alternative energy news v1i5

INDUSTRY CALENDAR

OCTOBER 2010VOLUME 1, NO. 5

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:Meritage Homes Unveils Energy-Efficient Communities in Tucson, Ariz.

MONEY MATTERS SEE PAGE 32

■ Michigan Community Action AgencyAwarded Grants

■ U.S.-China Clean Energy Research

SOLAR SEE PAGE 6

■ METALCON Embraces Green Building Technology with Solar Power

■ Great Expectations for Solar Power 2010

WIND POWER SEE PAGE 22

■ Farming the Wind Near the Oregon Trail

■ Juhl Wind Inc., Announces New $10 Million Community Wind Farm

BY DANIELLE D’ADAMOFor centuries, the most common way to

capture energy from biomass was to burn it

to make heat, steam and electricity. But

what if there was a better way to take waste

and turn it into a clean energy source? For

instance, New Mexico has seen rapid

growth of its dairy industry, which has con-

sequently increased the production of ma-

nure and provided a consistent source of

methane gas. And while this greenhouse

gas can endanger water resources and cause

contamination and environmental issues,

new developments in biogas projects have

allowed for the recycling of manure to

make both natural gas and fertilizer for the

best pollution clean-up value.

According to the New Mexico Energy,

Minerals and Resources Department, the

state is working closely with the U.S. Depart-

ment of Energy and Dairy Producers of New

Mexico to develop biodigester projects in-

volving the use of anaerobic technology to

produce methane from cow manure. Anaero-

bic digesters use a biochemical process

where specific kinds of bacteria digest

Hatchet Ridge Project Nears CompletionBY LORRIE BAUMANNPattern Energy’s Hatchet Ridge

wind farm is expected to reach

full commercial production by

the end of this year. The 44

Siemens 2.3-MW turbines will

generate a total of 101.2 MW—

the energy equivalent of the

electricity needed for about

44,000 average-size California

homes. The electricity pro-

duced annually by the Hatchet

Ridge wind farm is expected to

offset more than 134,000 tons

of carbon dioxide emissions,

according to the American

Wind Energy Association.

The Hatchet Ridge project is

located on the western edge of

the Sierra Nevada mountain

range approximately 45 miles

east of Redding, Calif., and

seven miles west of the small

BY DANIELLE D’ADAMO The U.S. Air Force is leading

the way for renewable energy

as multiple bases across

Arizona have implemented

projects to meet the federal

mandate requiring 5 percent of

total energy usage come from

renewable sources.

In 2009, Soaring Heights Com-

munities at the Davis-Monthan

Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz.,

was known as the first solar-

powered community on an Air

Force base in the United States

for installing 6 MW of total solar

capacity in a combination of a

ground-mounted PV system and

rooftop solar arrays on 900 resi-

dences. Housing developer Actus

Lend Lease had a partnership

with the Air Force to lease the

homes to military families.

Arizona’s Luke Air Force Base to Welcome New Solar Installation

Continued on 2

Continued on Page 29

Continued on Page 24

OTHER ALTERNATIVES

POWER PROFILES: Solar Industry on the Rise

NEW PRODUCTS

SEE PAGE 30 SEE PAGE 33SEE PAGE 29

New Mexico Offers a New Take on Biogas Projects

EMERGING TECH SEE PAGE 26

■ LORD Corporation’s Conductive Materials Improve Solar Cell Conductivity

■ Ballard Fuel Cell System Produces Clean Power

SEE PAGE 34

The first Entec biogas plant in the U.S. is located at den Dulk Dairy Farm in Ravenna, Mich.

4 Alternative Energy News ■ October 2010

Lee M. Oser

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Steve Cox

[email protected]

Senior Associate Publisher

Director of Media

Lorrie Baumann

[email protected]

Editorial Director

Danielle D’Adamo

[email protected]

Editor

Carrie Bui

Justyn Dillingham

Associate Editors

Valerie Wilson

[email protected]

Art Director

Yasmine Brown

[email protected]

Graphic Designer

Selene Pinuelas

[email protected]

Traffic Manager

Renee Meyerhofer

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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

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Just as we were going to press with this issue of Alternative Energy News, some good news came into the office in the form of a

Department of Energy announcement of awards totaling more than $5 million to support U.S. wind energy development.

According to the agency’s announcement, two projects receiving a total of $3.4 million over two years will improve short-term wind

forecasting, which will accelerate the use of wind power in electricity transmission networks by allowing utilities and grid operators to

more accurately forecast when and where electricity will be generated from wind power. Three additional projects are receiving a total

of more than $1.8 million to boost the speed and scale of midsize wind turbine technology development and deployment. These grants

will help reach the goal of doubling U.S. renewable energy generation capacity, and will promote energy security, environmental

quality and clean energy jobs.

