one of the top 100 technological innovations of the year.

A panel made from black silicon solar cells will produce a significantly greater amount of energy (KwHrs) on a daily basis than will a panel made from cells using the industry standard thin film coating, not only because the reflectance is lower but also because the angular dependence of the reflectance from black silicon is much lower as well.  The latter fact means a black silicon panel will perform better during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun hits at an angle and will also outperform standard cell panels on cloudy days.  The combination of lower cost and higher energy output per kilowatt of installed array peak power should quickly make black silicon the antireflection control technology of choice in the industry.

For solar cells, minimum reflectivity is desirable because sunlight that is reflected, rather than absorbed, is "wasted." The reflectivity of a polished silicon wafer surface approaches 40%, giving the wafer its shiny appearance. Adding the industry's typical antireflective coating reduces the average reflectivity to approximately 6% and gives the cells their distinctive dark blue color. The black silicon process has been shown by Natcore scientists and NREL researchers to reduce average reflectivity to less than 1.5%.

Black silicon solar cells have been studied since the 1980s because of their potential for significantly improved performance compared to standard production cells. But a key obstacle to turning their increased light absorption into increased power output is a significantly increased area of exposed silicon on the sidewalls of the pores and on the small mesas that remain at the top surface of the wafer itself.  This increased area must be passivated, or treated to keep it from trapping the light-generated electric charges as they migrate toward the contacts of the solar cell, a process that robs the cell of output power.

"Natcore has the ability to passivate black silicon cells using their liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology. That has been the missing piece. It's what will enable black silicon to reach its potential," says Dr. Dennis Flood, Natcore's Chief Technology Officer.

"Before Natcore's passivation technology, it was necessary to put coated cells into a 1,000 deg. C. furnace to create a thermal oxide," continues Flood. "Natcore's LPD silica coating achieves passivation without requiring an extra thermal process."

Prior to today's announcement, NREL sent black silicon wafers with junctions—unfinished cells—to Natcore.  Natcore coated them with SiO2 and passivated them. NREL then applied contacts and tested the completed cells in their labs in Golden, CO. According to Flood, the result persuaded NREL to grant Natcore a license to develop and commercialize products based on the NREL black silicon technology.

"Double the output, halve the cost," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "That's our mantra. To make solar cells cost-competitive, we must reduce their cost and increase their output. The combined NREL-Natcore technologies will reduce cost by eliminating the need for thermal oxidation. And they'll increase output by enabling cells to be more productive throughout all daylight hours."

"We're combining NREL's black silicon technology with our LPD and passivation technologies, Provini adds. "We'll optimize the combined processes and incorporate them into our AR-Box. AR-Box enables use of an all-liquid phase process for creating ultralow reflectivity, high-performance silicon solar cells at high volume production rates."  AR-Box is Natcore's device that uses the company's liquid phase deposition (LPD) process to grow antireflective (AR) coatings on silicon wafers.

The NREL license contains a development and commercialization plan that establishes technical and market milestones for Natcore, along with a royalty structure. These are subject to confidentiality provisions set by the parties.  The technical milestones include solar cell efficiency goals, some of which are to be met by August of 2012. The market milestones include commercial sale dates and dollar targets. The agreement is dated December 12, 2011, and is effective for as long as the NREL patents are enforceable.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC.

Statements in this press release other than purely historical factual information, including statements relating to revenues or profits, or Natcore's future plans and objectives, or expected sales, cash flows, and capital expenditures constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in Natcore's business, including risks inherent in the technology history. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Except in accordance with applicable securities laws, Natcore expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

High Power PV Modules from Aide Solar Complete UL Eligibility; Now Available in Production Quantities

TEMPE, Ariz. & XUZHOU CITY, China--(Solar Energy News)--Continuing to focus on meeting market demands by offering a complete solar module portfolio for residential, commercial, and utility installations, Aide Solar (http://www.aidesolar.com/) today announced it has received notification from the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) Shanghai Office that it has successfully completed all testing requirements on samples of three different series of its 72 cell high power photovoltaic (PV) modules.

“Our customers value the UL mark as a trusted symbol of safety and quality certification,” said Dashing Liu, Global Sales and Marketing, Aide Solar. “This latest addition to our UL certified portfolio makes it possible to design systems that satisfy a variety of needs, from rooftops to larger solar farms.”

The following Aide Solar 72 cell design, high power PV modules are now available in production quantities:

•     Mono (125mm): AD210M5-Aa, AD205M5-Aa, AD200M5-Aa, AD195M5-Aa, AD190M5-Aa, AD185M5-Aa
•     Mono (156mm): AD315M6-Aa, AD310M6-Aa, AD305M6-Aa, AD300M6-Aa, AD295M6-Aa, AD290M6-Aa, AD285M6-Aa
•     Poly (156mm): AD315P6-Aa, AD310P6-Aa, AD305P6-Aa, AD300P6-Aa, AD295P6-Aa, AD290P6-Aa, AD285P6-Aa

About Aide Solar

Aide Solar is a large-scale producer of photovoltaic modules based in Xuzhou City, China with North American headquarters in Tempe, Arizona. Aide Solar was established in 2003 and became a subsidiary of the Taiwan-based Panjit Group in 2007. Ranked as one of China’s leading solar panel manufacturing companies with customers worldwide, Aide Solar is committed to technology innovation and providing the best customer experience in the industry. To learn more about Aide Solar, please visit http://www.aidesolar.com or call 480-388-3226. You are also invited to follow Aide Solar on Twitter or Facebook.

Trina Solar Announces Release of New Video: "Plug Me In, Light Me Up"

CHANGZHOU, China, Dec. 20, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Trina Solar Limited (TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules is pleased to announce the launch of "Plug me in, Light me up", a video with actor and race car driver Patrick Dempsey, which discusses solar power and the difference solar panels can make to communities off the traditional energy grid. The video highlights the human significance of the solar industry's technological advances.

Actor and race car driver Patrick Dempsey discusses the real power of solar energy to help people and the solar industry's ability to provide products to meet their needs. Mr. Dempsey is not a company spokesman. The American actor's participation was motivated by a personal interest in solar power as an energy solution; an interest which he plans to action by installing solar panels at his home in Southern California.

The video introduces viewers to Trina Solar's philanthropic efforts in bringing energy independence to a Mexican home for orphaned children, an African hospital, and an American camp for children with special medical needs. For these organizations, having solar panels to supplement their electricity generation allows them to allocate more of their resources to their central causes, whether it be offering a home to one more child or providing treatment to a new patient. In the case of the African hospital, solar panels make the difference between only being able to provide basic treatment to people during the day and having the necessary electricity to light rooms, refrigerate vaccines and extend community medical services.

Solar photovoltaics present an affordable, reliable and clean way to generate much-needed electricity for communities off the traditional energy grid and to supplement existing, more expensive electricity generation for those on the grid. As the industry continues to make great progress in improving product efficiencies and lowering the cost of solar energy, we hope that the solar industry will play a leading role in bringing energy independence to empower individuals and their communities.

The video is currently available on YouTube, as well as on Trina Solar's corporate social responsibility microsite at www.trinasolar.com/15minutes.

Sol, Inc. Names Willis McCullough Director of Strategic Accounts

PALM CITY, Fla., Dec. 20, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Sol, Inc., the leading provider of solar/sustainable LED outdoor lighting solutions, is pleased to announce that Willis McCullough has joined the company as Director of Strategic Accounts. McCullough has a proven track record selling sustainable products to key national and international commercial accounts. He has long-standing relationships in the retail, hospitality, energy services and utility industries and is an expert in utility and municipal rebate and incentive programs, which will create excellent benefits in North America for customers purchasing Sol products. As Director of Strategic Accounts, McCullough will work with large strategic commercial customers to inject our solar powered product and highly efficient on grid product into their locations and future locations.

