Posted by PPA Partners On May - 24 - 2011ADD COMMENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2011
Arizona Western College, Main Street Power, and PPA Partners to Celebrate Groundbreaking of Five-Megawatt Multi-Technology Solar Installation Project Expected to Generate Virtually 100% of College’s Daytime Electricity
YUMA, Arizona – OnMay 24, Arizona Western College (AWC), Main Street Power Company Inc., a solar financier, developer PPA Partners, local utility Arizona Public Service (APS), and EPC Rosendin Electric will break ground on a five-megawatt solar project slated for completion in Late Summer of 2011.
The groundbreaking of this innovative solar project celebrates the culmination of years of preparation and development by the college and PPA Partners. The system will be owned and operated by Main Street Power, in partnership with financing partner MS Solar Solutions, a fully owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
The system is comprised of five one-megawatt sites across the campus. The technologies include CPV panels from SolFocus and GreenVolts, Thin Film panels from Sharp Solar, Mono Crystalline panels from Solar World and Poly Crystalline panels from Suntech. The system will utilize single-axis trackers from O Solar and dual-axis trackers from SolFocus and GreenVolts; the tracking systems allow the panels to continually track the movement of the sun in order to maximize electricity generation.
“We know of no other solar project where all five technologies are showcased at utility scale, installed by the same group, at the same time with the same equipment, tracked and optimized, and under the best solar resource in the country. The data generated by the project should be very interesting,” stated Bruce Mercy, CEO of PPA Partners.
Designed and installed by Rosendin Electric, the project is anticipated to produce virtually 100% of the campus’ daytime electricity needs, and will save the college $40+ million dollars over the 30-year power purchase agreement with Main Street Power. “We are building a landmark project with a great team of partners utilizing local labor while connecting AWC students to the future of renewable energy,” said Rosendin’s Director of Solar Operations, Duncan Frederick.
The College is also developing with PPA Partners, smaller demonstration systems of each technology for use in specific curriculum with access for students and researchers. An innovative Incubation area will offer a limited amount of sites for other Technology manufacturers to compare their systems with the main solar fields on Campus. And a community involvement feature will allow local and regional groups to safely tour the facilities, and learn about the manufacturing, specific technology benefits and sub systems used in construction of the project as well as learn about all the programs being offered in renewables at the College.
New curriculum offerings at the college will range from Certificate to Renewable Energy degree programs, and partnerships are in the works with universities for continuing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The college’s workforce training is expected to lead to thousands of clean tech jobs in the Southwest in coming years, considering the multiple planned and approved solar projects in Arizona and the surrounding states.
Renewable energy manufacturers tend to build new plants within 60 miles of major education and research centers, making this project a benchmark opportunity for future development and growth.
“This project is huge for our community, but also for the future of renewable energy education around the country. And, as colleges face increased enrollment and decreased funding, any steps we can take towards energy independence means more resources for classes, for faculty, and ultimately benefits the students,” stated AWC President Glenn Mayle.
The installation was facilitated by the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program, which offers financial incentives to residential and commercial customers. The Program is funded by APS customers and approved by the Arizona Corporations Commission.
Jonathan W. (J.W.) Postal, Main Street Power’s Senior VP stated, “This is an exciting day for the college, for Yuma, and the solar industry, and we are proud of our innovative financing work to bring this project across the finish line.
Main Street Power Company, Inc. is a Colorado based financier of solar projects across North America, primarily in distributed generation solar projects, in the Educational and Non Profit space.
PPA Partners,LLC, provides renewable energy development, finance and consulting services to a wide variety of clients nationally, and works with Universities and Colleges on comprehensive programs, such as we designed with Arizona Western College.
Project Finance and Legal Partners: MS Solar Solutions, Venture Law Advisors, Stoel Rives, McDermott Will and Emery, Vireo Energy. Utility Partner: APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program. The Program is funded by APS customers and approved by the Arizona Corporations Commission.
Construction Partners: Rosendin Electric, Sternco Engineering.
Technology Partners: Sol Focus, Green Volts, Suntech, Sharp, Solar World, Satcon, O Solar.
Press Contacts:
Lori Stofft Director, Public Relations and Marketing Arizona Western College Office: +1 928-314-9595 Cell: +1 928-246-4834 Email:Lori.stofft@azwestern.edu
Posted by PPA Partners On July - 7 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
California, United States — Rosendin Electric will break ground this week on a new photovoltaic power installation project for the Antelope Valley Union High School District. This 9.4-megawatt (MW) installation spans 10 schools and is the largest school solar project undertaken in California to date.
