alternative energy news v1i2

INDUSTRY CALENDAR

JULY 2010VOLUME 1, NO. 2

www .A l t e r n a t i v e En e r g yNewsOn l i n e . c om

Next Issue:Cutting-edge Battery and FuelCell Technologies from MER Corporation in Tucson, Arizona

MONEY MATTERS SEE PAGE 28

■ DOE and USDA Partner, Provide Funding

■ Wainwright Bank Supports Developmentof Solar Energy for Nonprofits

SOLAR SEE PAGE 8

■ Eco-Friendly Solar Gallery Premieres

■ ASES Solar Conference Serves as Catalyst for Important Questions

WIND POWER SEE PAGE 16

■ WINDPOWER Concludes in Texas

■ GE and Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation Announce Partnership

BY LORRIE BAUMANNMAGE SOLAR Gmbh, a division of the

MAGE Group, has selected Dublin, Ga. as the

site of its new corporate headquarters and pro-

duction facility for MAGE POWERTEC

PLUS mono- and polycrystalline photovoltaic

modules. Production of the PV modules is

scheduled to begin around the end of this year.

Over the next five years, MAGE SOLAR

will invest $30 million to create 350 jobs and

the production capacity to make PV modules

that will generate a total of 800 MW, after the

final stage of expansion currently planned for

the plant. MAGE SOLAR also plans to build

an academy for solar education as part of the

Dublin complex and will relocate the

company headquarters from its temporary

location in Alpharetta, Ga.

“We are certain that we have found the per-

fect home for our company based on the ex-

cellent infrastructure, impressive workforce

known for its productivity, integrity and

skill,” said MAGE SOLAR CEO Norbert

Philipp. Dublin, Ga. is located about halfway

between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Interna-

tional Airport and the Port of Savannah, a

Intersolar North America Returnsto Moscone Center in San FranciscoBY DANIELLE D’ADAMOIntersolar North America will

host its 2010 exhibition July 13-

15 at the Moscone Center West

Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Pre-

sented by Solar Promotion Inter-

national, the event expects

roughly 550 U.S.-based and in-

ternational exhibitors and 20,000

trade visitors to flood the 130,000

net-square-feet of floor space.

The annual conference held in

conjunction with Intersolar 2010

will involve more than 30 tracks

and well over 150 speakers for

the 1,600 expected attendees.

Intersolar already has three

global events in place around the

world and expects to add a fourth

event next year. Taking into ac-

count the current series spanning

three continents, Intersolar has

2,250 exhibitors and 80,000-plus

BY DANIELLE D’ADAMO As one of the biggest contribu-

tors of wind energy in the United

States, Texas continues to play

host to a growing number of

manufacturing facilities and wind

companies that are creating jobs

and business opportunities in the

local market. According to a

2009 market report by the Amer-

ican Wind Energy Association,

Texas’ wind energy installation

capacity outranked Iowa and Cal-

ifornia at 9,410 MW, and once

again, the state gained the largest

amount of new capacity.

“When it comes to wind,

Texas is a natural,” said National

Wind Co-Chair and Co-Founder

Patrick Pelstring. “There have

actually been more megawatts

generated in Texas in the last two

years than anywhere else in the

New Community Wind Project OffersTexas Landowners a Share of Ownership

Continued on Page 22

Continued on 4


OTHER ALTERNATIVES

POWER PROFILES: Solar Industry LeadersShine

NEW PRODUCTS

SEE PAGE 26 SEE PAGE 29SEE PAGE 25

German PV Maker Expands into the U.S. to Capitalize on Growing Market

EMERGING TECH SEE PAGE 23

■ Schools of Fish Offer New Ideasfor Wind Farming

■ The new SunMizer from Xandex Solar

SEE PAGE 30

4 Alternative Energy News ■ July 2010

Lee M. Oser

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Steve Cox

[email protected]

Senior Associate Publisher

and Director of Media

Lorrie Baumann

[email protected]

Editorial Director

Danielle D’Adamo

[email protected]

Editor

Carrie Bui

Justyn Dillingham

JoEllen Lowry

Associate Editors

Valerie Wilson

[email protected]

Art Director

Yasmine Brown

[email protected]

Graphic Designer

Selene Pinuelas

[email protected]

Traffic Manager

Michelle Ward

[email protected]

Circulation Manager

Alternative Energy News is published by Oser Communications Group

©Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

BPA Worldwide membership applied for February 11, 2010.

Executive and editorial offices located at: 1877 N. Kolb Rd., Tucson, AZ 85715

T 520-721-1300, F 520-721-6300www.oser.com

European offices located at: Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini,

11 50125 Florence, Italy T 055.657.5629, F 055.657.5631

As the July issue of Alternative Energy News goes to press, the magazine’s editorial

staff has just returned from a visit to the research facilities of MER Corporation.

The “MER” stands for Materials & Electrochemical Research, and scientists there

are busy inventing new batteries, safer components for fuel cells and even an auto-

mobile engine powered by compressed air. We’ll be writing much more about those

technologies for our August issue, but at the moment, we’re overwhelmed by the

vision for our energy future that the scientists conjured up for us. They are imagin-

ing and inventing the technology for a brave new world in which our homes and

factories might be powered by some combination of sun, wind, fuel cells and elec-

tricity produced at generating stations far enough away from our homes to minimize

our exposure to pollution from coal-fired plants and the potential radiation hazards

of nuclear reactors.

Imagine for yourself that you might someday wake up in a home with a solar array

mounted on its metal roof (see page 12 for a story about why the metal roof is impor-

tant and where you can learn more about how and why to put a metal roof on a con-

ventional structure), eat your breakfast in a kitchen equipped with energy-efficient

appliances, and then go out to your garage to change the hydrogen cylinder on the fuel

cell that powers your home’s heating and cooling system and, incidentally, provides

your drinking water, and drive off to work in a car fueled by compressed air. We are

on the cusp of a future in which all of these things are possible and even probable.

What we’ll need to make it happen is better batteries to safely and efficiently store

energy produced by solar arrays and wind turbines, safer means of storing hydrogen,

better methods of monitoring and regulating our energy production and usage, and,

of course, the intelligence and imagination that are being brought to bear at research

facilities like MER Corp. all across our country and around the world. What we’ll

also need is our own intelligence and the vision to see not just the price tag associ-

ated with these technologies, but

also to acknowledge the price for

ignoring the depletion of the

world’s oil reserves, the vulnera-

bility of our dependence on for-

eign oil, and the environmental and

public health costs of continuing along

the path that took us through the 20th cen-

tury and into the 21st.

Lee M. Oser

Publisher

www .A l t e r n a t i v e En e r g yNewsOn l i n e . c om

Technology for a Brave New World

from the publisher

new eco-friendly

solar galleryAT THE arizona science center


BY DANIELLE D’ADAMO

SOLAR POWER

9Alternative Energy News ■ July 2010

The Arizona Science Center, a Phoenix museum, recently unveiled a new, eco-friendly

gallery that presents solar energy in a whole new light. The new exhibit aims to trans-

late technical aspects of solar energy generation into layman’s terms in order to meet

the growing demand from the public on how solar energy works. After visiting the gallery, the

hope is that people will have a better understanding of their own energy consumption so that

they will more likely become advocates for renewable energy.

“Arizona is very unique in regards to the sun and exactly how much sun we get,” explained

Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO of the Arizona Science Center. “I believe our state can

play a very special role in the sustainable energy landscape, especially with this new gallery.

We wanted to implement a fun way to show how everyone can be eco-friendly, and ultimately

have a better understanding of the cutting-edge technologies used around the world.”

Located in the Arizona Public Service (APS) Gallery on Level 4 of the Science Center, So-

larville is an interactive learning environment unlike any other. As guests step off the eleva-

tor, they enter the “town” of Solarville and stroll through a transit station, industrial park,

retail store, school, recreational area and a home while learning about solar, wind and other

renewable energy sources. The unique exhibit helps break down the dry, technical side of re-

newables by making the experience entertaining and educational.

The idea for the solar gallery stems from a longstanding relationship between the Arizona

Science Center and APS dating back to when the Science Center first opened its doors in

1984. But it wasn’t until a 2008 meeting held on the fourth floor at the Science Center to an-

nounce the building of the APS Solana Generating Station—the world’s largest solar plant—

when people started noticing the potential of the space.

“At that time, the Science Center had a little solar exhibit in the hallway during the an-

nouncement, but we all realized that we could do so much better with the potential to create

a true educational show piece,” said Dan Wool, Spokesman for APS. “We are very commit-

ted to solar and renewable energy in Arizona, and APS wanted to partner with the Science

Center to send the message that this state is very serious about solar energy.”

Solarville opened to the public on May 23 after an extensive test run prior to its main open-

ing. The Science Center invited people inside the solar gallery to check all the

exhibits and make sure they understood what was trying to be presented. There were

actually some legitimate questions raised, such as how the exhibits would explain plugging

and unplugging an outlet if parents constantly tell kids not to play with outlets.

“These prototypes and focus groups are essential to ensuring a successful new exhibit,”

said Humphrey. “We want to make sure that the displays actually work, but more importantly,

we want our messages to be impactful. We discussed these few concerns with Valley moms

and families to see how we could help align those same safety messages with energy to find

a good balance.”

Once all the kinks were worked out, Solarville was well received by kids and adults alike. The

brightly-colored gallery offered interactive learning kiosks where people could learn how they can

harness and distribute sustainable green energy from algae, to alternative fuels to fecal matter.

A unique solar panel muscle match demonstrated how kids can compete with how much energy

the sun creates. There was also “Pedal Power,” an exhibit that had bikes designed to show human

power and the efficiency difference of LED vs. CFL vs. incandescent lighting.

“This exhibit is a personal favorite of mine,” said Humphrey. “Kids can either compete

with friends or try it on their own to see exactly how much energy it takes to power different

light bulbs. It really drives the message home when people can literally see energy working

right before their eyes. They may think twice the next time they want to flip on a switch.”

There were also plenty of exhibits for other renewable energy sources. A do-it-yourself

wind power display demonstrated how a simple turbine motorized by a giant fan could trans-

form wind energy into power. People could also learn how businesses and cities around the

world are implementing new technologies to address sustainable energy by inventing things,

such as new garbage waste systems. And, perhaps more importantly, the public could learn

simple ways to use sustainable energy in their everyday lives.

“No matter what display you are at, there are little lessons woven throughout the entire

gallery,” explained Wool. “A simple thing like putting sunscreen on solar beads to see how

that protects your skin really makes an impact on kids. These children are the next generation

of scientists and technical workers, and the Science Center has a unique way of bringing out

that passion and education in them to want to pursue those careers.”

And while solar energy continues to remain a hot topic throughout Arizona, the Science

Center also hopes to expand upcoming exhibits to nana technology and basic principles of

physics. Humphrey said there will be more engaging speakers for their adult night series and

more hands-on opportunities for children with field trips.

“We treat the solar topic like any other topic here because kids need to truly understand

this,” she explained. “We will always make the effort to listen to our audience on what they

want to know and continue to instill the wonder of education through entertaining people of

all ages about science.” AEN

SOLAR POWER

“It really drives the message home when people can literally

see energy working right before their eyes. They may

think twice the next time they want to flip on a switch.”Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO of the Arizona Science Center


SOLAR POWER

BY JUSTYN DILLINGHAM

The atmosphere was lively at this year’s

American Solar Energy Society’s Na-

tional Solar Conference, which attracted an

estimated 6,000 people May 20-22. Students

in search of thesis material bumped tote bags

with manufacturers in search of new contacts,

and physics professors chatted with adven-

turers who’d driven across the frozen Arctic

Ocean on solar-powered wheels. But for

many attendees, the conference served as a

reminder of the seriousness and renewed

sense of purpose of the rising solar industry.

“I get more optimistic every time I come

to one of these shows,” said Jim Bristow of

Seattle-based Bristow Enterprises. “Just the

fact that solar is becoming more main-

stream—30 years after it should have.”

“We should have done this 20 years ago,”

said William Haley, a resident of Green Val-

ley, Ariz., who was at the conference doing

research for a solar hot-water-heating pack-

age he plans to offer his community. “We’re

slow to react. We need instant gratification as

a society, but this won’t give it to us.”