McCullough is a nuclear engineer, has experience in corporate training and is an excellent relationship manager. He most recently held the position of National Program Director for e2s (Energy Efficiency Services) where he developed and implemented national energy upgrade and sustainability plans for nationwide customers. Prior to that he served as a Vertical Market Manager of Sales & Applications for UTC Power / UTC Fuel Cells where he was responsible for designing, integrating and applying products into the industrial, commercial/retail and supermarket industries and where he developed sales and marketing plans for implementation of engineered products and services to nationwide customers. McCullough has also worked for Carrier Corporation, Toshiba International Corporation and Houston Lighting & Power.

"We are excited to attract high caliber talent like Willis to provide a competitive advantage in driving the growth of our commercial markets," said Paul Wickberg, President and CEO of Sol, Inc. "Willis' invaluable sales expertise coupled with a strong foundation in relationship building, management and efficiency make him the ideal candidate to further strengthen our long-term goal of providing superior sustainable lighting solutions to our clients. Willis will undoubtedly help us to expand our on-grid solutions to support the large retrofit market in the broad commercial markets as well. He's a great addition to our team."

With a proven track record of sales and management success, McCullough is well-prepared to assist Sol with strategic account initiatives. "I am extremely excited and anxious to introduce Sol's innovative product in portfolio to strategic commercial accounts," he said. "Every major company is focused on energy and the environment, while there are not many companies and/or products that can make an impact in both those areas or offer the solutions in an economical way as Sol can. Sol has great people, a great vision and nothing but potential."

Carmanah Solar Lighting Boosts Security at Nuclear Power Facility

VICTORIA, British Columbia--(Solar Energy News)--In an order valued at nearly $400,000 USD, a large US power utility in the Southwestern United States has selected the EverGEN 1530 solar LED outdoor lighting system for the second installment in a perimeter fence security lighting project. The solar lighting systems by Carmanah (TSX: CMH)(Pink Sheets: CMHXF) are being employed to increase the security of a nuclear power generating facility by providing backup safety lighting in the unlikely event of power failure, allowing the facility to maintain critical security functions that are mandated by Homeland Security. The combined value of both orders by the power utility represents over $1.5 million in solar security lighting.

The standalone EverGEN 1530 solar LED light is designed specifically for industrial-scale applications including parking lot and perimeter lighting. The EverGEN 1500-series combines the performance of an AC-powered area light with the versatility of an off-grid solar-powered lighting system and offers unparalleled performance for a solar-powered LED light of its size. The utility’s decision to use solar powered lighting is supported by a lower installation cost versus grid-based systems as no trenching or cabling is required. Including time and installation, the utility company anticipates saving an estimated $2 million.

"It’s clear that Carmanah solar lighting products are meeting the needs of the North American market when major power utility companies are adopting our technology,” said Bruce Cousins, Carmanah CEO. “We have confirmation that the need for high-performance, reliability, and cost savings in an off-grid, outdoor lighting system is being met by the EverGEN product. We’re confident that utilities will continue to ask for EverGEN systems by name.”

Carmanah EverGEN 1500-series solar LED outdoor lighting systems are available now. For more information, visit www.carmanah.com.

Canadian Solar Inc. and TransCanada Corporation Announce Sales Agreement for 86MW Solar PV Project Portfolio in Ontario, Canada

ONTARIO, Canada, Dec. 20, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. (the "Company", "we" or "Canadian Solar") (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar companies, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. (CSSI), has entered into a sales agreement with TransCanada Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada), whereby TransCanada will acquire from Canadian Solar a 86 megawatts (MW) AC solar project portfolio for approximately $470 million Canadian dollars.

Under the agreement, CSSI will provide TransCanada with 9 fully-operational and commissioned utility-scale solar projects across the Province of Ontario which are expected to come into service between late 2012 and mid-2013. These projects are all contracted assets under Ontario's Feed-In Tariff Program. In addition to securing construction finance, CSSI will provide turnkey engineering, procurement and construction services as well as being the supplier of major components to the projects. All solar PV modules used in the portfolio will be manufactured at Canadian Solar's manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario.

"This agreement with TransCanada is a true achievement for the solar industry in Canada, and an important milestone for Canadian Solar as we continue to expand our total solutions business to promote the expansion of solar power worldwide. We are proud of our association with TransCanada, one of North America's strongest and most successful energy infrastructure companies, which have chosen to partner with us for their entry into the Solar PV space. We look forward to a successful cooperation with TransCanada," commented Dr. Shawn Qu, chairman and chief executive officer of Canadian Solar Inc.

About TransCanada

With more than 60 years experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and oil pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada's network of wholly owned natural gas pipelines extends more than 57,000 kilometers (35,500 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent's largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 380 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A growing independent power producer, TransCanada owns, or has interests in, over 10,800 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is developing one of North America's largest oil delivery systems. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. For more information visit: www.transcanada.com

About Canadian Solar

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is one of the world's largest solar companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar modules and other solar applications, Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar system solutions for on-grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide. With operations in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, Canadian Solar provides premium quality, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar solutions to support global, sustainable development. For more information, visit: www.canadiansolar.com

Thin-Film Solar Panel Producer Stion Announces $130M Financing Led by Korean Investors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Solar Energy News)--Stion, a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency thin-film solar modules, today announced a $130M equity investment led by AVACO and Korean private equity funds. Existing investors Khosla Ventures, Taiwan Semiconductor (through VentureTech Alliance), Lightspeed Venture Partners, Braemar Energy Ventures, and General Catalyst Partners all participated in the round.

Stion is continuing the planned expansion of its US manufacturing facility in Hattiesburg, MS. Stion will establish a subsidiary in Korea (“Stion Korea”) to build a thin-film module factory to help serve the Asian and European markets. Stion will make a $35M initial investment into Stion Korea.

“This investment and partnership represents an exceptional opportunity for Stion,” said Chet Farris, Stion’s President & CEO. “Solar has always been a global business and this investment enables Stion to address market demand in Asia and beyond. We have added world-class investors as well as a strategic partner with deep technical expertise.”

The transaction includes a strategic partnership with AVACO, a leading provider of thin-film processing equipment. The two parties will collaborate to develop next generation thin-film production equipment, focusing on lowering costs, improving tool productivity and increasing module efficiency.

“We are very excited to combine our advanced equipment technology with Stion’s innovative thin-film PV module manufacturing expertise,” said Jae-Gon Wee, the Chairman of AVACO. “The strategic partnership between AVACO and Stion will accelerate each company’s technology roadmap, thus enabling much faster growth for both parties.”

Stion is producing high-efficiency, thin-film solar modules using a simple, low-cost monolithically integrated circuit design. Stion’s module has a convenient form factor (65 cm x 165 cm) and is specifically designed for use in all major market segments. Stion recently produced the world’s most efficient monolithic thin-film circuit at production scale, which was verified at 14.1% efficiency by the National Renewable Energy Lab.

Google & KKR Partner to Acquire Portfolio of Solar PV Projects in California from Recurrent Energy

NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO--(Solar Energy News)--Google, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates, “KKR”), and Recurrent Energy today announced an investment in a portfolio of solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities serving the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).

The portfolio of projects is financed with a combination of debt and equity, which includes a significant equity investment from Google in addition to equity from SunTap Energy RE LLC (“SunTap”), a new venture formed today by KKR to invest in solar projects in the U.S.

“The investment is a clear demonstration of solar’s ability to attract private capital from well-established investors like Google and KKR,” said Arno Harris, CEO of Recurrent Energy. “This transaction provides an example of the direction solar is headed as a viable, mainstream part of our energy economy.”

The four solar PV facilities included in the transaction will provide 88 MW of power to SMUD and were the first to be awarded as part of the utility's feed-in tariff program (FIT) introduced in January 2010. Construction on three of the Sacramento, CA, area projects will be complete early in 2012, with the fourth coming online later in the year. The projects are expected to generate nearly 160,000,000 kWh in their first year of operation, which is roughly equivalent to offsetting the electricity consumption of more than 13,000 average U.S. homes.