The Rosendin Electric Solar Division has been contracted to support engineering for the US $50 million Antelope Valley UHSD solar project, as well as assuming full responsibility for procurement and construction.
“With the addition of the Antelope Valley contract, Rosendin Electric becomes one of the largest solar distributed generation EPC contractors in the West,” said Duncan Frederick, director of solar operations for Rosendin Electric. “We have always been committed to delivering alternative energy solutions, and we have an unprecedented track record in wind farm installation. With the addition of this project to our portfolio of solar projects installed over the past year, we are quickly building the same reputation for delivering solar power.”
Rosendin Electric recently completed the installation of a 1.2-MW solar array at the Mineta San Jose International Airport with partner Canadian Solar, and is in the process of completing similar projects for the Hollister Wastewater Treatment Project, Hollister Unified School District, San Ysidro School District and the Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona. Rosendin Electric will also complete a 5-MW solar project for the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco within the next two months.
After its best year ever in 2008, the world solar market struggled to survive a tumultuous 2009. What looked like a yawning drop for the photovoltaic (PV) market in the first half of the year turned into a solid gain in total amount of systems installed on the strength of strong German sales in the fourth quarter. But despite annual worldwide PV installations rising from 5.8 GW in 2008 to 6.6 GW in 2009, the PV market value dropped by 15.8% to $17.0 billion due to crashing PV cell and module prices.
The U.S. fared better than most countries, with the PV market up an estimated 6.0% in 2009 to $3.5 billion and PV installations rising to 469 MW. An extension of the solar tax credit and new recovery act funding helped to keep the U.S. PV market on a continuing upward trend.
The U.S. represented only 1% of a world solar thermal collector market dominated by China in 2009, shipping 1.0 GW of collectors worth $79.6 million. While still currently focused on low temperature pool heating systems that represented 82% of the U.S. market (by megawatts of collectors shipped) in 2009, SBI Energy anticipates much stronger growth in residential hot water systems heading to 2014.
Worldwide, the U.S. still has the greatest potential to increase its position in the solar market. SBI Energy foresees 900 MW of PV installations in 2010, rising to 7,600 MW of PV installations in 2014 building on renewed interest in solar from utilities and the extension of the solar tax credit. While the ST market will show only moderate growth in the U.S., the PV market segment will continue to shine in the U.S. and the concentrated solar power (CSP) market is set to explode. SBI Energy estimates the U.S. solar panel market will reach $34.5 billion in 2014.
U.S. Solar Energy Market World Data, 2nd Edition by SBI Energy analyzes the manufacturing and sales of the U.S. solar photovoltaic and solar thermal markets within the context of other key solar countries such as the Germany, Spain, Japan and China. The analysis will include definitions, current product offerings and market detail on the following segments:
Photovoltaic cells and modules
Vacuum tube and flat-panel solar thermal modules
Balance of system components including inverters, frames, batteries and charge controllers
About SBI Energy SBI Energy, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes research reports in the industrial, energy, building/construction, and automotive/transportation markets. To learn more, visit www.sbireports.com.
Skyline Solar, a manufacturer of High Gain Solar (HGS) arrays for commercial, industrial, government and utility markets, today announced the first commercial installation of its High Gain Solar (HGS) 1000 system in a new municipal solar power plant in the tiny desert town of Nipton, Calif. The 80-killowatt Nipton plant is an upgradeable solar power system that will provide roughly 85 percent of Nipton’s electricity needs—the highest percentage of solar electricity of any town in the United States.
“As the gateway community to the Mojave Desert, Nipton seeks to be a good steward of the environment. Sustainability is paramount to this endeavor,” said Gerald Freeman, Principal Administrator for Nipton. “It is with this in mind that we are extremely pleased to be utilizing the HGS 1000 as our primary source of energy. And the HGS upgradability is a very attractive option.”
The HGS 1000 system brings a number of breakthrough innovations to the solar industry:
Cost: Skyline Solar’s HGS architecture delivers ten times more energy per gram of silicon versus traditional flat-panel systems in sunny locations. The system utilizes tracking, cooling and concentration components, reducing the amount of silicon needed by 90 percent.
Upgradability: The power-producing components of the system are upgradeable, allowing system-owners to “future-proof” their investment and upgrade with new solar panel technologies.
Reliability: Skyline Solar HGS 1000 arrays combine industry-proven silicon cells, durable reflector materials and single-axis tracking into a complete, easy-to-deploy system.
Scalability: Built primarily out of commodity materials with globally available manufacturing processes from the PV and automotive industries, Skyline Solar HGS 1000 simultaneously improves financial payback and scalability.
