PV Intelligence Brief 15-29 October | PV Insider

PV Intelligence Brief 15-29 October

By Bea Gonzalez on Oct 30, 2013

Companies and organisations mentioned include: Dominion, Somer Solar Center, Canadian Solar, Tata Power, Demeter Power, QVC, SunPartner Technologies, 3M, Suntech

Dominion acquires Connecticut solar project
Dominion has acquired a solar project in Somers, Connecticut, capable of producing approximately 5MW of electricity, from Kyocera in a deal worth an undisclosed amount.
Kyocera and CleanPath, a San Francisco-based clean-energy company, had jointly developed the Somers project, which is expected to begin commercial operation within the 4th quarter of 2013.
 
The Somers Solar Center will use Kyocera Solars PV photovoltaic technology to produce enough electricity to supply nearly 1,400 homes. The electricity will go to Connecticut Light & Power Co. under a 20-year purchased-power agreement.
 
Somers Solar Center is located on 90 leased acres in north-central Connecticut, roughly 4 miles south of the Massachusetts state line. Prime Solutions Inc., a Connecticut-based company, is the center's engineering and construction contractor. The project provided about 80 jobs during the peak of construction, most of which came from locally-owned companies. Once in operation, the center will be serviced by a contractor.
 
This is Dominion's third announced large-scale solar project this year. In February, the company reported that it had acquired a 7.7-megawatt (AC) solar project, known as the Azalea Solar Power Facility, near Augusta in east-central Georgia.  In July, Dominion acquired three solar projects near Indianapolis, Ind. – known as Indy I, II and III -- that will generate 28.6 megawatts (AC) of electricity.
 
Canadian Solar to supply modules to Saudi solar project
Canadian Solar has been awarded a contract to supply 1.78MW to Saudi Aramco's KAPSARC ("King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center") solar power project in Saudi Arabia.
 
Saudi Arabian Oil, the world's largest crude oil producer, has awarded Canadian Solar a contract to supply 1.78MW of its high quality solar panels to the extension of the KAPSARC Solar Power Project which, once completed, will be largest ground mounted solar photovoltaic ("PV") power plant in Saudi Arabia.
 
"After a long and detailed testing and registration process we are honored to become a certified supplier to Saudi ARAMCO as well as to be the first solar PV panel manufacturer to supply panels directly to Saudi ARAMCO for the prestigious KAPSARC project. Our high quality CS6X series solar panels will be used for the implementation of this project on the grounds of KAPSARC in Riyadh," said Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar.
“We believe that this flagship project will also be a determining factor to select and qualify technology partners with bankable solar power solutions and proven track record to ensure the successful execution of Saudi Arabia's ambitious 16GW solar PV energy development program," he said.
 
Tata Power Solar commissions 10MW Karnataka plant
India solar company Tata Power Solar (TPS, has commissioned a 10MW solar power plant for Jindal Aluminium (JAL) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
 
Executed in a record time frame of four months from the day the land was made available, the solar power plant is Karnataka’s largest to date, said Tata. The plant will produce over 18 million KWH annually (over 1.80 crore units) of solar power, covering the annual energy needs of over 70,000 Indian households.
 
A total of 48,000 multi-crystalline modules, each with an average output of 240Wp, has been installed on the 52-acre, non-agricultural land in Kalamarahalli, Chitradurga, Karnataka. After the land conversion process, it was developed into a solar farm with 16,000 foundations laid to support the structural framework of 2,000 mounts, within a span of two months.
 
JAL, India’s leading manufacturer of aluminium extruded profiles, foils and sheets with a turnover of Rs1,300 crore, believe that solar power will contribute in reducing the huge deficit of power in Karnataka.
 
“Jindal Aluminium strongly believes in the role of renewable energy to solve the energy deficit in Karnataka and hence adopted solar power as one of the solutions. We are glad to partner with Tata Power Solar for setting up this grid-connected solar power plant. The project was not only completed within a scheduled time frame but was also professionally executed with high quality. With the high energy performance ratio achieved in its initial phase of operation, our association with TPS would only grow stronger in our future projects, “said Ajay Aggarwal, company secretary, Jindal Aluminium.
 
Demeter Power bags SunShot funding
Demeter Power has been awarded a $500,000 SunShot Incubator award from the US Department of Energy to demonstrate a new way for commercial building owners to finance valuable solar improvements on their properties.
 
"Solar for homeowners, governments and utilities has scaled tremendously thanks to ever-lower costs and the proliferation of financing options like the solar lease -- but commercial customers, particularly owners of small and medium commercial buildings, have been largely left out of this revolution because of the difficulties in providing a corporate guarantee to secure this financing," said Michael Wallander, the founder of Demeter.
 
He said that their financing model overcomes this obstacle.
Demeter's approach is based on a local-government-sponsored programme called PACE, or "property-assessed clean energy," which Harvard Business Review called a Breakthrough Idea in 2010. PACE secures repayment for long-term financing as an assessment on the property tax bill.
 
QVC completes second North Carolina solar farm
QVC, the televised shopping network and eCommerce retailer, has completed a solar farm comprising 11,564 panels on 11 acres at the Rocky Mount Distribution Center owned by QVC Rocky Mount, Inc.
 
Now generating 5.8 million kilowatt-hours per year, this latest addition brings the combined total number of panels at the site to 17,244 over 18 acres. The first field of 5,680 solar panels on seven acres of land was completed in November 2008.
"QVC will conserve enough kilowatt-hours of energy to reduce CO2 emissions that are equivalent to 458,766 gallons of gasoline," said Bill Stanulis, QVC Rocky Mount Distribution Center General Manager (source: US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies).
 
SunPartner Technologies, 3M develop wireless mobile charger
Solar cell company Sunpartner Technologies and 3M are developing a sustainable wireless transparent micro component that will charge devices while they are being used and exposed to light.
 
The partners are calling the component a ‘game-changing development’ that will give consumers the ability to charge their mobile phones and tablets with just natural or artificial light -- no electrical outlets needed to power.
 
Combining 3M Optically Clear Adhesives with SunPartner’s Wysips Crystal drives will enable photovoltaic cells activate from the moment they are exposed to light and charge the battery or power the equipment they are connected to.
The ultra-thin transparent photovoltaic layer is embedded into electronic displays and supplies enough energy to keep the device charged, so it will not run out of power, which is a viable market opportunity given that mobile phone-based apps, gaming, movies, books, email, and the web drain battery life quickly.
 
“Extended battery life is, therefore, taking on ever-greater importance in consumer purchase decisions. The continuous solar charge makes phones always accessible– indoors or outdoors,” said the companies in a press statement.
 
Suntech launches 1500V frameless PV module
Suntech Power Holdings, one of the solar sector’s largest PV companies, is launching its 1,500V frameless photovoltaic module. This higher voltage module, engineered for utility-scale and commercial applications, lowers balance of system costs.
 
The 60-cell IEC-rated 1,500Vdc module claims to achieve lower balance of system costs by allowing longer cable runs and longer strings, fewer combiner boxes and smaller wire sizes. Because there is no frame around the modules, equipment grounding is not required. Labor and materials are reduced, saving money for the installer and for the customer.
 
The frameless construction is a "glass-on-glass" structure which replaces the backsheet with heat-strengthened glass. Its IP67-rated junction box greatly reduces the possibility of water or dirt ingress. Eliminating the frame removes a key mechanism for Potential Induced Degradation (PID). The new module is backed by the company's 25-year linear power warranty.