Google’s investment in these projects brings its total invested to more than $915 million in renewable energy projects. The company has invested in a wide range of technologies, from transmission to the world’s largest wind and solar power tower projects. This represents Google’s first investment in the U.S. in utility scale solar PV.

“Google’s commitment to clean energy continues to be a core value for the company,” said Axel Martinez, Assistant Treasurer at Google. “Over the past 18 months, Google has made investments in the sector that not only help deploy hundreds of megawatts of sustainable power, but also enable new and exciting business opportunities. We’re excited to be supporting KKR’s entrance into the renewable energy sector in the U.S. We hope the sector continues to attract new sources of capital.”

“Recurrent Energy is a leading solar developer and Google embodies innovation,” said Raj Agrawal, head of KKR’s North American Infrastructure team. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with these two leaders to serve SMUD with a substantial and reliable new source of renewable energy and to contribute to our country’s vast growth in clean energy resources.”

SunTap is KKR’s third renewable energy investment in 2011 and its first renewable investment in the U.S. Other recent transactions include investments in Sorgenia, a leading French wind park operator and T-Solar, a leading solar energy company in Spain. Over the last year, KKR has made five infrastructure investments, which, with the creation of SunTap, total over $1.5 billion in invested capital.

To establish SunTap, KKR committed $95 million line of equity, a portion of which will be drawn for this investment. The rest of the equity will be invested in similar projects.

ReneSola Completes Construction and Grid Connection of Its 20 MW Solar Power Plant in Qinghai, China

JIASHAN, China, Dec. 19, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- ReneSola Ltd (NYSE: SOL) ("ReneSola" or the "Company"), a leading global manufacturer of solar products, today announced the completion and grid connection of the Company's 20 megawatt ("MW") solar power plant in Wulan County in Qinghai, China with the Company providing all 20 MW of solar modules. The solar power plant is the first of its kind for ReneSola.

Mr. Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer, commented, "The completion of our power plant in Qinghai marks our foray into the solar electricity generation business in China, where we see potential for high growth in the next few years. Qinghai Province has an abundance of natural resources, including sunshine, through its high elevation on the Tibetan plateau. We continue to be excited by China's transformation from a manufacturing hub of solar products into an increasingly important end-user market. The growing number of downstream projects in the domestic market represents a significant opportunity for us to create new revenue streams and expand our local market share."

Recurrent Energy Secures $250M Financing From Mizuho for 200 MW of Solar PV Projects in North America

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Recurrent Energy, a leading North American solar project developer, announced that it has secured a four-year construction revolver credit facility of $250 million from Mizuho Corporate Bank. The facility will support the construction of 20 solar photovoltaic (PV) projects throughout the province of Ontario, Canada. The credit facility is one of the largest non-recourse solar financings for a solar PV portfolio in North America.

"This financing signals a major step for Recurrent Energy and Ontario: the build-out of some 200 MW of solar power plants," said Arno Harris, CEO of Recurrent Energy. "This transaction provides yet more evidence that solar is a mainstream energy source attracting significant investment from established financial partners. This is what solar looks like at scale."

With this financing, Recurrent Energy will begin construction on the first phase of solar developments in Ontario. When completed, the 20 solar developments will provide more than 200 MW of power to residents in the province. The projects are all under the Ontario Power Authority's feed-in tariff program (FIT), which provides long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources such as solar.

Mizuho Corporate Bank was the lead arranger and administration agent for this financing agreement.

Shinya Wako, Managing Executive Officer and Head of the Americas for Mizuho Corporate Bank, commented, "This agreement is a significant milestone for our involvement in the North American solar industry, and we are pleased to be partnering with Recurrent Energy, a solar developer with proven experience and expertise."

SunPower Launches Solar Energy Monitoring Application for Android-powered Smartphones

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), a manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced the addition of a new solar energy monitoring application for Android™-powered smartphones to its SunPower Monitoring System portfolio.  SunPower Monitoring, which includes mobile device applications and a web-based interface, allows homeowners to easily track the energy performance of their residential solar system alongside their home's energy usage.

With the new Android application, homeowners can not only follow their system's performance, home energy usage and trends, but swipe back to view its history, and share with friends and family in real-time.  Homeowners with SunPower Monitoring can conveniently log-on to the web-based interface to access their home's energy information from virtually anywhere.  Residential customers can view a system's energy performance, home energy usage and environmental savings on an hourly, monthly and annual basis.

"With the SunPower Monitoring System, our customers can optimize their solar investment by monitoring their energy production and usage in real-time using their smartphones," said David Henry, SunPower chief marketing officer.  "These monitoring tools can be used online or via mobile devices, empowering homeowners to track the efficiency of their systems anytime and from practically any location."

The Android application can be downloaded immediately from Android Market™ at no charge and is available to new and existing customers of SunPower solar systems with monitoring capabilities.  The SunPower Monitoring System is available through the SunPower dealer network for homeowners purchasing a new solar rooftop system.

SolarTech Launches Solar Energy Estimate Report to Help Consumers Compare Residential Solar PV System Performance Through ‘MPG-Like’ Report

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Solar Energy News)--SolarTech, a non-profit industry consortium, announced today the launch of the Solar Energy Estimate (SEE) Report as an open web service at SolarHub.com. The goal is to reduce consumer confusion by offering a service similar to the Federal government’s new-car MPG rating system. “We are pleased to have our SEE report vision launched and ready to serve consumers and solar installers,” said Tim Keating, SolarTech Performance Committee Chair and VP of Marketing and Field Operations at Skyline Solar. “The SEE Report has the potential to reduce consumer confusion when purchasing a solar PV system. Our next challenge will be to educate consumers and drive industry adoption.”

The one page SEE report uses standardized calculations combined with the installer’s site-specific equipment design variables and local solar insolation data to provide the annual estimated energy production for the solar system. This standardized estimate allows consumers to compare multiple solar PV designs for a specific location. In addition to the underlying calculations (based on NREL’s PVWatts, v2 and California CSI EPBB derate factors), it offers a standardized report format, modeled on the MPG window sticker, enabling consumers to find the data of interest for comparing quotes and building consumer confidence. The SEE report includes estimates for the first year energy production; the total energy produced over 25 years and a graphic showing the variation in monthly energy production over a full year.

SolarNexus, an active participant in the Performance Committee and co-developer of SolarHub, developed the SEE Report software to satisfy the Performance Committee's documented requirements. SolarHub proved to be a natural home for the SEE Report. SolarHub is a free web-based source for product specifications on thousands of solar products providing a cost-reducing resource to solar contractors. “We are pleased to be supporting SolarTech’s mission to lower Balance of System soft costs,” said Eric Alderman, President and CEO of SolarNexus. “We look forward to working with SolarTech to drive adoption with consumers to make asking for their SEE Report as natural and expected as asking for a car’s MPG rating.”

Key to maximizing the SEE Report benefit is the broad adoption by commercial solar sales professionals and proposal tool providers such as OnGrid Solar. “OnGrid envisions the SEE Report as a natural complement to its quotation tool suite,” said Andy Black, CEO, OnGrid Solar. “We look forward to actively supporting SolarTech’s mission to drive down acquisition costs. This consumer confidence building tool is long overdue,” continued Andy. “We have taught thousands of new solar professionals through our Solar Sales and Marketing classes. The SEE Report is right tool at the right time to ensure ethical selling and satisfied consumers leading to long term industry growth.”

“SolarTech is privileged to be awarded DOE funding in September for our National Solar 3.0 platform. The launch of the SEE Report means that SolarTech is already off and running to lower solar project soft costs,” said Doug Payne, Executive Director and co-founder of SolarTech. “The SEE Report is another in a series of accomplishments to reduce Balance of System and soft costs by 20% annually through standardized templates, uniform financing contracts, checklists and other process streamlining best practices.”