Through these grants, AWS Truepower in Albany, N.Y., and WindLogics Inc. in Saint Paul, Minn., will lead teams of several partners,

and work with the DOE and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to deploy advanced atmospheric measure-

ment systems over a broad area, provide data that allow advanced weather prediction systems to improve short-term turbine-level wind

forecasts, and demonstrate the value of these forecasting improvements for electric utility operations.

NOAA will provide project support in the areas of research instrument deployment and operation, data assimilation,

advanced weather modeling, and meteorology expertise and analysis. A network of sophisticated atmospheric instrumentation will be

deployed and operated in the regions identified and supported by the AWS Truepower and WindLogics teams. Data from these networks

and other sources will be incorporated into an advanced weather forecast model by NOAA to provide more accurate wind forecasts.

In addition to the funding for short-term wind energy forecasting, DOE announced that three projects will receive approximately $620,000

each to accelerate the first phase of development, testing and commercialization of domestically manufactured midsize wind turbines with

rated generating capacities between 200 and 500 kW. Midsize turbines are often used to generate renewable electricity at schools, farms,

factories, private and public facilities, remote locations, and community and tribal wind energy plants.

Their size allows installation at the site of electricity use, minimizing the need for new

electricity transmission infrastructure.

DOE will provide funding over

two years to strengthen the U.S.

midsize turbine market and help

address factors that have

contributed to slow growth in the

midsize wind turbine market to

date, including a small number of

available midsize turbine models.

These projects will leverage

private sector investments to advance

innovative technologies that lower the

installed costs and improve the productivity of

midsize turbines. Awardees will also support a

variety of equipment manufacturers and supply chain

vendors in the United States. Each of the grantees will be

eligible to apply for a second phase of the projects, with up to

$4 million available in additional funding.

After all our disappointment that Congress didn’t pass a

national Renewable Energy Standard before going

home to campaign this summer, a little good news is

a great thing to have.

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

A Breath of Fresh Air for the Wind Industry

FROM THE PUBLISHER


SOLAR POWER

7Alternative Energy News ■ October 2010

SOLAR POWER

For the last two decades, METALCON International has offered design and construc-

tion professionals a meeting place to discuss the most innovative and effective ways to

integrate metal products into their line of business. Sponsored by the Metal Construc-

tion Association (MCA) and produced by PSMJ Resources Inc., the event has evolved to

include green building initiatives and renewable energy options in its program focus. This

year, METALCON 2010 will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Las Vegas, Nev., October

20-22 with the return of its widely successful Solar Bay program, which showcases the

benefits of metal roof and wall systems in the solar field.

“As the construction industry continues to promote the use of green building techniques,

it makes sense that the industry also recognize the many ways solar in particular can be

utilized,” explained Scott Kriner, Technical Director of the MCA and President of Green Metal

Consulting. “Metal really is the perfect platform for these renewable energy products and

MCA decided to launch the Solar Bay program in 2009 to showcase a variety of solar

technologies and how they can be integrated.”

Last year’s debut of the Solar Bay program had an entire section dedicated to full-scale

mock-ups of PV systems, attachment techniques, educational forums, demonstrations and

speakers. There was also a separate area for professionals who wanted to promote their

products relating to the solar industry.

This year, Kriner says the program has been enhanced to include presentation topics that

cover everything from solar heat recovery systems on roofs and walls to federal, state and

local solar energy funding incentives.

“When Solar Bay was first introduced, we weren’t sure how well it would go over,” he

said. “But we found that people had a desire to learn more about solar technology and the best

ways to implement it in construction. For example, there is a huge push towards any solar tech-

nology that can be rooftop mounted and why metal is an excellent match in terms of longevity.

The marriage of metal and solar will be a big theme at the show.”

The addition of the Solar Bay program complements another ‘green’ aspect of the show.

METALCON’s Green Island is an area that highlights products and companies focusing on

metal’s role in the green building movement. This year, there will be more information for

attendees on how metal systems are considered ‘green’ and how they can qualify for points

in LEED certification. No matter the product—insulation, cool roofing, PV and more—

everything will be aimed at conserving energy and resources.

“It’s our job to keep our eye on the ball on where the industry is headed,” said Kriner. “It’s

a shame that we didn’t catch on to this excellent partnership of metal and solar much sooner.

METALCON is hoping to fill in the gaps by showcasing the best technology out there and

tying it back to energy trends in construction.”

And while the benefits of solar power and metal will continue to have a greater presence

at the show, it isn’t the only item on the agenda. METALCON still serves as the niche trade

show to educate professionals on how to integrate metal into commercial, industrial, residen-

tial and institutional construction projects. The show floor will house full-sized metal form-

ing, cutting and bending equipment, as well as other machinery for live demonstrations. There

will also be educational tracks that focus on available job opportunities and how to make

money in the metal industry.