Attendees and exhibitors alike said they

relished the chance to mingle with other

solar-minded people, whether they were

closely involved in the nuts and bolts of the

business, more geared toward the theoretical

side, or simply interested in learning more

about the industry.

“You’re getting people all the way from the

folks that produce cells to the folks that are

putting modules on the roofs,” said Gerd Van

Antwerp, of Reis Robotics USA.

On the show’s last day, doors were opened

to the public, and between two and three

thousand people of varying degrees of inter-

est strolled from booth to booth.

“The people are very helpful and knowl-

edgeable,” said Haley.

According to Brad Collins, Executive Di-

rector of ASES, that’s no accident; the confer-

ence is aimed at a wide audience. “It’s much

more of an educational conference than other

shows,” he said. Collins said the show was

seeing many more aspiring job-seekers than

in the past. “We’re seeing a lot of people that

are looking for their second or third career.”

The show aims, Collins said, to create a

sense of “a community of like-minded peo-

ple” to meet, talk and work together.

“We have found it very beneficial to

have in the same room the policy wonk,

the educator and the engineer,” Collins

said. “By having that mix of attendees,

marvelous things happen.”

Collins said he was hopeful that the many

segments of the renewable energy industry

were beginning to work together toward com-

mon goals, instead of staying in their own

niches. “From our perspective, it’s vitally im-

portant that we understand that there is plenty of

bandwidth for renewable energy of all kinds.

They all have roles to play in this economy.

There is room at this table for all of us,” he said.

Collins said he was heartened that more

students than ever before had attended the

show to get a feel for the future of energy.

“It’s good for the industry, it’s good for the

green economy and it’s good for us,” he said.

Ron Jones, Owner and Creative Director of

The Strategic Word, an advertising agency

that specializes in renewable energy, attended

the show for the first time this year. As with

other conferences he’s attended, Jones said,

he found that making connections and throw-

ing around ideas with fellow attendees proved

the most valuable aspect of the experience.

“What happens after hours is just as impor-

tant as what happens on the show floor,”

Jones said.

The show’s setting could scarcely have

seemed more apt. Not only was Phoenix the

site of the first solar convention in 1955 (The

National Renewable Energy Lab’s Larry

Kazmerski showed a home video of that con-

ference during the awards banquet on May

19), but the Phoenix Convention Center is

one of the country’s few city-owned conven-

tion centers with its own solar array.

Arizona’s strong track record in the solar in-

dustry played a role in the decision to schedule

the show there, Collins said. “We move the con-

ference around the country to leave a legacy of

education in a community or in a region, or we

use it to apply progress in a region,” he said.

The 2011 conference is set for Raleigh, N.C.,

which Collins said has made “amazing

progress” in the world of renewable energy.

When ASES chose Phoenix for its 2010

conference, however, it had not anticipated

that Arizona would be attracting nationwide

attention for a very different reason. Session

moderator Steve Heckeroth opened a

sparsely attended May 20 session by noting

that the nationwide boycotts of Arizona fol-

lowing the passage of controversial immigra-

tion bill SB 1070 may have had some effect

on the show’s attendance.

Collins said that he thought the bill had had

“some” impact, with some attendees decid-

ing to cancel as a protest statement, but that

its impact should not be judged from the

ASES Solar Conference Serves as Catalyst for Important Questions

An image of the exhibit hall from the 2009 American Solar Energy Society’s National SolarConference in Buffalo, N.Y.



BY LORRIE BAUMANN

Now in its 20th year, the METALCON In-

ternational trade show is offering Solar

Bay, a unique forum in which builders who

may not be familiar with metal roof construc-

tion can learn the benefits and compatibility

of metal roofing and solar technology.

That’s a critical skill for contractors as

more business and residential owners look to

reduce their energy costs by including a solar

rooftop installation to their new or existing

buildings. In the past, many of these owners

may have dismissed metal roofing because its

cost exceeds that of traditional asphalt roof-

ing materials, but renewed interest in using

rooftop solar panels is forcing them to take

another look.

Solar panels with the newest technology

are likely to outlast conventional roofing ma-

terials and uninstalling and reinstalling a

solar application to allow for replacement of

the existing roof adds significant expense to

the project. A metal roof, by contrast, can last

for up to 50 years, and even outlast solar en-

ergy equipment, giving building profession-

als a reason to rethink using metal instead of

conventional roofing materials.

“Both commercial and residential building

and roofing professionals need to weigh all

their options while they’re considering a solar

installation,” said Paula Parker, National

Sales Manager for METALCON Interna-

tional. “In some instances, a metal roof will

outlast the building.”

In addition to presenting conference ses-

sions that include a panel discussion on the

largest solar installation in the U.S., METAL-

CON is offering seminars titled, “Solar Tech-

nology and Metal – a Mix of High Energy

and Hot Opportunity,” “PV 101 - How to De-

sign Solar Systems for Metal Roofs,”

“Providing Alternative Energy with Building

Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and Stand-

ing Seam Roofing,” and “Solar and Renew-

able Energy Initiatives.”

The sessions are all designed to offer

those who are interested in metal roofing

a tutorial in how to combine them with

solar installations. In the exhibit hall,

though, the learning goes both ways, and

METALCON is offering for the second

year a Solar Bay pavilion on the show

floor where exhibiting manufacturers of

solar panels, accessories and technologies

can both educate and learn from the metal

roofing experts in attendance at the confer-

ence. “There’s a whole educational loop

that needs to take place,” Parker observes.

“Whether you sell solar photovoltaic crys-

talline panels, thermal systems, energy

efficient products or any other solar roof-

top solution—Solar Bay at METALCON

is the single place to learn the newest in

metal roofing and solar technology.”

Launched in 1991, METALCON Interna-

tional is the only annual trade show and con-

ference focused on the application of metal

in industrial, institutional, light commercial

and residential construction. Solar Bay is

another aspect of the show that delivers the

newest technology, education and product in-

formation to metal building and roofing

professionals worldwide.

The event is sponsored by the Glenview,

Ill.-based Metal Construction Association

(MCA) and supported by 60 participating

associations representing various industry

segments and 25 industry publications.

METALCON is produced by Newton,

Mass.-based PSMJ Resources, Inc., a

widely recognized information resource for

the A/E design industry.

METALCON International will be held

October 20-22, 2010 at The Las Vegas

Convention Center. For more information,

visit www.metalcon.com. For information

about exhibiting, call Paula Parker at

800-537-7765. AEN

Solar Rooftop Solutions Highlighted in Las Vegas this October

SOLAR POWER


Accreditation provides manufacturersfaster access to global markets and

reduces certification costs.

Intertek, a global leader in testing, inspection

and certification services, has announced that

its Lake Forest, Calif. facility has success-

fully expanded its IECEE CB Scheme Test-

ing Laboratory (CBTL) capabilities. The new

capabilities include testing Photovoltaic (PV)

modules to IEC Standards. This accreditation

allows Intertek to conduct one set of tests that

will provide manufacturers with market ac-

cess to more than 40 countries that partici-

pate in the IECEE’s CB Scheme, saving

manufacturers money and reducing their

overall time-to-market. Intertek now delivers

the broadest scope of testing and certification

services to the PV industry.

The IECEE CB Scheme is an international

system for mutual acceptance of test reports

and certificates based on the use of interna-

tional (IEC) standards. The main objective of

the Scheme is to facilitate trade. A manufac-

turer utilizing a CB test certificate issued by

one of the accepted National Certification

Bodies (NCBs) can obtain certification marks

of the latter in the countries where the ac-

cepted NCBs are located.

The new accreditation allows Intertek to

test and issue IECEE CB Scheme Test Cer-

tificates to IEC 61730, 61215, 61646, 60891

and 60904 standards for Mono & Poly Crys-

talline and Thin Film Photovoltaic modules.

Certification to these standards demonstrates

acceptable safety and performance levels for

long-term use of the modules.

Intertek’s state-of-the-art testing laboratory

in Lake Forest is equipped with Solar Simu-

lator, Environmental Chambers, Rain & Hail

Testers, Impact and Mechanical Loading ap-

paratus, among other equipment. The labora-

tory is also accredited by the State of

California, Energy Commission (CEC) for

the Solar Home Program, CEC certifications

and has mutual agreements with Florida State

Energy Centre for data acceptance.

Intertek has more than 1,000 laboratories

and offices and over 24,000 people in more

than 100 countries around the world. For fur-

ther information on Intertek’s solar testing

services, visit www.intertek.com/solar. AEN

Intertek Awarded CBTLAccreditation For Photovoltaic Panels

State Workforce Training Brought to Lightthrough Amonix Expansion into Nevada

The approximate 300 jobs that will be

created through the expansion of a

major solar panel manufacturer into Ne-

vada is bringing to light Nevada’s ability

to successfully attract highly sought busi-

nesses and its ability to facilitate the spe-

cialized training necessary for Nevada’s

workforce to be properly prepared for

these new employment opportunities.

The recent announcement by Amonix

to move to Nevada comes at a time when

the Nevada Commission on Economic

Development continues to avidly seek out

companies desiring to relocate to the state

to take advantage of Nevada’s favorable

business climate. This effort coincides

with the state’s paramount goal of stimu-

lating job growth and assisting its resi-

dents to get back to work as quickly

as possible.

“These few hundred jobs are the direct

result of a concerted effort by our team,

and additional jobs will evolve as similar

industries follow suit in relocating to Ne-

vada,” said Nev. Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki,

who chairs the Nevada Commission on

Economic Development. “Much of the

thrust of our economic model is to focus

on renewable energy projects suitable for

development in the Western United

States. This success with Amonix is an-

other important step in helping us achieve

the critical mass necessary for the estab-

lishment of a solar cluster here.”

Frank Woodbeck, Director of Las Vegas

Operations & Workforce Solutions for the

Nevada Commission on Economic Devel-

opment, said the state will be investing

funds along with Amonix to train the

workforce for the solar plant. Other job

training funds will be provided by the

federal government. He expects a late

September timeframe for hiring Amonix

employees.

Woodbeck noted this is the first com-

pany of its kind to open in Nevada, and

that its expansion here will help put Ne-

vada at the forefront of diversification

and developing its renewable energy in-

dustry base. Amonix is a cutting edge in-

novator in solar panel technology, and a

leader in its field.

“We have a strong focus on manufac-

turing in the renewable energy sector,”

Woodbeck said. “That’s where job cre-

ation will be.”

Founded in 1989, Amonix designs and

manufactures concentrated photovoltaic

(CPV) solar power systems, which re-

quire no water, use land more efficiently

and produce more energy per acre than

any other solar technology. With 20 years

in business, 15 years of real-world CPV

deployments and seven generations of

system development, Amonix is the

proven best choice for utility-scale solar

in sunny and dry climates.

The Nevada Commission on Economic

Development is a state agency that pro-

vides services, support and assistance to

Nevada communities to help them diver-

sify and develop their economies. The

NCED is also responsible for the Nevada

Film Office, the Office of Protocol, the

Procurement Outreach Program, the Ne-

vada Economic Development Fund and

the Nevada Community Development

Block Grant program. NCED has offices

at 808 W. Nye Lane in Carson City and at

555 E. Washington Ave., Suite 5400 in

Las Vegas. More information can be ac-

cessed at www.diversifynevada.com. AEN


SOLAR POWER

appearance of sessions which took place in

rooms of varying size. He noted that the

show’s total attendance had actually in-

creased by 14 percent.

“Keep in mind that many times we were

running as many as 16 separate events at the

same time,” Collins said. “There’s no time

when all 3,500 registered attendees are there

at the same time.”

Another recent event cast a shadow of a

different kind over the event. Some attendees

pointed to the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mex-

ico as an ominous reminder of the urgency of

investing in renewable energy.

“It’s really shined a light on the fact that we

need to change our energy systems,” said Bruce

LaRue, a management consultant from Univer-

sity Place, Wash., who attended the show.

“It’s no longer an issue of ‘left vs.

right’—it’s good business, on all fronts. The

companies that really invest in this are going

to be the ones that will profit in the long

run,” he said.