SolarTech will host a webinar on Thursday Jan. 12th at 9:30am Pacific Time to introduce and explore the benefits of the SEE Report and answer questions from integrators and solar sales professionals. Visit www.solartech.org to register. Be sure to test drive the SEE Report at www.solarhub.com.

China Sunergy Announces TUV Certificates to Quasar Modules and New Sales Contract of 1.89MW Quasar Modules

NANJING, China, Dec. 19, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUN) ("China Sunergy" or the "Company"), a specialized solar cell and module manufacturer, today announced that its Quasar modules had been awarded safety and reliability certificates by TUV Rheinland Group. The Company also announced the sale of 1.89MW in Quasar products to Bulgaria, under a contract signed with M1 Solar Plant, a special purpose vehicle company registered by Helios Power, a recognized player in the energy market.

TUV Rheinland Group provides neutral test reports and certificates to prove that PV modules safely and reliably deliver the guaranteed rated power in various kinds of environmental conditions. The TUV certificates for the Quasar modules are valid for 5 years through November 16, 2016. The certificate is widely recognized across Europe and will allow China Sunergy to ramp up its sales of Quasar modules across the continent.

China Sunergy believes that its module is well recognized in Eastern Europe. M1 Solar Plant will deploy China Sunergy's Quasar modules in the development of a commercial ground-mounted project in the Burgas region of Bulgaria known as Sredetz Solar Park. The project is expected to be completed in February 2012. The Company has started shipping in mid-December and will deliver the remainder before the end of January 2012.

"Sredetz Solar Park is one of our most important projects next year, and CSUN's efficient and high quality Quasar products enable us to build the project with reliable, cutting edge technology panels." Said Mr. Ivo Ivanov, CEO of Helios Power and Managing Director of M1 Solar Plant.

Robert Rice, Chief Sales, Marketing & Strategy Officer commented: "We are very pleased with these two positive developments. The TUV certificate is recognition of our Quasar product's quality and safety, and we expect this can pave the way for China Sunergy to step into the bigger European market. Specifically, the cooperation with M1 Solar Plant will expand our market share in Bulgaria, a good growth area for China Sunergy in the future."

Solar Capital Ltd. Adds New Lender: Increases Borrowing Capacity to $540 Million

NEW YORK--(Solar Energy News)--Solar Capital Ltd. (NASDAQ: SLRC) today announced that a new lender has committed $50 million to its senior secured revolving credit facility, bringing total commitments under the agreement to $405 million. The facility matures in February of 2013 and can be expanded to $600 million.

“The addition of this new commitment further diversifies our lending sources and brings our total debt capacity to $540 million. With our sizeable amount of available capital, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the current market environment to fuel portfolio growth," said Michael Gross, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Solar Capital Ltd.

ABOUT SOLAR CAPITAL LTD.

Solar Capital Ltd. is a closed-end investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company invests primarily in leveraged, middle market companies in the form of senior secured loans, mezzanine loans, and equity securities.

KYOCERA Provides Solar Power Generating System for Palau's Largest Solar Project

KYOTO, Japan--(Solar Energy News)--Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) today announced that it has supplied a solar power generating system for the Republic of Palau international airport — the 226.8kW solar installation is the largest to be completed on the island nation located roughly 500 miles east of the Philippines. The design and implementation of the parking lot solar project was a joint collaboration between Kyocera and Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd., which was realized with funding by the Japanese government's Official Development Assistance (ODA) to help contribute to the country's growth.

The solar modules are installed on the top of shading structures in the parking lot. The solar power generating system, which is the first grid-connected system in the country, is comprised of 1,080 Kyocera 210W solar modules. Due to the high occurrence of typhoons on the island, the backside of the modules have been reinforced with extra support bars for enhanced wind-pressure resistance. The system is expected to produce an annual power output of 250MWh, off-setting roughly 80 tons of CO2 per year.

On November 17, an inauguration ceremony was held with Palau's President Johnson Toribiong and other officials from both Palau and Japan in attendance.

For more information about Kyocera Solar Energy: http://global.kyocera.com/reliability/

Turner Construction Company Tops Out First Net Zero School in Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Turner Construction Company, Arizona will celebrate the Topping Out of the new innovative Colonel Smith Middle School today, Monday, December 12 at 2:30 pm.  The public, replacement school is being built on Fort Huachuca, the Army's leading intelligence training facility at 155 Carter Avenue, Fort Huachuca, Arizona 85670.  The new Colonel Smith Middle School will be Arizona's first Net Zero Energy Building in Arizona and 12th in the nation.  The $17M school will generate more energy than it consumes on an annual basis through its energy-efficient design, solar potable water heating, photovoltaic panels, and wind machines.

Today's topping out ceremony attendees will include: School Superintendent, Dr. Ronda L. Frueauff; five Fort Huachuca School District Board Members; Army Post Commander, Colonel Faulkner; District Project Manager, Tony Wall with 3W Management; representatives from Emc2 Group Architects Planners; and representatives from Fanning/Howey Architects.  The event will include a speaking presentation, and a signing and raising of the final beam.

With an instructional focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), planners of Colonel Smith Middle School complex re-thought the traditional design of educational buildings.  Facilities will support a project-based learning model with flexible common and collaboration spaces, and facilitate learning both indoors and outdoors.  The 88,693 square foot school will accommodate approximately 350 students in grades 6, 7, and 8, primarily children of military families.

Shawn Rosenberger, General Manager of Turner Construction Company, Arizona, states, "Colonel Smith Middle School defines innovation.  Not only is this one of the few Net Zero buildings in the country, the design is a total transformation from the typical classrooms where most of us went to school.  Turner is proud to be a part of this stellar team and this remarkable project."

Turner Construction Company maintains a network of 45 offices in the U.S. including a fully-staffed office in Arizona.  The company offers clients the accessibility and support of a local firm with the strength, stability, and resources of a national corporation.  Turner Construction Company is a leader in all major market segments of the building construction field.  For more information, visit www.turnerconstruction.com/tempe.

Royal Wine Corp. Has Gone "Green" With Its Latest Project to Ensure Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

BAYONNE, N.J., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Royal Wine Corp. (RWC), is proud to announce the completion of a solar power system on the roof of its corporate headquarters and warehouse facility located in Bayonne, New Jersey. RWC is a leading specialty wine producer in New York and California, as well as an importer and distributor, and is also the parent company of Kedem Food Products.

Royal Wine Corp. joins fellow New Jersey corporations including Fed Ex, McGraw Hill, M&M Mars and Johnson & Johnson that have installed energy saving, green alternatives.  For the next 20 years, the 1.15 megawatt solar system is estimated to be able to supply up to 65% percent of the power needs for Royal Wine Corp. via sustainable, renewable energy.

"We are very proud to take this step to further our commitment to sustainability in our operations and reduce our carbon footprint, " said Sheldon Ginsberg, Executive Vice President of Royal Wine Corp.  "This is one of many green initiatives undertaken by Royal Wine Corp. and our affiliates and it further reflects our pride and commitment to the United States, energy conservation and overall efficiency."

The solar power installation, which is owned and operated by RWC, covers nearly 4 acres of rooftop space that would otherwise go unused – causing no negative impact to the environment. It consists of 5,000 Schott Polycrystalline Solar Panels which were manufactured in the United States of America and have been designed to specifically meet the facility's energy needs.  RWC will be utilizing a federal incentive program afforded by the American Recovery Act that allows a 30% federal grant on the project. In addition to this program, Royal Wine will participate in the New Jersey Clean Energy Program allowing companies to earn Solar Renewable Energy Certificates.

The system that was installed is estimated to reduce the release of over 20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the 20 year life expectancy of the project, or the equivalent to one of the following:

•     More than 3,500 passenger cars not driven;
•     2.0 million gallons of gasoline not burned;
•     42,000 barrels of oil not consumed;
•     2,200  households' electricity use;
•     46,000  tree seedlings grown; or
•     200 acres of forest preserved from deforestation

(Data is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.)