“The show has really grown with the times and we’ve seen an influx of international

attendees over the last five years,” said Kriner. “There is also a pretty good mix of veteran

construction professionals looking for new ways to sell and build, and younger contractors

just coming into the trade. So if you want to build with metal and learn all that it entails,

this is the place to be.” AEN

METALCONBY DANIELLE D’ADAMO

“As the construction industry continues to promote the use of

green building techniques, it makes sense that the industry also

recognize the many ways solar in particular can be utilized.”

— Scott Kriner, Technical Director of the MCA and President of Green Metal Consulting

Embraces Green Bui ld ing Technology wi th Solar Power


Renewable Energy Company to Open U.S. Headquarters in Arizona

Rioglass Solar will base its U.S. headquar-

ters and build a solar reflector manufac-

turing facility in Surprise, Ariz., creating

more than 100 new jobs with approximately

$50 million in capital investment.

The company made the official an-

nouncement at a news conference at Sur-

prise City Hall, attended by Arizona

Governor Jan Brewer and other dignitaries.

The news conference was hosted by the

City of Surprise, the Governor’s Arizona

Commerce Authority and the Greater

Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC).

“We are excited to be in Surprise, its ex-

cellent workforce and rail-served land are

the perfect fit for our new U.S. opera-

tions,” said Rioglass Solar President and

CEO José Maria Villanueva. “We want to

be part of the future of solar energy in

Arizona and in Surprise.”

Villanueva thanked Surprise, Gov. Brewer,

the Arizona Commerce Authority and GPEC

for facilitating the Rioglass Solar decision to

locate in Surprise.

Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt, Brewer and

GPEC Board President Michael Bidwill

spoke at the event.

In her remarks, Gov. Brewer said: “Rio-

glass Solar adds to the significant progress

Arizona is making to become a global leader

in the renewable energy sector, and creating

quality, stable jobs that will help advance

and diversify our state’s economy. Arizona

is a strategic location with a highly skilled

workforce, low payroll taxes, and the right

incentive programs to make business sense.

I am pleased to welcome Rioglass Solar to

Arizona, and commend the company for

choosing our great state as the site for its

solar manufacturing operation.”

Rioglass Solar Inc., a subsidiary of

Spain-based Rioglass Solar Holdings, will

generate approximately $50 million in

capital construction investment in Phase I

alone, according to Surprise Community

and Economic Development Director Jeff

Mihelich. “Phase I represents a 130,000-

sq.-ft. U.S. headquarters in Surprise, more

than 200 near-term construction jobs and

an estimated 109 employment opportuni-

ties,” he said. Phase I will be operational

by 2011.

Mihelich said a potential Phase II would

add an additional 130,000 sq. ft. of manufac-

turing space, another $45 million in capital

investment and nearly 100 new jobs.

Surprise will waive $290,000 in review

and public infrastructure fees, invest

$865,000 in public infrastructure includ-

ing rail and electricity upgrades needed to

serve the Rioglass Solar facility, and

provide the company with project office

space at the city’s business incubator, the

AZ TechCelerator.

Rioglass Solar produces curved glass

sheets used in thermo electrical power sta-

tions for parabolic concentrators—a popu-

lar, cost effective solar technology. They

became a market leader by being the first

company in the world to develop and pro-

duce tempered glass reflectors which will

be deployed at Abengoa Solar’s Solana

Generating Station, to be constructed near

Gila Bend. APS will buy 100 percent of the

power generated at the site. Additionally,

Rioglass Solar is in negotiations to supply

reflectors for several other solar projects

under development in the United States. AEN

Great Expectations for Solar Power International 2010 BY DANIELLE D’ADAMOSolar Power International (SPI) was originally

created in 2004 when the Solar Electric Power

Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy In-

dustries Association (SEIA) formed a partner-

ship to establish a business-to-business solar

conference and expo. Now, six years later, SPI

continues to stand out as the largest solar ex-

hibition and conference in North America.

Bringing together a who’s who of leaders in

the solar industry to discuss new technologies,

policy and job opportunities, the 2010 event

held October 12-14 in Los Angeles, Calif.,

promises better content and ‘meatier’ sessions

for this year’s attendees.

“As one of the largest solar events in the

world, SPI really is the convening place for

people new and old to the solar industry,” said

Monique Hanis, Director of Communications

for SEIA. “SPI continues to attract the widest

range of attendees from company presidents

and CEOs to people just looking to change ca-

reers. We are actually watching our numbers

carefully this year because we may exceed the

wind power show that occurred in Texas this

year, which has been created as the largest en-

ergy trade show in the U.S.”

SPI broke all records in 2009 with 24,000

professional attendees, 3,000+ visitors on

the Open-to-the-Public night and 930+ ex-

hibitors. This year, an anticipated 27,000 solar

industry professionals and more than 1,000

exhibitors are slated to attend. With two out

of three exhibition halls already sold out as

this publication went to press, the event

appears to be living up to its big expectations.