Collins said that the disaster served as a

catalyst for the country to begin asking itself

the question “Do we have the right energy

policy for the 21st century in America?”

“There are literally hundreds of deepwater

wells offshore,” he said. “And even if the chance

is one in 10,000, there is a chance that you can

have this sort of catastrophe. And we did.”

“If we pollute our environment, how can

we call that progress?” Marcelo da Luz—

who made headlines around the world when

he built his own solar car and drove it to the

Arctic Circle—wondered out loud at a May

20 presentation. He told the audience that the

future lay in their hands: “We’ve been wait-

ing for the government to save the planet. It’s

not going to happen.” AEN

location that will give the company a logisti-

cal advantage over competitors, Philipp said.

“The primary focus of our U.S. company

will be on the domestic market, but long-term,

we will certainly also consider serving the in-

ternational market out of the U.S.,” Philipp

said. “We foresee the business volume of

MAGE SOLAR in the U.S. to become a sub-

stantial and significant percentage of the

MAGE SOLAR business volume in total

within a rather short amount of time.”

That expectation is based on market studies

indicating that by 2015, the U.S. will have be-

come either the first- or second-largest market

in the world in the near future, with China being

the other significant player, according to Philipp.

The company is also paying close attention to

the results of its participation in last year’s Solar

Power International trade show, Philipp said.

Solar Power International is produced by Solar

Energy Tradeshows Inc., LLC, which is jointly

owned by the Solar Energy Industries Associa-

tion (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Asso-

ciation (SEPA). Last year’s results showed

MAGE SOLAR that the company has a bright

future in the American market. “As a result, we

are currently undertaking the next steps to posi-

tioning ourselves in this important market,”

Philipp said. “The response from the U.S. solar

market to our products has been fantastic; there-

fore we are anticipating an immense growth in

sales over the coming months.”

The MAGE products that have been em-

braced by the American solar industry were cre-

ated specifically to fit the needs of the American

market and offer top-of-the-line quality and

durability, Philipp said. He noted that the

MAGE POWERTEC PLUS solar modules

carry UL, IEC, CE, VDE and TüV certifica-

tions, and FSEC and CEC listings, and that they

come with industry-leading warranty periods

designed to give the consumer three full

decades of reassurance that they’ve invested

wisely in their solar technology.

“Our products are built to rigorous North

American and international standards and there-

fore have warranties that are among the best in

the industry,” Philipp said. “In specific, our

MAGE POWERTEC PLUS modules have

-0/+5 W tolerances, which means you are guar-

anteed to receive the wattage you pay for. We

also give a product warranty on our modules for

10 years and a power guarantee for 12 years for

90 percent and for 80 percent at 30 years.

MAGE SOLAR is a unit of the MAGE

Group, which has operations in Germany, U.S.,

France, Czech Republic, Turkey and China. “In

regards to our entry into the U.S. market, we de-

cided to take an especially tailored approach,”

Philipp said. “We do not merely view ourselves

as a German corporation with export activities in

the U.S., but rather intend to continue our

process of internationalization here in the U.S. as

an American company doing business on the

basis of an experienced international corpora-

tion that originated in Germany.”

“Our strategy to penetrate the U.S. market

will be similar to our European approach,” he

continued. “MAGE SOLAR will work closely

with system integrators and operate in the

wholesale and solar farm segment. We are con-

vinced that our measures will facilitate rapid

growth and continue our success story on the

American continent.” AEN

ASES (Continued from Page 10)MAGE SOLAR (Continued from Page 1)

Brad Collins, Executive Director of the American Solar Energy Society, is shown at the podium of lastyear’s SOLAR Conference.

15

SOLAR POWER

MiaSole, the leading manufacturer of

copper indium gallium selenide

(CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic solar pan-

els, announced that the U.S. Department

of Energy’s National Renewable Energy

Laboratory (NREL) independently con-

firmed the 13.8 percent efficiency of its

large area production modules (one

square meter in size).

“We are pleased with our strong continued

progress,” said Dr. Joseph Laia, CEO of Mi-

aSole. “The modules that we ship in 2011 will

have efficiencies greater than 13 percent. The

only reason that we are not shipping these

modules today is that we are awaiting the

completion of our UL certifications.”

This new high efficiency will allow Mia-

Sole to offer solar modules with the effi-

ciency of polysilicon and the lower

manufacturing costs of thin-film modules.

“We are extremely impressed by the recent

MiaSole result,” said Dr. Ryne Raffaelle, Di-

rector of the National Center for Photo-

voltaics at NREL. “This demonstration is a

tremendous step forward in closing the gap

between the potential of CIGS results, and

what actually can be achieved in a large area

production module.”

MiaSole’s unique manufacturing process

lays CIGS on a flexible stainless steel sub-

strate and produces all layers of this highly

efficient photovoltaic material in a continu-

ous sputtering process. MiaSole is the only

thin-film solar company that uses sputtering

every step of the way for coating the solar

modules, thereby reducing manufacturing

time and costs of production.

MiaSole will ship 6.5 MW in the first

half of this year and expects to ship 22 MW

in 2010. The company’s products are de-

signed for utilities and independent power

producers to use in industrial scale deploy-

ments, such as large-scale rooftop and

ground mount installations. AEN

MiaSole Sets World Record forHighest Efficiency of CommercialScale Thin-Film Solar Modules

Alternative Energy News ■ July 2010 15

Advantages and Features

of the S-Power Collectors:

• Collectors are engineered and

manufactured in Germany

• Exclusively feature NARVA vacuum tubes

• NARVA vacuum tubes awarded the

OTTI innovation prize in 2008

• NARVA vacuum tubes exhibit high

efficiency due to anti-reflective glass

coating and double-sided, highly selective

absorption surface (coated using TiNOX®)

• Resistant to hail impact and wind-shear

• Certified by the TÜV—Rheinland

Group according to DIN EN 129775-2

• Patented glass-metal connection from a

highly experienced glass manufacturer

protects the vacuum long-term

• Ten-year manufacturer guarantee on the

vacuum tube connection through a

plug connection

• Tubes able to be rotated and

individually oriented toward the sun

• Even tube-spacing with the

interconnection of multiple modules

• Self-supporting construction

• Easy installation (mounting kit included)

• Light weight

• Low fluid volumes

• Low pressure loss

• Low zeta values through zeta plus

connection technology

• Same zeta values at every

pipe connection

• Quick energy amortization

• Return on investment possible in

six to eight years

For more information, visit www.s-power

.de./index.html?L=1. In the United States, call

888-781-4545. AEN

S-Power High Performance Vacuum Tube Collectors: German Vacuum Technology and Engineering

S-Power solar collectors, designed and en-

gineered in Germany and recently intro-

duced to the solar-thermal collector market in

the United States and Canada, are rapidly mak-

ing their presence known. These highly effi-

cient solar-thermal collectors are available in

10-, 20- and 30-tube models and use NARVA

High Performance vacuum tubes exclusively.

All modes are available using direct-flow vac-

uum tubes or heat pipe vacuum tubes.

The founder of the S-Power company is

also the innovator behind the NARVA High

Performance vacuum tube.

NARVA vacuum tubes, engineered and

manufactured in Germany, use a new and

highly robust glass-metal seal. The patented

glass-to-metal seal ensures the integrity of the

vacuum (warranted for ten years). Addition-

ally, the single-wall tube is manufactured

using lead-free soda-lime glass, making the

tubes (and, subsequently, the collector)

lighter. An anti-reflective nano coating inside

and out seals any micro-cracks and con-

tributes to the integrity of the vacuum. The

impact-resistant glass has passed rigorous

hail-resistance testing.

WIND POWER


The nation’s fastest growing trade show featured the latest wind industry developments

and technologies in Dallas, Texas, May 23-26 to roughly 20,000 attendees and 1,400

exhibitors. According to the American Wind Energy Association, these numbers

establish WINDPOWER as the largest energy trade show in America and the world’s largest

wind energy conference. And as thousands of companies began tearing down their exhibition

booths on the last day at the Dallas Convention Center, the room seemed to echo with

AWEA CEO Denise Bode’s words at the opening session: “Wind works.”

BY DANIELLE D’ADAMO

WIND POWERCONCLUDESIN TEXAS WITHROUGHLY 20,000 ATTENDEES

Did you attend WINDPOWER 2010? Visit http://2010.windpowerexpo.org/ to watch clips from the show floor.


“The show was a huge success on numer-

ous levels,” said Lori Rugh, Director of Mar-

keting and Sales, AWEA. “The exhibition

floor grew by 22 percent and our attendee

numbers were consistent with last year’s fig-

ures. But these numbers show only part of the

show’s success. If one combines all of the ex-

periences, conversations, networking and

learning opportunities, WINDPOWER 2010

was a huge success.”

American Electric Technologies Inc.

(AETI) Vice President of New Market Devel-

opment John Skibinksi had consistent foot

traffic at his booth as people wanted to learn

more about AETI’s power delivery systems

for renewable energy. “My only regret is that

the show was not a day longer so that I could

have had more time to spend with all of our

customers,” he said.

Romano Curti, Director of Sales and Mar-

keting of Walbridge in Detroit, Mich., was

very pleased with the turnout this year even

though his company did not host a booth.

“Our company has been attending WIND-

POWER for the last few years consecutively.

We exhibited last year in Chicago, and we

will obviously consider exhibiting again in

the future. I was impressed to see how busy

the show floor was and the amount of excite-

ment from everyone.”

Part of that excitement may have started

with the announcement at the opening of the

conference that Texas reached an all-time

record high for wind power production. On

May 23, Bode reported in her opening speech

that the state produced 6,721 MW, which met

14 percent of peak electricity demand that

day. It only seemed to reaffirm the location

choice for WINDPOWER 2010 as former

President George W. Bush talked about

Texas’ reasons for wind energy success the

following day.

“The attendees and exhibitors attended nu-

merous sessions, which were led by seasoned

and knowledgeable wind industry leaders,”

Rugh said. “The general sessions brought in-

vigorating discussions regarding the current

status of the wind industry. We were de-

lighted to bring the most honorable President

George W. Bush to our convention, as well

as numerous other high-level delegates.”

WINDPOWER 2010 welcomed many new

elements this year, including conference ses-

sions with more advanced technical details,

such as wind forecasting, performance and

reliability, and deepwater offshore wind

technologies. The 60 educational sessions

also covered extensive market and policy

topics regarding the state of wind energy.

AWEA even expanded the exhibition venue

to include a collection of outdoor exhibits for

displays that were too large to fit inside, such

as a giant wind blade General Electrics sta-

tioned outside the convention center for peo-

ple to sign. In addition, there was an outdoor

KidWind Challenge design competition for

middle and high school students to test their

wind turbines built out of simple materials.

AWEA also launched the Wind Energy

Foundation, which is designed to educate the

public about the benefits of wind energy, as

well as other renewables and efficiency. The

foundation will support research, education

and communication programs and activities.

Inside the convention center, exhibitors

covered more than 369,000 square feet of the

show floor—a length of six football fields—

with companies from 48 states and 22 coun-

tries, including Germany, Canada, Denmark,

China and Spain. As exhibitors traded busi-

ness cards and informed visitors of their

products and services, many saw great poten-

tial to establish future partnerships.

“We have provided equipment and services

to offshore oil and gas companies for more

than 60 years,” explained Skibinski. “The

discussions I had on international partner-

ships with AETI for European offshore wind

power generator to grid electrical infrastruc-

ture solutions were of particular interest. To

me, WINDPOWER 2010 was a success not

only from the standpoint of how well it was

organized, but from the quality of exhibitions

and material presented.”

“What’s important to remember is whether

you come to the show to exhibit or not, you

always need to send a small army of people

out to meet and greet,” Curti said. “All of

these people are relative to the industry and

your own business, so you need to make a

point to be seen to make exhibitions like this

worth it.”

Looking ahead, exhibitors already have a

jump start on WINDPOWER 2011 as three-

fourths of the exhibition space has already

been sold. Next year’s event will take place

in Anaheim, Calif., May 22-25.