Herzog Wine Cellars, the companies California winery also maintains strictly sustainable winegrowing policies and practices, as it has since its inception in 1985. It prides itself on reducing its carbon footprint by sourcing materials from local producers and distributors, participating in Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing (a 3rd party-certified sustainable winegrowing program) and working with environmental experts to more effectively dispose of wastewater, garbage and other recyclables.

About Royal Wine Corp.

Royal Wine Corp. is a family owned and operated company for over 150 years with a tradition of producing highly regarded award-winning wines. RWC produces and distributes well known U.S. wines such as Baron Herzog, Herzog Reserve and Kedem wines, as well as world famous Kedem Grape Juices.  RWC also is the exclusive U.S. importer of many well-known wine brands including Italy's Bartenura wines, Barkan and Carmel wines from Israel, Teal Lake from Australia, Goose Bay from New Zealand and many others.  In addition to wine, RWC distributes spirits and liqueurs from countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Israel, Scotland, Russia, Chile, Hungary, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.  Through its subsidiary Kedem Food Products it also distributes nearly 2,000 food items to consumers in all 50 states with a focus on specialty items such as Kosher, all natural and gluten free.  For more information, please visit www.royalwine.com  or email us at pr@royalwine.com

Phoenix Solar Builds Solar Plant For Dow Corning in Michigan

SAN RAMON, Calif. and MIDLAND, Mich., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Phoenix Solar and Dow Corning Corporation today jointly announced the completion of a solar installation at Dow Corning's world headquarters and for both companies to collaborate on efforts to commercialize a total solution using Dow Corning's structural adhesives.  The adhesives, which  replace the metal clamps, clips and bolts typically used to secure photovoltaic (PV) modules to mounting rails, have the potential to accelerate the adoption of solar energy by using automation to lower material and labor costs and reduce installation time in the building of solar plants.

Under terms of the agreement, Phoenix Solar has designed, installed and delivered a proof-of-concept installation and a 23-kilowatt demonstration grid-tied plant on the grounds of Dow Corning's corporate headquarters.  The two companies will continue to pursue future opportunities for solar projects, both within the North American market and internationally.

"By teaming up with Phoenix Solar, we now have a partner with the worldwide reach to help make our structural adhesives a catalyst for accelerating the adoption of solar energy," said Tim Efthimiady, Global Business Manager for Solar BOS / Installations. "Working together, both companies have the capability to drive down installation costs and make solar plants an even more attractive alternative to fossil-based fuels."

"Dow Corning is an innovative company that already plays a prominent role in the solar industry, and they now have developed structural adhesives with the potential to reshape the way solar plants are built by dramatically reducing costs and installation time," said Paul J. Caudill, CEO and President of Phoenix Solar Inc. "We at Phoenix Solar share Dow Corning's vision of making solar power a broadly adopted renewable energy source around the world."

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Two Arizona Solar Farms

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Duke Energy now owns two large-scale solar farms in Arizona – the company's first in the American West.

Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, purchased the Ajo Solar Project and Bagdad Solar Project from Recurrent Energy in August. Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) will buy all of the output from both solar farms from Duke Energy Renewables under the terms of two 25-year power purchase agreements. (APS originally signed these agreements with Recurrent Energy.)

The Ajo Solar Project, located in Pima County (near the community of Ajo), uses nearly 21,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that can collectively generate almost 5 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The project achieved commercial operation in late September.

The Bagdad Solar Project, located in Yavapai County (near the town of Bagdad), will use about 72,000 solar panels that can collectively generate 15 MW of electricity. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation by the end of this year.

"This acquisition puts Duke Energy in a position to help Arizona's largest and longest-serving energy service provider deliver even more affordable, zero-emission renewable power to its customers," said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf. "For Duke Energy, this landmark deal doubles our portfolio of commercial solar projects in operation and instantly expands our footprint to the western United States."

"These projects represent an important step in realizing our mission to establish solar as a mainstream source of electricity," said Arno Harris, CEO of Recurrent Energy. "We're thrilled to have a partner of Duke Energy's caliber step into the ownership role for these innovative solar projects."

Financial terms were not disclosed.

International engineering and project management company AMEC designed and built the Ajo and Bagdad projects. AMEC will be responsible for operating and maintaining the sites under the terms of five-year service agreements with Duke Energy Renewables.

Duke Energy Renewables already owns seven PV facilities in operation: a 14-MW solar farm in San Antonio, Texas, a 6-MW project in Orlando, Fla., and five 1-MW sites in North Carolina. The company is building a 5-MW facility in Murfreesboro, N.C. In addition, Duke Energy Renewables owns more than 1,000 MW of electric-generating capacity at 10 U.S. wind farms. Since 2007, Duke Energy has invested more than $1.75 billion to grow its commercial wind and solar business lines.

SunPower to Supply 54 Megawatts of Solar Power Technology to NRG Solar

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) announced today that it will supply NRG Solar, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), with a total of 54 megawatts (dc) of SunPower solar power technology.

Under a supply agreement, SunPower will deliver 24 megawatts (dc) of high efficiency solar panels to NRG by year-end 2011. The balance of megawatts, as well as a portion of the 2011 panels, will support NRG's 26-megawatt (ac) Borrego Solar Project in San Diego County, Calif., for which SunPower is supplying its SunPower® Oasis™ Power Plant technology. The Borrego project has a 25-year power purchase agreement with SDG&E that has been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

"We are pleased to partner again with NRG and provide them with 54 megawatts of reliable SunPower solar technology that will maximize the power generated at the Borrego Solar Project and their other development projects," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, regions. "With more than 500 megawatts of SunPower power plants generating emission-free, affordable solar power around the globe today, our technology delivers guaranteed long-term performance."

SunPower and NRG recently celebrated the start of construction of the 250-megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) project in San Luis Obispo County, Calif. First announced more than three years ago by SunPower, and acquired by NRG on September 30, 2011, CVSR is one of the largest central station photovoltaic solar plants in the world. It is expected to create approximately 350 jobs over its two-year construction period and to inject $315 million into the local economy.

The SunPower Oasis Power Plant product is a fully integrated, modular solar power block that is engineered to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy utility-scale solar projects while optimizing land use. Each power block integrates the SunPower® T0 Tracker with high efficiency SunPower solar panels, pre-manufactured system cabling and other advanced features.

About SunPower

Founded in 1985, SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the planet's most powerful solar technology broadly available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's experience and proven results to maximize return on investment. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

Tigo Energy® Raises Additional Capital Resources to Accelerate the Growth of Their Solar SmartModules

LOS GATOS, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- Tigo Energy®, the market leader in SmartModule™ technology for photovoltaic (PV) solar installations, today announced that it has raised $18 million in additional financing, bringing the total company funding in excess of $50 million.

Led by Bessemer Venture Partners, the investment will enable Tigo Energy to accelerate growth, expand manufacturing and focus on international sales to take advantage of the strong market demand for Tigo Energy-enabled SmartModules from the industries' leading PV module brands. Bessemer Venture Partners was joined by all existing investors to complete the capital infusion. As a result of the investment, Umesh Padval, a partner in Bessemer's Menlo Park, Calif., office, will join the Tigo Energy Board of Directors.

"I am excited about our investment in Tigo Energy," said Padval. "Tigo's strong execution-oriented team, large market acceptances, robust channel partners and differentiated products are very impressive and I look forward to partnering with them as they continue building a successful company."

"Tigo Energy has a winning solution that has attracted many of the world's largest PV suppliers," said Lucinda Stewart, Managing Director at OVP. "Tigo Energy's technology helps customers of solar installations earn the most out of their investment, and we're pleased to continue to support the company's strong growth."

The Tigo Energy Maximizer solution enables owners of PV projects of any size (residential, commercial or utility scale) to increase financial returns by improving power production, ensuring peak system up-time and drastically reducing the cost of operations and maintenance. The technology is now being integrated by leading module OEMs such as Hanwha SolarOne, UpSolar, and Trina Solar to streamline installation and reduce system costs.