“This is a significant milestone in the development of our company as we strive to bring scalable, capital-efficient solar energy to utility, government and commercial customers,” said Bob MacDonald, CEO and co-founder of Skyline Solar. “Our pre-engineered HGS system is ideal for large energy consumers. Nipton, California, a town now 85 percent powered by clean, renewable solar energy, is a shining example to the rest of the country of how even small communities can help drive America’s goal of energy independence.”
The commissioning of the Nipton plant highlights Skyline Solar’s rapid and strategic growth over the past two years. After securing financing in September 2008, Skyline Solar announced its unique HGS architecture in May 2009, followed shortly by the completion of the company’s first demonstration plant with the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority in San Jose, Calif. In October, the company tapped Cosma, an automotive supplier, as a manufacturing partner as Skyline Solar ramped up to commercial production. More recently, the company was awarded one of the first patents under the US Patent & Trademark Office’s Green Technology Pilot Program, covering key elements of Skyline Solar’s HGS architecture. The Nipton plant is another step in Skyline Solar’s development of upgradeable, pre-engineered solar energy systems that address global demand for scalable, cost-effective solar energy.
Posted by PPA Partners On June - 10 - 20101 COMMENT
Jun 10, 2010 08:15 America/Denver
Group urges scale-up in investment, systemic reforms to create jobs, address national security, solve environmental challenges Call for action in meetings with White House and Congressional leaders
WASHINGTON, June 10 /PRNewswire/ — A group of America’s top business executives today released a plan to make America a global leader in energy technology innovation, and in meetings at the White House and with Congressional leaders called for urgent action to begin the national transition to clean, affordable, and secure supplies of energy.
The American Energy Innovation Council (AEIC) — whose members include Bill Gates, chairman and former chief executive of Microsoft; Norm Augustine, former chairman of Lockheed Martin; Ursula Burns, chairman and chief executive of Xerox; John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins; Chad Holliday, chairman of Bank of America and former CEO of DuPont; Jeff Immelt, chief executive of GE; and Tim Solso, chairman and chief executive of Cummins — said in its report, “A Business Plan for America’s Energy Future,” that reforming and strengthening U.S. investment in energy innovation is the most critical element to securing America’s future.
“The world faces many challenges, but none more important than taking immediate and decisive action to develop new, inexpensive clean-energy sources that avoid the negative effects of climate change,” Gates said in releasing the report today. “Low-cost clean energy is the single most important way to lift poor countries out of poverty and create more stable societies. The whole world would benefit from this, and the United States can and should lead the way. The time for action is now.”
“We must reinvent our energy future,” said Chad Holliday, who serves as AEIC chairman. “A giant leap in energy technology investments and reform of our current system can make America a global leader in what will be the largest new market of the 21st Century. We have seen huge dividends from similar American investments before — in information technology, defense technology, and medical technology. But up until now, energy investments have gotten short shrift. That has to change if we are to control our energy future. This has to be at the top of America’s agenda.”
The American Energy Innovation Council plan contains five recommendations:
1: Create an independent National Energy Strategy Board
The United States does not have a coherent national energy strategy. Without such a strategy, there is no way to assess the effectiveness of existing energy policies, nor is there a logical framework for the development of new energy technologies. The result of this neglect is reflected in our nation’s history — with oil-driven recessions, environmental degradation, trade deficits, national security problems, and increasing CO2 emissions.
In order to seriously address our energy future, the AEIC recommends the creation of a Congressionally mandated Energy Strategy Board charged with (1) developing and monitoring a National Energy Plan for Congress and the executive branch, and (2) oversight of a New Energy Challenge Program (see recommendation #5).
“Instead of a series of fractured challenges and solutions, we should manage the future of our energy system as an integrated whole, and build a pipeline of technologies that will solve the serious problems our world is facing,” said Ursula Burns, chief executive of Xerox. “These recommendations are the beginning of such a solution. I urge Congress and the President to act on them.”
2: Increase annual investments in clean energy RD&D by $11 billion, to $16 billion per year
The AEIC members recommend that sizable, sustained increases in spending on research, development and deployment (RD&D) of clean energy technologies are necessary to maintain our competitive edge and keep our economy strong. Government investments of $16 billion per year – an increase of $11 billion over current annual investments of about $5 billion – is the minimum level required. For comparison, the U.S. government currently spends approximately $30 billion each year on health research and more than $80 billion on defense research and development. The public investment called for by AEIC would bring U.S. energy investment in line with those of our trading partners and competitors.