“Moving forward, we see the same quality

of attendees, programs and exhibitors next

year, which means more success and

growth,” said Rugh. “We’re looking forward

to this next adventure in Anaheim.” AEN

“WINDPOWER 2010 was a success not

only from the standpoint of how well

it was organized, but from the quality

of exhibitions and material presented.”- John Skibinksi, Vice President of New Market Development

American Electric Technologies Inc. (AETI)

MARK YOUR CALENDARWHAT: WINDPOWER 2011

The world’s largest and most anticipated

annual event for wind energy

WHEN: May 22-25, 2011

WHERE: Anaheim, California, USA

www.windpowerexpo.org

WIND POWER


GE and Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation Announce Great Lakes Offshore Wind PartnershipGE and Lake Erie Energy Development

Corporation (LEEDCo) of Northern

Ohio announced a long-term partnership

beginning with the development of the first

freshwater offshore wind farm in the

United States and involving a broad range

of other initiatives. Under the new partner-

ship, GE will provide direct-drive wind tur-

bines to LEEDCo’s 20-MW offshore wind

project in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie.

The partnership and project is a significant

step towards accelerating the deployment

of offshore wind in the Great Lakes. The

announcement was made at the American

Wind Energy Association’s annual WIND-

POWER Conference in Dallas.

“Ohio’s greatest potential for creating

wind energy is offshore in Lake Erie, and

this partnership marks a significant step

forward,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strick-

land. “In Ohio, we have all the right assets

to make offshore wind energy successful,

including an innovative workforce and the

manufacturing strengths that would allow

us to build all the component parts for wind

turbines. This partnership will not only ad-

vance offshore wind technologies, it will

also advance Ohio’s economy. We are

eager to continue the

state’s strong collabora-

tion with GE and LEEDCo

as we pursue this exciting,

first-of-its-kind initiative

for Lake Erie.”

The LEEDCo-GE partnership

builds on the momentum of

a four-year effort by The

Great Lakes Energy Devel-

opment Task Force and

other partners in Ohio to establish an offshore

wind industry on Lake Erie, leveraging the re-

gion’s strong manufacturing base.

To kick off the collaboration with

LEEDCo, GE has committed to providing

offshore wind turbines and maintenance

services for an initial 20-MW wind farm.

Upon its completion, targeted for late 2012,

this project would be located off the shores

of Lake Erie, near Cleveland, Ohio. This

would be followed by subsequent projects

with a long-term goal of 1,000 MW in the

Ohio waters of Lake Erie by 2020.

At the core of the Lake Erie Project is GE’s

next generation wind turbine, a 4-MW ma-

chine designed specifically for offshore de-

ployment. As the largest wind turbine in GE’s

fleet, it will incorporate direct-drive tech-

nology gained through GE’s acquisition of

ScanWind. The 4-MW wind turbine will

feature GE’s innovative advanced loads

controls and aeroelastically tailored blade

technology.

In addition to collaborating on the initial

20-MW project, GE and LEEDCo will cre-

ate a strategic plan to identify opportunities

for cost reduction to make offshore wind

energy in the Great Lakes economically vi-

able. GE and LEEDCo will also work

jointly on advocacy and public policy is-

sues to increase support for offshore wind

energy, and accelerate the growth of Amer-

ica’s offshore wind industry.

“Offshore wind has the potential

to create thousands of new jobs in Ohio

and become a major source of eco-

nomic growth. Working with LEEDCo

we have made significant progress to make

offshore wind in Lake Erie a reality,” said

Vic Abate, Vice President of GE’s Renew-

able Energy business, and also President of

AWEA’s Board of Directors. “We look for-

ward to installing our next generation off-

shore, direct drive wind technology in Lake

Erie. GE is committed to working with

LEEDCo to achieve its vision of creating an

offshore wind sector in Northern Ohio and

the Great Lakes region.”

“LEEDCo is pleased to be working with

GE and we value the equipment efficiency,

product innovation and commercial acumen

they bring to the partnership,” said Dr. Lorry

Wagner, President of LEEDCo. “Together,

we aim to develop a cost-effective approach

for installing and maintaining offshore wind

turbines with the highest possible availabil-

ity. We are confident that as the GE product

line develops and our methodologies ma-

ture, the combination will promote a self-

sustaining and growing market for offshore

wind in Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, pro-

viding economic opportunity and emissions-

free energy for Northern Ohio.” AEN

LAKE ERIE

Chinese Wind Company Embarks on Global Expansion Program; Opens Dallas OfficeMingyang Wind Power Industry Group

Co. Ltd., the third largest wind energy

company in China, announced the opening of

its new Dallas-based operations office as part

of its global expansion program.

Of the top turbine manufacturers in China,

Mingyang is the only one that’s not govern-

ment owned, and now one of its major share-

holders and also strategic partner is Industrial

and Commercial Bank of China, which has

just become the largest bank in the world.

Mingyang’s newly opened Dallas office is lo-

cated at 4144 North Central Expressway 555,

Dallas, Texas, will serve customers in North

and South America for the foreseeable future.

Mingyang is a total solutions provider, of-

fering what is believed to be the most-

technically advanced wind turbines and equip-

ment, engineering services and financing

through a seamless contractual relationship to

its clients. From its inception, the company has

focused on adapting its designs and engineer-

ing to meet different climatic conditions. For

example, its blades are resilient to freezing

temperatures and typhoon winds.

Currently, Mingyang’s 2,000 employees op-

erate from five locations in China. As the com-

pany rolls out its plans for becoming the most

affordable provider of wind energy services,

Mingyang can be expected to build and oper-

ate manufacturing centers in cities like Dallas.

“Mingyang is dedicated to a global green

economy in which it is a good corporate cit-

izen,” said Wang Song, Senior Vice Presi-

dent, Managing Director and one of two

founders of Mingyang. “We are focused on

working with local officials and business

leaders to improve the quality of life for the

communities which we serve.”

“Mingyang chose Dallas for our first oper-

ations center outside of China because of its

strategic location, employment base and pro-

business environment,” Song said.

The City of Dallas is welcoming Mingyang

to Texas. On the first day of the conference,

Mayor Tom Leppert visited two exhibitors, one

being a U.S. company and one being

Mingyang. “Mingyang’s new operations in

Dallas create a win-win relationship,” said

Mayor Leppert. “Its investment over the long

term means local jobs, development of more

renewable power, and another step toward na-

tional security. We are excited about supporting

the company’s leadership team. We want Dal-

las to be Mingyang’s U.S. home.”

On May 25, Dallas Council Members Ron

Natinsky and Linda Koop formally inked a

memorandum of understanding with Mingyang.

Both the city and Mingyang have agreed to

work closely together toward identifying a loca-

tion as its manufacturing facility to be con-

structed as Mingyang penetrates the market. AEN


WIND POWER


country. In particular, the Panhandle has

the best wind in the state.”

The enormous capacity to generate elec-

tricity in West Texas and the Panhandle is

a well-known fact not only to developers,

but to the farmers and ranchers living in

the remote areas as well. The high wind

speeds produce substantial amounts of en-

ergy, but the current transmission lines are

inadequate and therefore, cannot effec-

tively transfer the electricity. The dilemma

makes it difficult for wind farm develop-

ers to gain local support from landowners

and electric utility companies.

“Timing is everything,” explained Pel-

string. “We were waiting for the perfect

opportunity to take the lead on the great

wind potential that we knew existed.”

In April, National Wind and KRS En-

ergy announced the launch of Buffalo

Wind Energy, a utility-scale community

wind project in west central Randall

County, Texas. Based around a model of

community ownership, where local

landowners can become project owners,

Buffalo Wind Energy has leased 14,500

acres between the towns of Amarillo and

Umbarger, and expects to develop up to

300 MW of wind energy.

The idea for a new community wind

project started with John Kellogg and Paul

Seby, Principals at KRS Energy, after dis-

cussing a number of projects with National

Wind. And while it will be the first Texas

wind project for National Wind, the two

companies had already been involved a

few years before, according to Pelstring. It

was then when Todd Vincent, a Texas

landowner and one of the original Buffalo

Wind Energy Board of Advisors, attended

a meeting at KRS Energy.

“We had already been looking into a new

community wind project for roughly three

years,” said Vincent. “But in September of

2008, my brother and I met with KRS En-

ergy, and they presented us with the idea of

a special community-owned wind project

where we (the landowners) would be ac-

tively involved in the process.”

The project seemed like a good fit be-

cause although Texas has more installed

wind projects than any other state, it has

little community wind development. From

there, Buffalo Wind Energy was created

with the direct participation of 12 area

families who would have a chance to in-

vest in and reap a share of the profits—a

concept very different from traditional de-

velopment methods. Most corporate wind

farm developers focus on projects that they

own entirely and in turn, take on a

more passive role.

“Our process is flip-flopped,” Pelstring

said. “National Wind’s goal with these

utility-scale community wind energy proj-

ects is to create a partnership with the

landowners and encourage feedback. They

are the ones in the position to know which

location has the best wind. They also want

a bigger piece of the pie, and we make it

our business to give it to them.”

Todd Vincent, David Christian, Randy

Darnell and Casey Fox were appointed to

represent the project’s development as the

Board of Advisors. National Wind con-

ducted a full feasibility study of the area

including wind data, transmission issues

and more. After presenting their findings,

they waited on the Board’s approval to

move forward, which is a key component

of National Wind’s community-owned

business structure: decisions on approving

project development are in the hands of

the landowners.

“That’s the most important thing about

our model,” explained Pelstring. “We are

the managing partner who is there to han-

dle all the day-to-day managing decisions

and stay in the background, for the most

part. Otherwise, it’s the landowners’ op-

portunity to be in the driver’s seat and

have a good sense of what’s going on.”

The local involvement aspect was im-

portant to Vincent and the other founding

members of Buffalo Wind Energy. To

them, more jobs would be created to help

grow the economy, and a locally-elected

Board of Advisors would ensure that the

wind project would truly benefit their

community and proceeds be kept local.

With everyone in agreement, the Board

was able to stir up local support through-

out last year with little resistance to

the project.

In most cases, large corporate wind de-

velopments are delayed because of com-

munity opposition. The fear of unbearable

noise, property devaluation and a corpo-

rate developer holding all the cards can

plague many rural communities into lob-

bying against future development. How-

ever, one of the main benefits of Buffalo

Wind Energy’s location in a sparsely pop-

ulated rural area is the lack of development

“near our footprint,” as Vincent said. The

wind project “footprint” currently covers

14,500 acres with 12 landowners and only

four home sites sitting on one edge, which

are all part of the lease agreement.

“If you lived here all your life, then you

know this is a great place,” explained Vin-

cent. “But when the wind blows you won-

der why you put up with it for so long.

Now, we have an answer, and we can’t

wait to see it all come together.”

The Electric Reliability Council of

Texas operates the electric grid and man-

ages the deregulated market for 75 percent

of the state. While the market in Texas has

been going up and down due to a lot of de-

velopment and consequently, a lot of trans-

mission constraints, ERCOT has taken an

active stance on solving the transmission

problems in these outer areas; the council

currently has a transmission plan expect-

ing to be built by 2013 to serve the pro-

posed Buffalo Wind area. Buffalo Wind

Energy anticipates building to begin in late

2013 or early 2014. AEN

TEXAS WIND (Continued from Page 1)

WIND POWER


Schools of Fish Offer New Ideas

for Wind Farming

The quest to derive energy from wind

may soon be getting some help from

California Institute of Technology

(Caltech) fluid-dynamics expert John Dabiri

and a school of fish. As head of Caltech’s Bi-

ological Propulsion Laboratory, Dabiri studies

water- and wind-energy concepts that share

the theme of bioinspiration: that is, identifying

energy-related processes in biological systems

that may provide insight into new approaches

to—in this case—wind energy.

“I became inspired by observations of

schooling fish, and the suggestion that there

is constructive hydrodynamic interference

between the wakes of neighboring fish,” said

Dabiri, Associate Professor of Aeronautics

and Bioengineering at Caltech. “It turns out

that many of the same physical principles can

be applied to the interaction of vertical-axis

wind turbines.”