The Tigo Energy system provides all the benefits of micro-inverters without placing expensive electronics underneath PV modules—delivering a more cost effective, efficient and reliable system. The Tigo Energy Maximizer is also certified to be compatible by top inverter manufacturers such as Kaco New Energy, SMA, Fronius and PowerOne.

PV installers worldwide have rapidly adopted the Tigo Energy solution in both their residential and large-scale commercial offerings. Tigo Energy's global market adoption can be attributed to a unique system architecture that delivers all the value of distributed electronics with unmatched efficiency, cost and reliability.

About Tigo Energy

Based in Los Gatos, California, Tigo Energy was founded in 2007 and focuses on applying innovative technologies to the solar PV space. Tigo Energy has offices in the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, China and Israel and is commercially shipping volume systems in cooperation with most prominent worldwide solar distributors, EPCs and PV module OEMs. Additional information on Tigo Energy is available at www.tigoenergy.com.

SANYO HIT® Solar Modules to Become "Panasonic HIT®"

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO), a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., announces that as of April 1, 2012, the branding of its HIT®*[1] solar modules will change from "SANYO" to "Panasonic." SANYO's solar modules are recognized in North America for their power generated per square foot performance.

Unifying the solar brand is part of a wider scheme of consolidation of brands of certain products currently being carried out by the Panasonic Group in order to take advantage of the strengths of each company within the group. Combining SANYO's solar technical capabilities with Panasonic's wide global network will allow further synergy to be generated within the group and strengthen the solar business globally.

"The brand change is part of the global strategy aimed at expanding the solar business of the Panasonic Group," said Charles Hanasaki, president of the Solar & Smart Energy Division. "The same manufacturing and sales structure will continue as well as its advanced HIT® solar modules, just under the Panasonic brand. Additionally, the Panasonic Group will continue to invest in the solar business, allowing us to offer a higher level of service to our business partners and provide our customers with higher quality, more efficient modules."

SANYO, responsible for key areas in the energy sector of the Panasonic Group, aims to combine environmental contribution and business growth and create a company with significant growth potential, in order to realize Panasonic's 100 year anniversary vision of becoming the "No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry" by 2018.

About the SANYO Solar Business and HIT® Solar Modules

Starting in 1975 with the development of amorphous silicon solar cells, SANYO has more than 35 years of history in the solar industry. Since that time, SANYO has continued to carry out leading research and development for solar cells, and has developed further technical abilities and gained experience as it has had its panels installed in a large number of PV systems around the world, especially in the public and industrial markets.

More recently, in 1997, SANYO released its HIT® solar modules; HIT ® stands for heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer, and the solar cells used are a hybrid with a unique structure comprised of a thin mono-crystalline silicon wafer surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers. HIT® solar modules are known for their high conversion efficiency and excellent temperature characteristics, allowing HIT® modules to generate more power throughout the year, even during peak summer months, compared to other types of crystalline modules.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE: PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.

About SANYO

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation, is a global company with leading energy and environmental technology and products for commercial and consumer use. Solar & Smart Energy, a division of SANYO North America Corporation (a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.), is based in Cupertino, California, and handles sales and services for photovoltaic and Smart Energy Systems. For further information, please visit SANYO's web site at http://us.SANYO.com.

LDK Solar Closes Issuance of the First Tranche of RMB3,000,000,000 Notes

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. ("LDK Solar") (NYSE: LDK), a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products, today announced the closing of the first tranche of its PRC domestic notes in the aggregate principal amount of RMB500,000,000, issued by its PRC subsidiary, Jiangxi LDK Solar Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., with a fixed interest rate of 6.8% per annum.  LDK Solar intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to replace its short-term debts.

About LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK)
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) products. LDK Solar manufactures polysilicon, mono and multicrystalline ingots, wafers, cells, modules, systems, power projects and solutions. LDK Solar's headquarters and principal manufacturing facilities are located in Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province in the People's Republic of China. LDK Solar's office in the United States is located in Sunnyvale, California. For more information about LDK Solar and its products, please visit www.ldksolar.com.

Sunbelt Initative to Power Developing Nations

SHANGHAI, China, Dec. 12, 2011 /Solar Energy News/ - Sunbelt International (Pink Sheets OTC BB: SUNB) The company is pleased to announce today an initiative to conduct aggressive development and deployment of our energy technologies and systems in third world countries. According to Sunbelt International President Fang Soo Lui, "It is the strategic objective of Sunbelt International to approach emerging markets with sustainable energy alternatives." Sunbelt is currently communicating with several developing nations to install the units within these regions.

Africa is a prominent example of an emerging market. The continent has vast reserves of wind, and solar thermal renewable energy, which can meet local needs in addition to exporting electricity to Europe. Africa has 9 times the solar energy potential of Europe—an annual equivalent of 100 million tons of oil.

In 2010 the World Bank announced a 5.5 billion dollar package, which would be invested in solar energy projects in Africa. The proposed deployment of several commercial-scale power plants would provide the critical mass of investments to attract private investors and entrepreneurs to these high-potential regions for solar power.

The World Bank states that the potential of clean energy projects in Africa has the potential to reduce emissions by 740 million tones of CO2. At a conventional price of $10 dollars per tonne of carbon emission, the most objective estimate gives a potential market of 7.4 billion per annum on the carbon market.

Counsel RB Capital to Auction Solyndra Solar Energy Assets at Two Upcoming In-Person and Online Auctions December 13-14 and January 25-26 in Fremont, CA

FREMONT, Calif. & WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(Solar Energy News)--Counsel RB Capital Inc. (OTCQB: CRBN) (the “Company”), a leader in distressed and surplus capital asset transactions, today announced two upcoming auctions of remaining surplus capital and manufacturing assets of Solyndra, a former leader in the solar panel manufacturing industry. These auctions are scheduled for December 13-14, 2011 and January 25-26, 2012.
   
The December event will feature a two-day auction of non-core assets and the January auction will include Solyndra’s main manufacturing assets, pending final order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. In November, a non-core asset auction sale was held and managed by the Company on a commission basis in partnership with auction house Heritage Global Partners, following Solyndra’s bankruptcy proceedings.

“We have achieved several key milestones in 2011, including the expansion of our infrastructure and operations which provides a platform for future growth and further progress against our strategic plan to build a diversified and scalable full-service organization for clients seeking capital asset solutions,” stated Counsel RB Capital Co-CEO Jonathan Reich.

“With our auction partners at Heritage Global, we successfully sold a portion of Solyndra’s surplus and non-core production assets and inventory at an auction held last month. We expect online and in-person bidders at the mid-December auction to purchase Solyndra’s remaining non-core assets. Pending final order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, we will be holding a third auction in late January, which will include state-of-the-art solar energy manufacturing equipment,” added Adam Reich, Co-CEO of Counsel RB Capital.

Solyndra (Leading Solar Panel Manufacturer) Auction #2

Live On-Site and Webcast Global Auction details (all times PT):

•     Key assets: finished goods Solar Panels, personal computers, flat panel monitors parts inventory, manufacturing equipment, etc.; further details available at www.hgpauctions.com
•     Public inspection and preview: December 12, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
•     Auction: Starting December 13 at 7:00 a.m. and ending December 14 at 8:00 a.m.
•     Location: 901 Page Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538
•     Contact: David Barkoff (HGP Auctions), dbarkoff@hgpauction.com or +1 (650) 649-0147

Solyndra (Leading Solar Panel Manufacturer) Auction #3

Live On-Site and Webcast Global Auction details (all times PT):

•     Key assets: Solar Panel manufacturing equipment, etc.; further details available at www.hgpauctions.com
•     Auction: Starting January 25 at 9:00 a.m. and ending January 26 at 5:00 p.m.
•     Location: 47488 Kato Road, Fremont, CA 94538
•     Contact: David Barkoff (HGP Auctions), dbarkoff@hgpauction.com or +1 (650) 649-0147

New Energy Achieves ‘Speed and Scale-Up’ Breakthrough for Applying Company’s Electricity-Generating Coatings to Glass Windows

COLUMBIA, Md.--(Solar Energy News)--New Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: NENE) today announced that researchers developing SolarWindow™, capable of generating electricity on see-through glass, have successfully fabricated its latest working window prototype using a faster, rapid scale-up process for applying solution-based coatings. The prospect of rapidly scaling up the size of SolarWindow™ while applying the Company’s electricity-generating coatings onto glass at faster speeds, are important technical advancements in New Energy’s drive to aggressively advance the world’s first-of-its-kind technology towards commercial launch.