John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins, said, “When our company shifted our attention to clean energy, we found the innovation cupboard was close to bare. America has simply neglected to support serious energy innovation. My partners and I found the best fuel cells, the best energy storage, and the best wind technologies were all born outside of the United States. Other countries are investing huge amounts in these fields. Without innovation, we cannot build great energy companies. We need to restock the cupboard, or be left behind.”
3: Create Centers of Excellence in Energy Innovation
In the healthcare, information technology, and defense fields, critical technologies have achieved large-scale market success through multi-disciplinary collaboration among institutions in the private and public sectors. Technology innovation requires expensive equipment, well-trained scientists, multi-year time horizons, and flexibility in allocating funds. This can be done most efficiently and effectively if the institutions engaged in innovation are located in close proximity to each other, share operational objectives, and are accountable to each other for results.
The AEIC recommends the creation of centers of excellence in energy innovation, structured along the lines described above. These centers can drive down the cost of technologies and accelerate their deployment. To function effectively and deliver real results, each of these centers will require annual funding in the range of $150 million to $250 million as a part of the $16 billion total.
Tim Solso, CEO of Cummins said, “Creating regional centers of excellence is central to incubating innovation across different fields and institutions. These can be our new hubs of invention. Our company has found that we win in the market by using our technical innovation to meet public standards while also developing products that meet the needs of our customers. The entire American economy can benefit from similar investments in innovation to help address our energy challenges.”
4: Fund ARPA-E at $1 billion per year
The creation of ARPA-E has been a significant development for energy innovation. ARPA-E is challenging innovators to come up with truly novel ideas and “game changers.” The program has high potential for long-term success, but only if it is given the autonomy, budget, clear signals of support, and ability to implement needed projects. It will need long-horizon funds on a scale commensurate with its goals, and a life extension beyond the current federal stimulus. AEIC recommend that a $1 billion annual commitment would be a wise investment as a part of the $16 billion total.
“Ultimately, energy innovation is a matter of national security, and must be treated that way by Congress and the Administration,” said Norm Augustine, former chairman of Lockheed Martin and former Undersecretary of the Army. “This is true because disruptions in the supply of energy and environmental change are among the most likely causes of future military conflicts. DARPA was a huge success in creating high payoff returns on investments in military technologies. ARPA-E — its energy equivalent — can have a similar transformative impact on energy technology, but it must receive adequate funding.”
5: Establish a New Energy Challenge Program for large-scale demonstration projects
America’s energy innovation system lacks a mechanism to turn large-scale ideas or prototypes into commercial-scale facilities. AEIC recommends the creation of a program to fund, build, and accelerate the commercialization of advanced energy technologies.
This program should be structured as a joint venture between the federal government and the energy industry, and would operate as an independent corporation outside of the federal government. It would focus on the transition from pre-commercial, large-scale energy systems to integrated, full-size system tests. The program should be co-funded by the public and private sectors at an initial level of $20 billion over 10 years, with a single federal appropriation.
The Need for Complementary Policies
The AEIC plan also notes “the need for complementary energy policies to drive market adoption of new technologies. A vigorous demand signal will increase the intensity of research, add large private-sector commitments, reduce barriers between the lab and market, and ensure technologies perform better and cost less over time. The United States will not succeed in this field without policies to ensure there are vibrant markets for clean energy technologies. Those policies may include some combination of a price or a cap on CO2, a clean energy or renewable energy portfolio requirement, or technology performance standards. The effect of such policies should be to create a large, sustained market for new energy technology. Our nation cannot succeed without it.”
The report states that increased investment for energy innovation is such a high national priority that it should be undertaken even in the midst of tight federal budgets. The group also notes that options for generating new revenue for energy innovation investment from the energy sector include reductions in subsidies for fossil fuels, license fees for offshore oil and natural gas production, creating an oil import fee, increasing the gas tax or putting a price on carbon emissions. The report does not specifically advocate any of these approaches.
“The U.S. is falling behind because we don’t have the markets or the will – our policies are shortsighted and our markets aren’t set up to reward energy innovation. We have the power to transform our energy future and address many of our economic, energy security and climate challenges with the right policy clarity and robust market demand. You have to do both to drive innovation and compete,” said Jeff Immelt, CEO of GE.
“I am convinced that the right technologies and the right policies we can solve our energy and climate challenges,” said Bill Gates. “But we need a much more serious commitment to do so.”
AEIC Chair Chad Holliday said, “During my time at DuPont, when science linked CFC use and ozone depletion, we knew the world had to change the model. DuPont used this challenge to invent entire new businesses. The United States can do the same to meet our energy and climate challenges. But we must begin investing at a much larger scale now.”