The biggest challenge with current wind

farms is lack of space. The horizontal-axis

wind turbines most commonly seen—those

with large propellers—require a substantial

amount of land to perform properly.

“Propeller-style wind turbines suffer in per-

formance as they come in proximity to one

another,” said Dabiri.

In the Los Angeles basin, the challenge of

finding suitable space for such large wind

farms has prevented further progress in the

use of wind energy. But with help from the

principles supplied by schooling fish, and the

use of vertical-axis turbines, that may change.

Vertical turbines, which are relatively new

additions to the wind-energy landscape, have

no propellers; instead, they use a vertical rotor.

Because of this, the devices can be placed on

smaller plots of land in a denser pattern. Cal-

tech graduate students Robert Whittlesey and

Sebastian Liska researched the use of vertical-

axis turbines on small plots during a class re-

search project supervised by Dabiri. Their

results suggest that there may be substantial

benefits to placing vertical-axis turbines in a

strategic array, and that some configurations

may allow the turbines to work more effi-

ciently as a result of their relationship to oth-

ers around them—a concept first triggered by

examining schools of fish.

In current wind farms, all of the turbines

rotate in the same direction. But while study-

ing the vortices left behind by fish swimming

in a school, Dabiri noticed that some vortices

rotated clockwise, while others rotated

counter-clockwise. Dabiri therefore wants to

examine whether alternating the rotation of

vertical-axis turbines in close proximity will

help improve efficiency. The second obser-

vation he made studying fish—and seen in

Whittlesey and Liska’s simulation—was that

the vortices formed a “staircase” pattern,

which contrasts with current wind farms that

place turbines neatly in rows.

Whittlesey and Liska’s computer models

predicted that the wind energy extracted from

a parcel of land using this staggered placement

approach would be several times that of con-

ventional wind farms using horizontal-axis

turbines. Once they’ve identified the optimal

placement, Dabiri believes it may be possible

to produce more than 10 times the amount of

energy currently provided by a farm of hori-

zontal turbines. The results are sufficiently

compelling that the Caltech group is pursuing

a field demonstration of the idea.

Dabiri has purchased two acres of land

north of Los Angeles, where he is establish-

ing the Caltech Field Laboratory for Opti-

mized Wind Energy (FLOWE). The pilot

program at the site will feature six vertical

turbines on mobile platforms.

Dabiri and his team will systematically

move the turbines around, testing various con-

figurations to find the most efficient patterns.

“Our goal is to demonstrate a new tech-

nology that enables us to extract signifi-

cantly more wind energy from a given

parcel of land than is currently possible

using existing methods,” said Dabiri. “We

want to take advantage of constructive aero-

dynamic interference between closely

spaced vertical-axis wind turbines. Our re-

sults can potentially make better use of ex-

isting wind farms, allow for wind farms to

be located closer to urban centers—reduc-

ing power transmission costs—and reduce

the size of offshore installations.”

Three of Dabiri’s turbines are being pro-

vided in partnership with Windspire Energy.

In exchange for the use of the turbines, Dabiri

will share his research results with the com-

pany. Each Windspire turbine stands approx-

imately 30 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and can

generate up to 1.2 kW of power.

“This leading-edge project is a great exam-

ple of how thinking differently can drive

meaningful innovation,” said Windspire En-

ergy President and CEO Walt Borland. “We

are very excited to be able to work with Dr.

Dabiri and Caltech to better leverage the

unique attributes of vertical-axis technology

in harvesting wind energy.”

Three turbines from another manufacturer

have been purchased; the six turbines give

the pilot facility a total power capacity of 15

kW, enough to power several homes.

“This project is unique in that we are con-

ducting these experiments in real-world con-

ditions, as opposed to on the computer or in a

laboratory wind tunnel,” said Dabiri. “We

have intentionally focused on a field demon-

stration because this can more easily facilitate

a future expansion of the project from basic

science research into a power-generating fa-

cility. Our ability to make that transition will

depend on the results of the pilot program.”

The initial phase of the study will attempt

to demonstrate which configuration of units

will improve power output and performance

relative to a horizontal-axis wind turbine

farm with a similar sized plot of land.

“In the future, we hope to transition to

power-generation experiments in which the

generated power can be put to use either lo-

cally or via a grid connection,” Dabiri said.

The American Recovery and Reinvest-

ment Act provided partial funding for

this project. AEN

EMERGING teCHNOLOGIES

Two team members are pictured assembling one of the vertical turbines at the location north of Los Angeles, Calif.

SunEye™ shade analysis tool. The system

energy loss due to shade was calculated to

determine the amount of energy that could be

recaptured by selectively installing

SunMizer on the shaded panels.

The difference between predicted

output with and without shade in-

dicated that 29 percent of potential

power was being lost due to shade.

Environmental and power mon-

itoring equipment was then in-

stalled and system output was

monitored for the month of June, 2009. The

actual output of the system very closely

matched the output calculations predicted by

the analysis tools.

SunMizer was installed selectively: five

units on one string and three units on the sec-

ond string. After an additional 30 days of

monitoring, power output data was normal-

ized for daily insolation and compared. The

results showed that eight SunMizer units, se-

lectively deployed on the two strings, were

recovering 54 percent of the power that was

being lost without SunMizer. The improve-

ment in this case equates to over 1,000 kWh

of recovered power annually, which means

SunMizer will pay for itself in less than five

years at current energy prices. AEN

EMERGING teCHNOLOGIES


Nevada Continues to Show Strengths asPrime Home for Renewable Energy Projects

The state of Nevada continues to make its

mark as an ideal place for renewable

energy-related businesses to call home.

“Because we’re rich in energy resources,

such as geothermal, solar, wind and biomass,

renewable energy is a natural fit for Nevada,”

said Mike Skaggs, Executive Director of the

Nevada Commission on Economic Develop-

ment. “Our state has a unique opportunity to

reduce energy costs and grow its economy

while achieving energy independence.”

Nevada is extremely fortunate to possess

abundant renewable resources that can accom-

modate the development of new technologies.

Recently, the Geothermal Energy Association

ranked Reno as one of the leading geothermal

cities in the world. The great development po-

tential positions Nevada as one of the top

states for pursuing alternative energy.

Skaggs noted that Nevada not only leads the

nation in geothermal and solar power potential

but that much of the state is suitable for wind

power development. The Colorado River,

which forms Nevada’s southern border, is also

a powerful hydroelectric power resource. The

Silver State is already leading in per capita solar

energy production. The federal government has

shown commitment to the development of re-

newable energy and created solar investment

tax credits that will continue to stimulate invest-

ment and job creation in the solar industry.

The state of Nevada has taken a leadership

role in the nation’s effort to reduce reliance on

fossil fuels and foreign oil by becoming one of

the first states in the nation to adopt a renew-

able portfolio standard (RPS). To help facili-

tate the renewable projects required by the

RPS, the 2009 legislature renewed and im-

proved its financial incentive program for re-

newable energy generators. Projects are

eligible for significant sales and payroll tax

abatements. In addition, they are eligible for 55

percent property tax abatements for 20 years.

With rising energy prices, there’s renewed

interest in renewable energy sources for elec-

tricity production, home heating and home

cooling. Also, with the falling cost of gener-

ating renewable energy and the rising costs

of conventional energy sources, the stage is

being set for developing some of the state’s

renewable resources.

To help develop these renewable energy

resources, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons issued

an Executive Order forming the Renewable

Energy Transmission Access Advisory Com-

mittee (RETAAC) to advise on the most ef-

ficient means to access a transmission system

grid that would enable transfer of energy

across the state. One encouraging develop-

ment is the investment in a 250-mile trans-

mission line that will connect NV Energy in

Reno and Las Vegas. The transmission line

will allow the companies to add new renew-

able resources to their portfolio.

“Those in the renewable energy industry

are showing continued interest in our state

due to the plethora of opportunities that exist

here for them,” Skaggs said. “Bringing solar

power companies to the state will also create

jobs, not only in the development and main-

tenance of the plants, but also in the manu-

facturing areas that will support the

renewable energy industry.”

The Nevada Commission on Economic

Development is a state agency that provides

services, support and assistance to Nevada

communities to help them diversify and de-

velop their economies so they remain viable.

More information can be accessed at

www.diversifynevada.com. AEN

SunMizer Recovers 54 Percent of Power Loss from ShadeXandex Solar has released a residential

case study showing that the new Sun-

Mizer DC power optimizer is recovering 54

percent of the power that was

being lost due to shade.

The case study describes a 6.4

kW residential installation in

Sonoma, Calif., that was losing

nearly 30 percent of its potential

power output due to shade. In this

installation, the designer and sys-

tem owner faced limited roof space

and a complex multi-tiered roof, which is

typical for residential applications.

CSI residential program rules allow for state

funded rebates only on the amount of installed

solar capacity that does not exceed the annual

electric consumption of the residence. When

roof space is limited or sub-optimal, it is not

uncommon to accept a certain amount of

shade in order to achieve the highest system

output possible and still qualify for the rebate.

In this case, the installation consisted of

thirty-two (32) 200-W panels, connected in

two 16-panel strings to a single 6,000-W in-

verter. Xandex Solar applications engineers

conducted a system energy production analy-

sis using both PVWatts and PV*Sol® simula-

tion tools and shade data using a SolMetric

(1/4 : 5kW; 1/20 : 100kW). Up to 50 percent

lower cost than existing solutions.

• Has a 20-year service life—twice that of ex-

isting solutions.

• Near-theoretical efficiency: 99 percent in-

verter efficiency at 5kW.

• Modularity for maximum applications and

minimum re-design.

• Intentional-islanding: the ability for a system

to remain on even when the grid goes off.

• Less than one percent harmonic distortion,

active ripple current reduction, active phase

cancellation and on-demand reactive power

in the intelligent inverter design maximizes

significantly lower parts cost; designed for

mass manufacturing.

For example, if someone has solar power, cur-

rent 5kW inverters which change the DC solar

power into AC power for the house may have a

10-year life span, weigh up to 180 pounds and

use large amounts of copper and iron, have

around 95 percent efficiency, and use limited-

lifespan electrolytic capacitors. TEC equivalent

5kW products have a 20-year life span, effi-

ciency near theoretical limits (98.5 percent at

$30/kW for 5kW converter and 99 percent at

$30/kW for 5kW inverter), weigh less than 45

pounds, cost 1/3 less, contain near zero elec-

trolytic capacitors and minimal copper and iron.

For more information, call 865-357-4710 or

visit www.totalenergycompany.com. AEN

TEC: Improve Efficiency, Lower Costs & Improve Power QualityThe devices which take the raw energy from

renewable energy systems, such as solar

photovoltaic panels and fuel cells, and convert

it to usable power rely on power electronicsswitches. These switches are packaged with a

digital signal processor to achieve world-

record efficiency and market disruptive pricing

for converters and inverters. The market is ex-

periencing double-digit growth. The vast ma-

jority of converters and inverters in service

today are based on 19th and 20th-century tech-

nology. Total Energy Company develops future

energy power electronic designs and products

to improve efficiency, lower costs, improve

power quality and allow distributive energy to

become grid parity ahead of all conventional

estimates. TEC holds the license for worldwide

alternative energy applications of intellectual

property developed by Dr. Jason Lai (VaTech),

including residential, commercial, utility com-

pany converter and inverter applications, bat-

tery, fuel cells and far-ranging distributive and

renewable energy system components. TEC’s

disruptive 21st-century designs will provide

the infrastructure the world needs as it evolves

to a renewable energy based economy. The dis-ruptive attributes of this technology apply toinverters, converters, rectifiers and all otherpower electronics:• Solves up to 40 percent energy losses cur-

rently in existing solutions.

• 1/4 to 1/20 the weight of existing solutions

visitors combined. And while the event de-

buted in Europe where solar experienced its

first spark of activity, CEO Markus Elsässer

believes that the United States is a strong

market and has a very promising future in the

solar industry.

“The purpose of Intersolar is to support the

needs of the solar industry not only in Eu-

rope, but around the world,” said Elsässer.