“Today’s faster and improved scale-up application breakthrough marks a significant leap forward in our SolarWindow™ evolution from advanced research towards commercial product development,” explained Mr. John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc.

“Importantly, this new and improved processing method still allows for the application of our novel electricity-generating coatings to be applied at room temperature and pressure. We’re not at the mercy of cumbersome and expensive temperature and pressure sensitive systems often utilized in the manufacture of conventional and thin-film solar photovoltaic products.”

Among other commercial considerations, researchers developing New Energy’s SolarWindow™ have been vigilant in their efforts to improve transparency and keep manufacturing costs low. For example, last year, scientists undertaking advanced SolarWindow™ research achieved the ability to ‘spray’ the Company’s electricity-generating coatings onto glass --- also, at room temperature and pressure.

The new solution-coating method announced today provides an alternative to spray and allows for rapid scale-up to larger glass surface areas. This improved process also generally provides for more uniform application of SolarWindow™ electricity-generating coatings than conventional methods.

Notably, the Company’s new solution-coating technique has already been demonstrated as compatible with roll-to-roll (R2R) high-speed and high-volume fabrication methods, potentially providing for very-large scale manufacturing. Compared to manufacturing of first-generation solar products, room temperature and ambient pressure R2R manufacturing promises: low labor costs; decreased capital equipment expenditure; higher product quality, reduced cost of energy required for production; and improved environmental and occupational control.

Critical to successful R2R manufacturing is the ability to apply coatings onto flexible substrate materials. Earlier this year, New Energy researchers successfully applied the Company’s electricity-generating coatings onto flexible plastic (PET) – an important technical achievement necessary for the development of electricity-generating window films. Scientists anticipate that commercially developed electricity-generating flexible plastic could be deployed as tinted window film, which remains see-through while generating electrical power.

Currently under development for eventual commercial deployment in the estimated 85 million commercial buildings and homes in America, SolarWindow™ is the subject of ten new patent filings and is the world’s first-of-its-kind technology capable of generating electricity on see-through glass windows.

ONYX Receives Premium Market News Coverage on Advance of New 22 MW Solar Project

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(Solar Energy News)--Onyx Service and Solutions (OTCQB:ONYX) received news placements on both MarketWatch and TheStreet.com last week for the Company’s moves to advance their new 22 megawatt solar project being developed for construction in Roatan, Honduras. Both MarketWatch and TheStreet.com are considered tier-one market news outlets and have a vast investor following. This augments multiple positive reports on both ONYX and the new Honduras project by the premium news service United Press International, which publishes throughout the world in major newspapers, magazine publications and Internet news sites.
 
“We are both grateful and strengthened that our breakout business model is receiving such paramount recognition,” stated ONYX president Malcolm Burleson. “Our decision to avoid markets that rely on solar subsidies and government loans to pursue what we believe to be much more lucrative opportunities with Latin American and Caribbean allies of the United States appears to have been a very good one.”

The coverage specifically reported on the events of last Monday the 5th, when Onyx Service & Solutions’ President Malcolm Burleson completed a full presentation of the new solar project’s due diligence report that had been requested by Roatan Mayor Julio Galindo as part of maintaining continued support for the project from the Roatan leadership. The project’s due diligence report was commissioned and paid for by Onyx Service & Solutions. Project Engineer Rick Coens oversaw the research and production of the report.

Details of the new solar project can be seen at http://www.onyxservice.com/solar-diesel-reduction.html. The Company plans to add details from the project due diligence report to the project page on its website in the near future.

ONYX management has focused their efforts on developing solar power projects in nations that use costly diesel produced electricity, as does Roatan – because of the potential for creating larger profit margins for the Company. Also, solar power allows for almost infinite numbers of substations, allowing power to reach many cities and rural areas, usually without the need for much grid infrastructure. Replacement of diesel emissions with renewable energy also provides an opportunity to seek offsetting carbon credits, which management believes could become another significant source of revenue for the Company.

Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. acquires, develops and markets the most promising and potentially profitable energy projects and technologies possible. Management has focused on benefitting citizens of Central and South America with energy alternatives to costly power options by achieving multiple business accomplishments there. The Onyx mission is to manifest cutting edge energy technology, products, manufacturing advances and construction projects to successfully compete in a global energy marketplace, which includes GE (NYSE: GE), JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS), Empresa Nacional de Electricida (NYSE: EOC) and CPFL Energia S.A. (NYSE: CPL).

For more information on the Company see: www.OnyxService.com

Reznick Group Acquires Think Energy, Inc.

BETHESDA, Md.--(Solar Energy News)--Reznick Group, P.C., a top 20 national CPA firm, today announced the acquisition of the technical consulting firm Think Energy, Inc. The new entity will be called Reznick Think Energy, LLC and will be brought under the Reznick Group masthead. Leveraging Think Energy’s technical experience in clean energy, sustainability, and energy efficiency, the new subsidiary will provide a range of services including investor due diligence, on-site renewable energy feasibility assessments, procurement management, technology assessment, and permitting support.

“The team at Think Energy brings a tremendous skill set and history of success that is a perfect fit for Reznick Group’s proficiency in accounting, tax, and business advisory services,” said Tim Kemper, Reznick Group’s Renewable Energy Practice Leader. “We can now truly offer our clients a one-stop-shop for clean energy expertise covering the entire project life-cycle.”

Think Energy CEO Mark Crowdis will lead the new group, and brings 20 years of experience in sustainability and renewable energy and a strong track record of successful projects for a range of entities. Think Energy’s projects cover the gamut from managing the procurement of large solar projects for the Los Angeles Unified School District, to developing green power programs in China for the World Bank, to developing a plan for distributed generation assets for the North American facilities of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (Toyota).

“We chose Think Energy because of their 11 year track record and unparalleled expertise in renewable energy,” said Jim Cooke, National Facilities Operations Manager of Toyota. “Through their work to-date, they have helped Toyota implement over seven clean energy projects in an efficient and cost effective manner, with at least four more under consideration.”

Reznick Think Energy will work closely with Reznick Group’s renewable energy practice, a national leader in the rapidly-growing renewable energy sector that advises clients on tax and structuring issues. The combination offers clients technical and public policy experience, extensive market knowledge, and the financial know-how to help them succeed through the entire life cycle of their project or initiative. Tax issues have become fundamental to any large-scale renewable energy project and choosing the optimal structure is one of the most important determinants of their viability and profitability. The addition of Reznick Think Energy will also complement Reznick Capital Markets, which works with project developers to identify and secure capital, making Reznick Group’s suite of renewable energy services one of the most comprehensive in the country.

About Reznick Group

Reznick Group is a top 20 national public accounting firm providing accounting, tax and business advisory services to clients nationwide. The firm's industry experience includes affordable housing, financial services, renewable energy, professional services, commercial real estate and technology.

SolarCity, William C. Smith + Co. and the D.C. Housing Authority Celebrate Solar for Multifamily Affordable Housing

WASHINGTON--(Solar Energy News)--SolarCity®, William C. Smith + Co., a leading local real estate development and management firm, and the D.C. Housing Authority today announced completion of a 429-panel, 103-kilowatt solar power installation on a new affordable housing complex within Sheridan Station, a major redevelopment project in the district’s reemerging Ward 8 community.

