FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2012 Photovoltaic Projects of Distinction Award Presented to Arizona Western College and PPA Partners for their landmark Five-Megawatt Multi-Technology Solar Installation and Program.

San Jose, California, March 21, 2012 –The 5MW multi-technology solar installation at Arizona Western College (AWC) in Yuma, AZ was recognized Wednesday morning by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) as one of the three most unique photovoltaic projects of  2012.  The announcement and ceremony took place at PV America’s annual conference in San Jose, CA.

This system is composed of five one-megawatt sites across the campus, and will offset nearly 100% of the campus’s daytime electricity, while saving the College approximately $62 Million over the lifetime of the contract.

“This prestigious award shows what is possible on our nations Community College Campuses. Having our project recognized with this award proves what a resource our Community Colleges truly are. When complete the AWC Solar Program will provide opportunities for community involvement, valuable research, data and curriculum support for the School and for Arizona. Furthermore, additional incubation sites that new and existing technologies can access will be available for them to measure their performance under Yuma and Arizona’s amazing Solar Resource.” said Bruce Mercy CEO of PPA Partners after the award ceremony.

“These are exciting times for the U.S. solar industry and the recipients of these awards exemplify energy innovation at its best,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. More than 84 projects were evaluated by a panel of independent judges, determining the uniqueness and collective benefit to the community. Judges also looked for innovative use of policy and financing to enhance the project’s impact, according to SEPA and SEIA.

The project was financed and will be owned throughout the 30 year contract by Mainstreet Power, and was constructed by Rosendin Electric.

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 Corporation Commission.

The technologies include CPV panels from SolFocus and GreenVolts, Thin Film panels from Sharp Solar, Mono Crystalline panels from SolarWorld and Poly Crystalline panels from Suntech. The system will utilize single-axis trackers from SunEdison 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. The system utilizes Satcon Inverters.

PPA Partners LLC is a project developer of distributed generation solar programs across North America, specializing in Colleges and Universities interested in saving on their Energy bills, and creating unique learning and revenue generation opportunities.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

www.azwestern.edu

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.

Global Solar Technology

by Debasish Choudhury

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.

Global Solar Technology

by Debasish Choudhury

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.

For more information, please visit www.skyline-solar.com.