“We specialize in merging the global solar

worlds together to exchange information and

ideas because in order for this industry to

grow, there needs to be excellent framework

in place. The United States is well on its way

to making huge contributions.”

That’s where Intersolar comes in. An event

that started 20 years ago in Pforzheim, Ger-

many as a specialist conference grew so rap-

idly that it moved twice around exhibition

spaces in Germany. Staging the conference

as a local event no longer made sense, and

the conference expanded to a national level

in order to encompass the amount of grow-

ing interest. Not long after, organizers real-

ized that the solar industry was evolving into

a global market that reached beyond Europe.

It was time to expand overseas.

“We saw such exponential growth on a local

sense that after the second move to Munich, it

was time to make some changes to address the

needs of the industry on an international

scale,” explained Elsässer. “It was clear that

the United States was making the initial

changes needed to break into the solar market,

and we wanted to be a part of that growth.”

Intersolar North America debuted in San

Francisco, Calif. in 2008 to wide acceptance

by U.S. solar manufacturers, suppliers,

wholesalers and service providers. The event

was designed to be the premier meeting point

for industry leaders to promote business op-

portunities throughout the United States. Co-

locating with SEMICON West, an annual

event for global microelectronics, Intersolar

North America puts both photovoltaics and

solar thermal technology on display.

“We are able to combine everything under

the solar industry umbrella at Intersolar

North America from production equipment to

planning and implementation,” said Elsässer.

“And despite the struggling economy, atten-

dance has continued to rise. Last year the

event nearly doubled in terms of exhibitors

and floor space.”

New to this year’s conference program is

the Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy

field, which will explore the industrial use of

process heat from concentrated sunlight,

such as in solar thermal power stations. With

U.S.-based and international speakers, the

program will offer unique insights into the

economic, technological and legal context of

the solar market.

Also new to Intersolar North America this

year is a special program called the Intersolar

AWARD, a technology award honoring out-

standing innovations by companies and insti-

tutions within the solar industry. The

competition is open to exhibitors participat-

ing at Intersolar Europe or Intersolar North

America. The categories this year include

products and services in PV and solar thermal

technologies and PV production technologies.

In addition to the Intersolar AWARD, In-

tersolar North America will also host the

global initiative Solar for All design award.

The competition is open to any participants

across the PV supply chain who can demon-

strate improved strategies for market imple-

mentation. The winner will be awarded a

$250,000 investment by Deutsche Bank

Americas Foundation.

“We are very excited to honor these inno-

vative companies who went above and be-

yond in creating cutting edge products to

improve the solar industry,” said Elsässer.

“It’s very important to support emerging mar-

kets and promote future development of solar

business throughout North America. We are

just glad to do our part.” AEN

INTERSOLAR (Continued from Page 1)

OTHER alternatives


Geothermal Power Project to Create Morethan 200 Jobs in Imperial County, Calif.EnergySource LLC, an independent power

producer that develops renewable energy

resources, announced the commencement of

construction of its Hudson Ranch I project, a

49-MW high-temperature geothermal power

generation project in Imperial County, Calif.

The project has been under development

since 2006 by Catalyst Renewables and Han-

non Armstrong, the majority owners of En-

ergySource (formerly CHAR).

“We are very encouraged by the response of

the project finance market to a new generation of

high temperature flash-technology geothermal

power projects that will serve utility customers

with base load renewable energy,” remarked

Dave Watson, President of EnergySource.

“The Hudson Ranch Power I project will com-

mence construction in one of the best geother-

mal resources in North America, as well as

create much-needed employment opportuni-

ties in Imperial County.”

Debt financing for the nearly $400 million

project was raised by an eight-member bank

syndicate led by ING Capital, Societe Gen-

erale and West LB, and included Union Bank,

MetLife, CIBC, Siemens Financial and

Investec. Additional equity was raised from

GeoGlobal Energy LLC (GGE), a privately

held geothermal energy-focused investment

firm backed by Mighty River Power, a state-

owned New Zealand utility. Hannon Arm-

strong represented EnergySource in raising

both the debt and equity.

Eric Spomer, President of Catalyst Re-

newables and an EnergySource Director

said, “We have enjoyed tremendous local

support in the Imperial Valley for this proj-

ect from the Imperial Irrigation District,

the Imperial County government and from

the quality local contractors who will

make this project a success.” Spomer also

cited Salt River Project, the purchaser of

the plant’s power for “extraordinary

cooperation and faith in the project’s

ultimate success.”

Sarah Slusser, a GGE partner, which in-

vested $90 million in the project, expressed

confidence in the investment by saying,

“Hudson Ranch is exactly the kind of geot-

hermal opportunity GGE is looking for and

we are delighted to have the opportunity to

bring our financial and technical resources to

help make the project a success.”

The project will take 21 months to build and

will create 200 full-time equivalent construc-

tion jobs. Once completed, it will employ 35

full-time plant operations employees.

The project will benefit from Federal tax

incentives contained in the American Recov-

ery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”). AEN

U.S. Clean Energy Mission Helps Bring Tidal Energy to China

The China Energy Conservation Envi-

ronment Protection Group (CECEP),

China’s leading renewable energy

company, and Verdant Power, Inc., the lead-

ing U.S. tidal power developer, signed a

memorandum of understanding (MOU) to

develop tidal energy power projects in China.

The MOU is the first of its kind between

China and the U.S. involving marine and hy-

drokinetic power projects.

U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary

Gary Locke, and U.S. Ambassador to China

Jon Huntsman, were on hand to witness the

signing. The MOU marked a stop on Secretary

Locke’s three-day clean energy trade mission

in China. Secretary Locke traveled with sev-

eral U.S. businesses to focus on opportunities

for U.S. renewable energy technology devel-

opers in China’s growing energy market.

“Marine kinetic hydropower is an energy

resource that is greatly underused—but which

must play a greater role in the future if ‘sus-

tainable hydropower’ is to be achieved,”

stated Ronald Smith, CEO of Verdant Power.

“This historic signing is a significant first step

for both countries in the collaborative devel-

opment of this type of renewable energy.”

The MOU establishes tidal and river power

devices as a new stream of U.S. exports to

international markets. It will also spur

economic development and job growth in the

U.S. and build momentum for a domestic

tidal energy market.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates

that the undeveloped hydropower potential

of the U.S. is more than 250,000 megawatts.

China’s Ministry of Water Resources and

Electric Power estimates that the undevel-

oped hydropower potential of China is

nearly double that of the U.S. at more than

475,000 megawatts.

“Compared to fossil fuel plants, hy-

dropower is clean and the ‘fuel’ is free,” said

Trey Taylor, President of Verdant Power.

“When people hear hydropower, they imme-

diately think of large dams and other im-

poundments. Sustainable hydropower or

marine hydrokinetics (MHK) is based on

technologies now entering both the U.S. and

Chinese markets that do not require dams.”

Verdant Power is currently developing sus-

tainable tidal power projects in the U.S. and

Canada. In New York City’s East River, the

Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Proj-

ect will be the first grid-connected project

that will provide New York City and the met-

ropolitan area with up to 500 megawatts of

pollution-free electricity from a field of un-

derwater MHK turbines.

The RITE Project is the first-of-its-kind

tidal energy project in the world and is being

deployed as an urban distributed generation

clean energy solution. Unlike other renew-

able energy resources, underwater tidal tur-

bines are a predictable source of power with

24/7 availability. The CECEP-Verdant Power

MOU will provide a framework for the effec-

tive collaboration of siting and operating the

aforementioned tidal and river power systems

on an international scale. AEN

POWER PROFILES


AEN: Please

tell our readers

a little about

yourself and

how you be-

came involved

in the solar in-

dustry.

RK: Well, I

won’t bore you

with my life

story because

then we’ll be

here all day, but long before my time at Sharp

Solar, I actually owned an energy company

and developed the first mail-order catalog in

the U.S. photovoltaic industry. While I was

there, I helped establish a wholesale network

of resellers and started a training program de-

signed to educate resellers and end-users.

Then, in 1985, I merged the business with

Photocomm. Inc./Kyocera Solar and became

Vice President of Sales and Marketing. For-

tunately, I gained years of corporate experi-

ence in the Japanese market, and helped

expand Kyocera’s U.S. market share signifi-

cantly in two years.

AEN: So what brought you to Sharp?

RK: One of the main reasons I came to Sharp

in the first place was because the company

shared my own personal vision of moving

solar into the mainstream market. I really see

it happening in the coming years: people who

buy a new home are going to make a con-

scious effort to use green power, and they can

do that with solar panels. Sharp has that same

vision, and more importantly, the will to

make it a reality.

In 2000, Sharp became the No. 1 producer of

solar modules in the world. The company

was making and selling the modules in Japan,

and I was asked to start outreach in the Amer-

icas with Sharp Electronics in New Jersey. I

accepted and wrote the business plan to make

it happen. In May 2002, we started the Sharp

Solar Energy Solutions group in Huntington

Beach, Calif. where Sharp had a western area

distribution center. This location was impor-

tant—because California was and is the

largest solar market in the United States. Up

until then, Sharp served markets mostly in

Japan, so it was a great opportunity to open

up in the United States and start a standard

customer base at home.

AEN: How have you seen the company grow

its solar business?

RK: Even though Sharp Manufacturing

Company of America was known for produc-

ing color TVs back in the late ‘70s, it wasn’t

until 2003 when Sharp started producing

solar panels in the United States. We received

such a huge response that we recently started

round-the-clock manufacturing and increased

staff. As a result, Sharp built the first U.S.

solar panel manufacturing factory in Mem-

phis, Tenn. The whole process was very ex-

citing because the factory created so many

green jobs, especially during the last few

years when any job was coveted. Today, I’m

proud to say that we’ve produced more than

a million solar modules in Memphis.

We also opened a new thin-film solar plant

in Japan in March of this year. The solar cells

are actually comprised of thin silicon layers

on a glass substrate, which enables a substan-

tial reduction in the use of silicon. Since

we’ve seen a demand for these thin-film solar

cells across the world, Sharp will be able to

utilize this new technology for large-scale

utility projects.

AEN: What recent challenges have you

faced in the industry?

RK: The 2008-2009 recession posed chal-

lenges for many businesses, including the

solar industry. For the solar industry, sili-

con constraints were a concern in 2005 and

early 2006. There was such an explosive

growth in the solar industry that it was

challenging keeping up with the increased

demand; it was tough delivering modules

in a timely manner.

This affected everyone in the industry. How-

ever, we’re very resilient, and as demand

grew, Sharp stepped up manufacturing and

delivery to meet this increased demand.

We’ve solidly bounced back from the silicon

constraints of 2006. Now, the United States is

poised to become one of the largest—if not

the largest—solar market in the world.

AEN: Where do you see the industry headed

in the next five to 10 years, and how will

Sharp play an active role?

RK: I believe that solar will be used increas-

ingly by utilities, companies, government

agencies and homeowners. Solar is safe, re-

liable, renewable and economical. We’ve

seen the damage and danger that comes with

coal and fossil fuel extraction. People are re-

alizing the importance of investing in the de-

velopment of renewable power plants,

whether they’re solar, wind or biomass.

As to Sharp’s role, we value education as the

most effective way to get the message out on

the importance of renewable energy. Not

only have we trained more than 4,000 solar

installation contractors in the United States,

but we also created an educational program

for fourth graders on renewables called the

Solar Academy. Now in its third year, the

Solar Academy has expanded in the United

States. We truly believe that the young peo-

ple who learn about renewable energy and

solar power today will ultimately become

better-informed consumers, and responsible

stewards of the planet. AEN

Ron KenediVice President of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group

AEN: Please

tell our readers

how you be-

came involved

with the Amer-

ican Solar En-

ergy Society.

NA: On April

22, 2010, the

40th anniver-

sary of Earth

Day, I joined

the American

Solar Energy Society (ASES) as the Director

of Marketing and Communications. For the

past 15 years, I was President of Abraham

Paiss & Associates, Inc., which is my own

public relations and marketing communica-

tions firm based in Boulder, Colo., dedicated

to sustainable solutions. My client base in-

cluded companies in renewable energy, low

carbon transportation, energy-efficient hous-

ing, organic food and body products, and

urban agriculture. I was ready to apply my

professional skills and passion full-time to-

ward the advancement of solar energy in the

United States at what I believe is a crucial

time in our society and environment.