The solar installation is expected to produce enough electricity to offset roughly 30 percent of electricity usage in the five-story, 114-unit apartment building’s common areas, thereby defraying about one-third of that portion of the building’s annual electricity costs. The Sheridan Station solar project is the largest solar power system installed to date on a D.C. Housing Authority development.

“Sheridan Station is a premier sustainable housing development for the District of Columbia,” said Matt Engel, development project manager with William C. Smith + Co. “SolarCity’s support and guidance helped us complete an exemplary, energy efficient housing complex and demonstrate that green building is an affordable option as well as the best way to create healthy, sustainable neighborhoods for all of our citizens.”

William C. Smith + Co. has applied for LEED platinum status with the U.S. Green Building Council, which would make the building one of the “greenest” multifamily affordable housing projects in the area.

“Our partners at William C. Smith + Co. clearly understand that solar power can provide both economic and environmental benefits,” said Leon Keshishian, regional director of SolarCity’s mid-Atlantic operations. “SolarCity is privileged to contribute to a project that gives back to the community around it in more ways than one.”

SolarCity has completed or initiated more than 100 solar projects for affordable housing communities in the U.S. The company also has more than 120 solar projects completed or underway in the city of Washington, D.C.

About William C. Smith + Co.

William C. Smith + Co. is a Washington, DC – based multidisciplinary real estate firm. The company has provided integrated real estate services to the Washington metropolitan area for four decades. In complement to its development, construction, sales and financial divisions, the firm owns and or manages a portfolio in excess of 12,000 units of residential real estate. With a group of subsidiary service companies under the William C. Smith + Co. umbrella, the firm is able to offer exemplary service to its clients. Our commitment to our clients, our investors and community partners, and to each other is to create healthy, sustainable neighborhoods in which to live, work, and do business.

About the D.C. Housing Authority

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is the leading provider and manager of safe, affordable and well-maintained housing for people of low and moderate income in Washington, DC. The Authority works closely with residents, landlords and the DC government to improve the quality of life in the District through better housing and diverse neighborhoods. In addition to providing quality housing, DCHA actively helps its residents grow both personally and professionally through a variety of economic development and self-sufficiency programs, as well as the facilitation of other supportive services. DCHA, an independent housing authority, is lead by an 11-person Board of Commissioners.

About SolarCity

SolarCity® — a national leader in solar power design, financing, installation, monitoring and energy efficiency services — was founded with the mission to help millions of homeowners and businesses adopt clean power, protect themselves from rising gas and electricity costs and protect their environment from polluting power sources. The company’s SolarLease® and Power Purchase Agreement (SolarPPA™) options can make it possible for homeowners and businesses to switch to clean solar power for less money than they currently pay for electricity. SolarCity’s 24 operations centers serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, D.C. Additional information about the company is available on the Web at www.solarcity.com.

KYOCERA Supplies Additional 10MW of Solar Modules for 2nd Phase of 16MW Solar Park in Italy

KYOTO, Japan--(Solar Energy News)--Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) today announced that it has recently delivered an additional 10 megawatts (MW) of solar modules to an existing 6MW installation near Turin, Italy — which the company supplied modules for earlier this year. Kyocera anticipates continued growth in the solar industry in Italy, as high levels of energy production from favorable sunlight conditions and an attractive feed-in tariff promote the expansion of solar energy.

The additional 10MW is distributed equally between the "Lotti" and "Petiva" sites — with 20,640 Kyocera modules installed at each of the two plants. Owing to its high efficiency and ability to reduce the amount of time and materials required for installation, the 60-cell module used for these two new plants is particularly suitable for industrial and utility-scale solar projects.

Recently completed, these new plants supplement an existing 6MW solar plant located in the Piedmont region, which is operated by Kyocera's partner ENERMILL Energie Rinnovabili s.r.l.. With a total output of 16MW, the Enermill solar park is the largest project to use Kyocera modules in Italy. The overall solar park is comprised of 68,100 Kyocera modules — producing approximately 20GWh per year of electricity, which is the equivalent energy requirement of roughly 4,500 local households, and off-setting 18,000 tons of CO2 annually.

Sunny future for the solar energy sector in Italy

Italy is one of the most important markets for solar energy in Europe. According to the GSE — an authority founded by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance for the promotion of renewable energies — in this year alone additional solar installations with an output of 6.5GW have been completed as of September. Furthermore, the sustainable production of electricity using solar energy is promoted by the Italian government with a feed-in tariff, for which the rates are considerably attractive in comparison to other European countries.

High quality solar modules with exceptional performance

Kyocera has notably shipped more than 50MW of modules for three large-scale power plants in Spain, and agreed to supply modules for a 204MW project in Thailand. Furthermore, data collected from three of these plants in Spain (Dulcinea: 28.8MW; Salamanca: 13.8MW) and Thailand (Korat: 6MW) show that the company's modules are exceeding the installers' own original power output estimates — demonstrating the high performance and reliability of Kyocera's products.

For more information about Kyocera Solar Energy: http://global.kyocera.com/reliability/

HyperSolar’s “No Fracking” Renewable Natural Gas Technology

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(Solar Energy News)--HyperSolar, Inc. (OTCBB: HYSR), the developer of a breakthrough technology to make renewable natural gas using solar power, today announced that its technology can help reduce the need for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) used to access underground natural gas resources. The company’s renewable natural gas is a clean, carbon neutral methane gas that can be produced above ground and used as a direct replacement for traditional natural gas to power the needs of the world.

“Even though the United States has vast natural gas resources, a majority of these reserves are only accessible through fracking, a potentially environmentally-hazardous process that many environmentalists claim could contaminate our water supplies and the air we breathe,” said Tim Young, CEO of HyperSolar. “Rather than extracting difficult-to-reach fossil fuel reserves, we think that the focus should be on alternative technologies that can provide the world with affordable and clean sources of energy. We believe it is far better to consider sources of energy that are renewable instead of limited depleting resources such as coal, oil or natural gas.”

Critics claim that fracking poses a risk to both water and air quality. Their arguments are two-fold: some of the fracking fluid is left in the ground during the extraction process, contaminating the water basins, and as part of the fracking process natural gas is released into the air when excess pressure is present in the well, polluting the air with hydrocarbon and other volatile compounds.

Conversely, the HyperSolar technology will make pipeline ready renewable natural gas above ground without releasing any volatile compounds into the water supply or the air. The company’s renewable natural gas is truly renewable, clean and carbon neutral.

“As concerns about the dangers of fracking continue to exist, the United States must continue its push for renewable sources of energy, especially those that can utilize the existing energy distribution infrastructure,” said Young. “We benefit from an extremely well-developed natural gas pipeline infrastructure, and alternative energy technologies that can take advantage of this existing network – like the HyperSolar technology – are critical to a near-term shift from traditional energy sources to sustainable renewables.”

Inspired by the photosynthetic processes that plants use to harness the power of the sun to create energy, HyperSolar is developing a novel solar-powered nanoparticle system that mimics photosynthesis to separate hydrogen from water. The free hydrogen can then be reacted with carbon dioxide to produce methane, the primary component in natural gas. This methane can then be delivered all over the country using the existing natural gas delivery infrastructure.

About HyperSolar, Inc.

HyperSolar is developing a breakthrough technology to make renewable natural gas using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. This renewable natural gas is a clean, carbon neutral methane gas that can be used as a direct replacement for traditional natural gas to power the world, without drilling or fracking, while mitigating CO2 emissions. Inspired by the photosynthetic processes that plants use to effortlessly harness the power of the Sun to create energy molecules, we are developing a novel solar-powered nanoparticle system that mimics photosynthesis to separate hydrogen from water. The free hydrogen can then be reacted with carbon dioxide to produce methane. From sunrise to sunset, our proprietary nanoparticles will work in a water based solution to produce clean and environmentally friendly renewable natural gas that can be collected for use in power plants, industrial plants and vehicles – anywhere and anytime. To learn more about HyperSolar, please visit our website at http://www.HyperSolar.com.