AEN: How did you become involved in the

alternative energy industry?

NA: I first became involved in the renew-

able energy industry in 1996 when my firm

represented the Cohousing Network, a na-

tional nonprofit composed of environmen-

tally and socially sustainable planned

neighborhoods created by the future resi-

dents and their professional development

team. We worked with green builders and

developers incorporating solar PV, solar

thermal and geo-exchange heat pumps into

the homes and the shared clubhouse. In

2008, I helped launch the first factory built

near net-zero solar home for Solar Village

Homes. From 2009 to 2010, I represented

SolSource Inc., a Denver, Colo. solar engi-

neering, procurement and construction

firm. In 2010, I managed the launch of the

first modular solar home in the United

States where people can order from a cata-

logue for the Real Goods Division of

Gaiam. As you can see, my experience in-

cludes translating the technical side of

solar and renewable energy to a broad-

based consumer audience.

AEN: Please tell our readers about your

company and any new projects you are

currently working on.

NA: ASES recently hosted SOLAR 2010, the

39th annual National Solar Conference in

May. Next, we are focusing on the National

Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots

solar event where homeowners and busi-

nesses open their doors to show their solar

electric and solar thermal installations. This

year’s ASES Solar Tour will take place on

October 2, 2010, and will include a large

commercial solar array in Canada and possi-

bly homes in Mexico to make it an America

Solar Tour.

AEN: What main challenge is facing our in-

dustry today?

NA: We now face a challenge as a nation to

gracefully and quickly transition to a renew-

able energy economy. ASES is poised to lend

our support to this transition through a na-

tional energy literacy educational campaign

to help the American people understand that

solar energy has the ability now to contribute

a significant percentage of solar energy to

power our country. Our challenge is to con-

tinue to serve our constituency of solar edu-

cators, researchers, professionals and solar

advocates, while expanding our efforts to

reach a broader general public audience to

convey the applicability of solar power to the

American people.

AEN: Where do you see the industry headed

in the next five to 10 years?

NA: A few years ago the American Solar

Energy Society commissioned an original

research paper led by Dr. Chuck Kutschner

of the National Renewable Energy Labo-

ratory. Leading U.S. renewable energy sci-

entists each contributed a piece from their

area of expertise on the scale of deploy-

ment necessary to mitigate climate change

from dramatically altering our environ-

ment. They reported the necessity to use

renewable energy for at least 50 percent of

our electricity in the United States by

2030, and 80 percent by 2050. If we fol-

low this path, renewable energy will be the

leading source of employment, providing

37 million new jobs by 2030.

For us to achieve this goal we must use the

next five to 10 years to educate the Amer-

ican people that our current carbon con-

suming lifestyle is no longer sustainable.

Second, we need to actively adopt green

building techniques in new construction

and renovations and replace our lighting

fixtures with CFLs. There also needs to be

a shift to a much more local lifestyle

where food is again grown close to where

people live and build year-round solar-

powered greenhouses for urban areas.

Lastly, we need to work with legislators,

decision makers at our utilities and the

American citizens to create a fast track

plan to adopt and implement a national re-

newable energy standard using a variety of

renewable energy technologies as best

suited for each region of the United States.

If we reach the American public in the

next couple of years we can lay a founda-

tion to implement a well-conceived plan

for broad-based renewable energy deploy-

ment to power our nation. AEN

Solar Industry Leaders ShineNeshama AbrahamDirector of Marketing & Communications for American Solar Energy Society


AWEA Supports National RES with Senate Recess Tour

developers and turbine manufacturers were

particularly eager to invite their senators to

visit facilities in their state.

“We are committed to giving any state the

opportunity to host an event,” explained

Lystra. “As long as the project is unique and

stands out in some way, we are confident it

will help secure critical votes in the upcom-

ing energy bill. The point is to show that

there is a large group of economic develop-

ment interest.”

These 15 states are among the 29 states

that have already adopted their own state

RES standards. Ohio passed in 2008 a

statewide RES that requires the state to pro-

vide at least 25 percent of its retail electricity

supply from alternative energy resources by

2025. With such an aggressive local RES, de-

velopers began putting in job proposals and

negotiating with outside companies to enter

the Ohio market, Lystra said.

“It’s clear that as soon as an RES is estab-

lished on the state level, there is business at

the door,” he said. “Why can’t we do that for

the whole nation? The power of this type of

policy is significant and provides amazing

opportunities. The bottom line is that in order

for the renewable energy industry to gain any

progress on the competitive front for the

U.S., federal action needs to be made, and

together we can make it a reality.”

AWEA is currently seeking additional

wind facilities that want to host tours. Dates

are open from July 3 to July 31 and August 7

to September 12. For more information on

how to participate, visit www.awea.org or

e-mail Brad Lystra at [email protected]. AEN

The American Wind Energy Association is lobbyingU.S. senators for strong

national Renewable EnergyStandard legislation. The Senatehas postponed action on the RESmeasure, and AWEA is launch-ing a Senate Recess Tour cam-paign to educate the senatorsabout new wind facilities andprojects in their home states.

While AWEA isn’t sure when Congress will

pick up the energy package, July seems to be

a strong possibility, said Brad Lystra, Man-

ager of Economic Development Partnerships

at AWEA.

“When we look at the road map to passing

a strong RES, we are looking to target spe-

cific leaders on the hill who might be able to

help influence the passage of a strong RES

energy bill,” Lystra said. “Our biggest

strength in this effort is to simply invite mem-

bers of the Senate and U.S. Congress to come

out to new project sites to see firsthand the

economic development capacity of this in-

dustry. It’s a way for them to see what makes

the wind industry so special.”

Lystra noted that even with the wind in-

dustry breaking previous records by in-

stalling nearly 10,000 MW of new

generating capacity in 2009, construction

and manufacturing facilities for wind

equipment are still lagging. They have

been hit the hardest due to all the on-again,

off-again tax incentives policies, Lystra

said. He hopes that passage of the RES

will spur growth in those sectors.

“This is a critical time for our construction

and manufacturing facilities because even

though the industry is seeing massive growth,

nothing can really move forward until we

have an RES in place,” he said. “Policy is be-

coming more and more significant by the

day, and if we don’t have an RES in place,

we’re leaving jobs on the table. We’re not

putting forth our best effort to help.”

AWEA is inviting senators in the follow-

ing 15 states to tour facilities and farms in

their states:

Maine

Michigan

Virginia

Iowa

Pennsylvania

Kansas

Missouri

Nebraska

North Carolina

Florida

Arkansas

Indiana

Massachusetts

South Carolina

Connecticut

These are the states that AWEA considers to

be showing emerging potential in the wind

energy industry, as well as states that have al-

ready solidly established themselves in wind

energy production. Michigan wind farm

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

NYSERDA Awards $11.3 Million for Innovative Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Projects

The New York State Energy Research and

Development Authority announced the

award of $11.3 million to help develop and

commercialize 25 innovative renewable energy

and energy storage projects. These next gener-

ation power technologies will advance progress

toward a clean energy economy in New York.

The NYSERDA funding supports techno-

logical advances that could benefit a variety of

applications including mass transit, farming,

small- and large-scale electric generators,

handheld electric devices and others. To fi-

nance the projects, NYSERDA will use $4

million of funds from proceeds from the Re-

gional Greenhouse Gas cap and trade auctions,

and $7 million of Systems Benefit Charge

funds. These resources will leverage $11 mil-

lion of private sector investment to bring total

funding for these projects to $22 million.

“The projects announced will embody New

York’s continued leadership in the clean en-

ergy economy and demonstrate the innovative

approaches needed for us to achieve dramatic

increases in our energy efficiency,” said Gov-

ernor David Paterson. “The products that

emerge from these initiatives will help create

jobs and develop the tools needed to help us

mitigate our impact on the environment for the

next generation.”

“The extraordinary quality of the propos-

als submitted for this program signals excit-

ing progress in the development of New

York’s clean energy economy,” said Francis

J. Murray, President and CEO of NY-

SERDA. “The public private partnerships

we are forming and strengthening with these

funds will help create jobs, solidify New

York’s standing as an energy leader, and de-

velop the tools New York will need to

achieve the ambitious energy-reduction

goals set by Governor David Paterson.”

The funds will support demonstration proj-

ects, new product development and feasibility

studies. Funded initiatives include seven pho-

tovoltaic and solar projects, seven electric

storage projects, five wind power projects,

two waste-heat reuse projects and one project

each in fuel cell and kinetic hydropower.

The 25 proposals were selected from 71

proposals submitted. Co-funding is required

of each of the participants, with specific

funding for each project to be determined in

the coming months through final contract ne-

gotiations with each partner. AEN

Once contracted, most projects will be re-

porting on progress during this year and into

2011. All contracts feature milestone payments

and many seek recoupment by NYSERDA if

and when products developed with funding are

sold on the open market. All benefit New York

by having the potential to create new research,

industry and jobs within the state.

Demonstration Projects,

$4.7 million NYSERDA funds:

Electrical storage

Kinetic hydro energy

Biogas

New Product Development,


Waste heat to electricity

Photovoltaics (PV)

Electrical storage

Fuel cells

Wind

Feasibility Studies,


PV

Solar thermal

Electrical storage

Fuel cells and electrical storage fabrication

Wind

Biomass

To view the complete list of NYSERDA proj-

ect funds, visit www.powernaturally.org or

call 866-NYSERDA. AEN

After a little more than a year, the PA Sun-

shine Solar Rebate Program has proved im-

mensely successful and popular, having

enabled thousands of Pennsylvania home-

owners and small businesses to lower their

energy bills with the help of the sun’s power.

Those projects are paying dividends for

the state’s economy and putting people to

work at the same time, according to De-

partment of Environmental Protection Sec-

retary John Hanger, who today presented

the 1,000th rebate check to Montgomery

County homeowner Sally Kauffman.

Kauffman received a $10,800 rebate for

the 4.8-kilowatt solar system she installed

that is expected to generate more than

5,500 kilowatt hours of electricity, saving

her nearly $800 each year.

“The PA Sunshine Program that began

just over a year ago has created tremen-

dous results and a number of opportunities

for our economy and environment,” said

Hanger. “Not only has the program helped

to lower the price of solar energy here in

Pennsylvania, but it also provides clean en-

ergy at a fixed price to our businesses and

homeowners for the next 25 years.

“Ms. Kauffman is one of the Pennsylvan-

ians who has taken advantage of the benefits

that PA Sunshine has to offer. She recently

took action with an eye on the future. Since

the cost of the sunshine is free and the solar

equipment requires little maintenance, Sally

is locking in the cost of a portion of her home

energy bill for the next couple of decades.”

All told, he said, Pennsylvania has

added approximately 10 MW of installed

solar capacity in just over one year as a re-

sult of the PA Sunshine Program. More

than 790 residential solar electric and 137

solar thermal projects have been com-

pleted with another 895 solar projects ap-

proved for construction. Among small

businesses, another 108 solar electric and

ten solar thermal projects have been com-

pleted with another 318 solar technology

projects approved for construction.

In total, the secretary added, the $100

million PA Sunshine Program has provided

more than $72 million in rebates to fund

more than 2,300 solar electric and hot

water projects that are either completed or

already under construction. Rebates for the

remaining projects are being processed

timely in the order they were received.

“In addition to creating hundreds of new

jobs, these projects will be responsible for

infusing more than $252 million of private

matching funds into Pennsylvania’s econ-

omy when completed,” said Hanger.

Mercury Solar Systems of Philadelphia

installed Kauffman’s system and is one of

more than 500 approved solar installers in

the state. In the past year, the company has

installed more than 50 solar projects and

has dozens more scheduled to be installed

in the coming weeks. That new demand

has allowed the company to expand its

workforce from three employees prior to

the opening of the program, to 15 today.

For more information, visit www

.depweb.state.pa.us or call the Department

of Environmental Protection’s Office of

Energy and Technology Deployment at

717-783-8411. AEN

PA Sunshine Program Pays Out 1,000th Rebate After Only First Year


MONEY MATTERS

Wainwright Bank & Trust Company

(Nasdaq: WAIN), a leading socially

progressive bank headquartered in Boston,

announced it has provided financing in the

form of a construction and term debt facil-

ity to GreenBridge Energy Consortium, a

leading energy conservation and sustain-

ability solutions provider.

The financing from Wainwright Bank will

allow nonprofit organizations to benefit from

clean energy generation without the risks of

ownership or maintenance. Traditionally, up-

front costs have been among the greatest

barriers for solar projects. This hurdle is over-

come through GreenBridge Energy’s turnkey

solar installation program.

The credit facility

provides the equivalent

debt to complete an es-

timated 2 MW of proj-

ects which will produce

enough electricity to

power more than 250

Massachusetts homes

per year and is esti-

mated to yield air qual-

ity benefits and annual

greenhouse gas reduc-

tions equal to taking

over 300 cars off the

road or planting more

than 700 trees.

“Wainwright Bank is pleased to provide fi-

nancing that will not only benefit nonprofits

across the state, but help reduce general en-

ergy consumption,” said Stephen Pratt-Otto,

Vice President, Community Development

Lending, Wainwright Bank.

GreenBridge Energy’s program is designed

especially for nonprofits, which are not eli-

gible for the federal incentives for solar en-

ergy systems under the American Recovery

and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. For the

nonprofit client that is interested in renew-

able energy, GreenBridge Energy is able to

provide financing through its funding pro-

grams with investors who can take advantage

of these federal incentives.

GreenBridge Energy’s first project was

completed in March at the Boys & Girls Club

of Lawrence, Mass. A number of other proj-

ects are moving forward including a system

on the roof of the gymnasium at The Gover-

nor’s Academy in Byfield.

“We are excited to bring all of the benefits

of clean energy to nonprofits, especially since

the current incentives restrict them from di-

rectly taking advantage of renewable energy

like solar,” said Greg Bowden, Chief Oper-

ating Officer at GreenBridge Energy. “Al-

though nonprofits may be eligible for some

state incentive and grant programs, by them-

selves these funds are generally not enough

to make projects work financially. This is

what makes our turnkey solar installation

program so attractive to nonprofits through-

out Massachusetts.”

A majority of GreenBridge Energy’s

nonprofit solar photovoltaic projects are in

the range of 25kW to 250kW. GreenBridge

Energy provides the electricity to its non-

profit clients under Power Purchase Agree-

ments (PPAs), through which it is responsible

for the design, engineering, installation,

maintenance and ownership of the systems.

The host nonprofit pays a discounted rate for

the power generated by the system and such

rate increases each year at a slower fixed rate

than has historically been experienced over

the long-term contract.

“The ability to gain consistency for budg-

eting purposes has been very attractive to our

nonprofit project partners,” added Bowden.

“Plus, we’ve seen where the on-site presence

of ‘green’ energy provides the nonprofit host

with outstanding educational opportunities,

as well as tremendous PR and additional

resource for fundraising.” AEN

The U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and

Agriculture (USDA) jointly announced

up to $33 million in funding for

research and development of tech-

nologies and processes to produce

biofuels, bio-energy and high-value

biobased products, subject to

annual appropriations.

“These projects will help advance the production of

biofuels and related products. Supporting the devel-

opment of sustainable and renewable biofuels is key

to improving our energy security and addressing cli-

mate change,” said DOE Assistant Secretary for En-

ergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi.

USDA and DOE are issuing this joint funding an-

nouncement for several types of projects aimed at in-

creasing the availability of alternative renewable fuels and

biobased products. The projects will aim to create a diverse

group of economically and environmentally sustainable

sources of renewable biomass.

Advanced biofuels produced from these projects are expected

to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50 percent,

as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Section

9008(e)(3) of the Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 pro-

vides direction and guidance on the technical areas addressed by

the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI).

The technical areas are:

• Feedstocks development

• Biofuels and biobased

products development

• Biofuels development analysis

BRDI requires that each proposed project integrate

all three of the technical areas. The intent of requir-

ing integration is to encourage a collaborative

problem-solving approach to all studies funded under

BRDI, to facilitate formation of consortia, identify and

address knowledge gaps, and accelerate the application of

science and engineering for the production of sustainable

biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products.

The funding opportunity is available online at

Grants.gov. Pre-applications are due July 13, 2010, and

must be submitted electronically. Applicants who are en-

couraged to submit full applications will be notified by

September 9, 2010. AEN

DOE and USDA Partner to Provide Funding for Renewable Fuels

“Supporting the development of sustainable and

renewable biofuels is key to improving our energy

security and addressing climate change.”

- Cathy Zoi, DOE Assistant Secretary for

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Wainwright Bank Supports Development ofSolar Energy for Nonprofits through CreditFacility Extended to GreenBridge Energy

Aluminum Solutionsfor Renewable Energy

Hydro is the leading supplier of extruded aluminumstructural components for utility-scale CSP and commercial PV installations. With a dedicated SolarSolutions Team that works exclusively with renewableenergy companies, 300 MW of CSP experience andthe resources of a global aluminum network, Hydrocan provide a full range of products and services. Thealuminum material averages 75 percent recycledcontent, with no loss in properties.

Hydro (tel) +47 22 53 81 00www.hydro.com

New Bolt Tensioning Tools for Wind Generation

TorcUP, a designer and manufacturer of bolt torqueand tension equipment, has launched a new series ofbolt tensioning tools for the wind power generationindustry. The tool range is suitable for complete windturbine erection or maintenance programs on a vari-ety of wind turbine models. The products featurequick-release swivel fittings, automatic piston resetand hands-free operation.

TorcUP(tel) 610-250-5800www.torcup.com

Pipe Flashing Products for Solar Applications

Solar Flash is the newest flashing from the MasterFlash line at Aztec Washer Company. The simpleround-base flashing is available in EPDM and siliconewith a pre-cut hole for pipe sizes ¾’’ to 7/8’’, allow-ing for minimal on-site preparation and assembly.The pitch canal allows for maximum flexibility andaccommodates up to a 60 degree pitch without affecting performance.

Aztech Washer Company(tel) 800-927-4375www.aztecwasher.com

New Support Beam on Roof Mounting System

Schletter, Inc., introduced FlexConsole, a new KlickTopsupport beam as a standard component on their Wind-Safe© ballasted roof mounting system. The Wind-Safe© is a minimally attached commercial flat roofracking system, which includes a rear-wind deflectorto minimize wind uplift and down pressure loads. This will decrease the installation time in the field byalmost 50 percent.

Schletter, Inc.(tel) 520-289-8700www.schletter.us

New Control System for Solar PV Applications

The Eos-Array is a Photovoltaic Plant/Farm Moni-toring System comprised of individual modules thatinteract with one another to provide remote moni-toring and efficient local control. It can interface toa web-server, which supervises and controls thewhole installation, acquiring information from Eos-Array groups, PV inverters, energy meters and/orinterface protection.

Carlo Gavazzi Automation Components(tel) +39 02 931 76 1www.gavazziautomation.com

SolarMagic Chipset Makes Solar Panels “Smarter”

National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM), introduced the solar industry’s first in-panel SolarMagic™ chipset,marking the advent of a new category of solar systems: “smart panels.” The SM3320 provides solar systemowners a high-performance solution at the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour. The SM3320 includes a highly integrated, 99.5 percent efficient, 350 watt tri-mode power converter. The model can either boost, pass-throughor lower the voltage of each panel.

National Semiconductor Corp.(tel) 877-765-6244www.solarmagic.com

Trina Solar Introduces Powerful Utility Scale Solar Module

Trina Solar Limited unveiled a new utility-scale solarmodule: the TSM-PC14. With expected power outputtargets ranging from 265 to 290 watts, a positivepower tolerance of 0/+3 percent and with a 72 cellarrangement, the large high-wattage modules are de-signed specifically for utility-scale installations andlarge scale, ground mounted systems. Equipped withhigh-efficiency multicrystalline cells, the module iseasy to handle and install.

Trina Solar Limited(tel) 760-632-8427www.trinasolar.com


NEW PRODUCTS

AETI Launches New Solar Stations

The 1 MW Power Inversion Station and Modular 5 MWper bay 13.8 kV Arc Flash Mitigation Switchgear Sub-station has a 20-year life operation in severe climatesfrom -40°C to 50°C without de-powering. The stationuses liquid cooled power modules, redundant coolingfans and inverter redundancy for continued operationif one of the inverters fails.

American Electric Technologies, Inc.(tel) 412-478-4792www.aeti.com

Cost-effective Ground Mount Systemsfrom Patriot Solar

Patriot Solar Group is your source for solar power.Manufactured in the U.S., Patriot’s ground mounts areperfect for any size systems. The cost-effective sys-tems are comprised of a three-piece design, makingfor quick assembly.

Patriot Solar Group(tel) 517-629-9292www.patriotsolargroup.com

Let us know about it! E-mail [email protected] with “AEN: New Product” in the subject line for a list of what to include and deadlines.Are you launching a new product?

WHEN WHAT WHERE WEBSITE

JULY

June 30-July 2 PV Japan 2010 Pacifico Yokohama, Japan www.pvjapan.org/en

July 7-8 Renewables 2010 London, UK www.marketforce.eu.com/Conferences/renewables10

July 12-15 Green Investments Summit Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia www.alleventsgroup.com/gisindo2010

July 13-15 Intersolar North America San Francisco, California, USA www.intersolar.us

July 14-15 The Smart Grid Reality and Innovation Forum Atlanta, Georgia, USA http://worldrg.com

July 15-17 The Second IASTED International Conference on Solar Energy Banff, Alberta, Canada www.iasted.org/conferences

July 22-25 Solar Heating and Natural Building Design Workshop Crestone, Colorado, USA www.crestonesolarschool.com

July 28-30 SOLARCON India Hyderabad, India www.solarconindia.org

AUGUST

August 3-5 2010 Ethanol Conference & Trade Show Kansas City, Missouri, USA www.ethanol.org/index.php?id=30&parentid=30

August 3-5 Southeast Bioenergy Conference 2010 Tifton, Georgia, USA www.sebioenergy.org

August 3-5 JORESOL 2010 Amman, Jordan www.joresol.com

August 4-7 Appropriate Technology Retailers Association of Australia Conference Alice Springs, Australia e-mail [email protected] or +61 3 9929 4114

August 4-6 Northeast Biomass Conference & Expo Boston, Massachusetts, USA http://ne.biomassconference.com

August 10-13 Fifth Congresso International de Bioenergia Curitiba, Parana, Brazil www.eventobioenergia.com.br/congresso/br

August 11-13 Farm to Fuel Summit Orlando, Florida, USA www.floridafarmtofuel.com/summit_2010.htm

August 19-22 Natural Building technologies and Solar Heating Options for Sustainable Home Design Workshop

Crestone, Colorado, USA www.crestonesolarschool.com

August 24-26 BioPro Expo 2010 Atlanta, Georgia, USA www.bioproexpo.org

August 31-September 2 Brazil Windpower 2010 Conference & Exhibition Rio de Janeiro, Brazil www.brazilwindpower.org/en

SEPTEMBER

September 1-2 Women in Green Forum Pasadena, California, USA www.womeningreenforum.com

September 1-4 Environment & Energy Tech 2010 Busan, Korea www.entechkorea.net/eng/mn01/mn01_01.php

September 6-8 The Third IASTED African Conference on Power and Energy Systems Gaborone, Botswana www.iasted.org/conferences

September 6-10 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Conversion

Valencia, Spain www.photovoltaic-conference.com

September 7-8 First CSP Today Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Summit India New Delhi, India www.csptoday.com/india

September 30-Oct. 1 XVII Border Energy Forum Chihuahua, Mexico www.borderenergyforum.org

INDUSTRY calendar • 2010


upcoming events

alternative energy news v1i2

Documents

developmentof solar

solar education

mage solar ceo norbertphilipp

texas ge

solar promotion international

t e r n

intersolar has2

mage solarwill