One reason why this year’s event has gained

so much traction may be a result of the 17,000

jobs added to the energy market last year,

Hanis said. Despite the recession, more and

more companies in the residential and com-

mercial markets are looking to expand their

business in the renewable energy industry.

“By exhibiting at SPI, these companies

will surely maximize their potential to grow

in this industry and see a profit,” she contin-

ued. “Additionally, we expect those job num-

bers to be even higher in 2010.”

In order to complement the growing interest

businesses have in renewable energy, SPI

2010 will have more emphasis on available

job opportunities in the U.S. solar market with

reports on the growth of the industry, especially

in the utility-scale arena where several solar

projects are making headway in the permitting

process on public lands. The conference

program will also include updates on pro-solar

policies at the state and federal level.

Folks who are new to the solar industry

would be wise to attend the public night at

SPI and workshops covering everything from

career advice to the economics of solar. Event

organizers wanted this year’s conference ses-

sions to focus not only on emerging technolo-

gies, but some of the most challenging areas

in the solar industry, such as improving fi-

nancing for installations and manufacturers

of larger solar projects. The sessions will be

divided into five tracks: policy, markets,

finance, technology and cross-cutting.

Important keynote presentations at the

expo include speakers like Peter Darbee,

CEO and President of PG&E Corporation,

who will share his vision of solar from the

perspective of having a successful telecom-

munications career. SPI will also host its

popular “CEO Round Table” as company ex-

ecutives talk about what it’s going to take for

solar to break through and become a larger

part of our energy mix.

“The hope is that we will have consistent pol-

icy growth for the solar industry,” Hanis said.

“Since solar is still relatively new, we hope to

see a true commitment from Congress and the

Obama administration on supporting an industry

that’s growing and creating jobs. By 2015, we’re

projecting that the solar industry could install

enough solar to power two million homes a year

so we’re going to need more installers and con-

struction workers to make that a reality.” AEN

SOLAR POWER

Vanguard Energy Partners Helps Power New Jersey Federal Correctional InstitutionSolar Array Built with Inmate Help will Contribute to 27 Percent Reduction in Energy Use.

Vanguard Energy Partners, a leader in

the design and installation of large-scale

solar electric systems, announced the de-

ployment of a 402-kW solar power system

at the Fairton, N.J. Federal Correctional In-

stitution (FCI). The ground-mounted pho-

tovoltaic (PV) array will help offset the

facility’s electricity bills while furthering

its sustainability efforts.

Vanguard was chosen by Constellation

Energy, FCI Fairton’s solar and energy

services contractor for the project to design

and construct the ground-mounted array to

border the medium-security corrections fa-

cility using 1,872 inmate-made Unicor

solar modules. The modules were made by

inmates at a factory in a federal prison in

Otisville, N.Y. while inmates from FCI

Fairton worked alongside Vanguard Energy

Partners and a union workforce to construct

the project. The solar installation is the first

on a federal prison in the Northeast and

was part of a larger energy conservation

initiative spearheaded by Baltimore-based

Constellation Energy.

“Turning to solar energy to help power our

facility was a win-win,” commented Prison

Warden Paul Schultz. “Now we will be able

to combine significant cost savings with a re-

duction on our reliance of fossil fuels. Addi-

tionally, we were able to provide our inmates

with the opportunity to work on the project

and gain skills training in the green industry.”

“Vanguard Energy Partners is proud to

bring solar to the Federal Corrections Insti-

tution in Fairton,” said Tom Buono,

Vanguard’s Vice President of Operations.

“This array will help the prison significantly

reduce its electricity use and save the facility

approximately $80,000 in the first year alone.

It is our hope that more federal, state and

local agencies embrace solar as a clean,

renewable energy alternative to fossil-based

greenhouse gas emitting energy sources. ”

The adoption of renewable solar energy

will contribute to a 27 percent reduction in

energy usage at the prison. The solar system

will produce nearly 500 kW hours per year.

In addition to the economic benefits

enjoyed by FCI, the system lessens the

prison’s environmental impact by reducing

CO2 emissions by 790,000 pounds per year.

That is equivalent to conserving 40,333

gallons of gasoline, 834 barrels of oil, or

removing 69 cars off the road each year. AEN

Show floor at Solar Power International 2009

Rendering of future U.S. headquarters for Rioglass Solar


SOLAR POWER

“The Soaring Heights project is not only

one of the first residential solar-powered

communities on an Air Force base and one of

the nation’s largest systems, but it is an ex-

ample of community leaders coming together

to promote a more sustainable future for the

residents of Arizona,” said Bruce Anderson,

Executive General Manager Development,

Sustainability Executive PPP DoD, Actus

Lend Lease Americas Region.

Now, Luke Air Force Base in Glendale,

Ariz. will soon be home to the largest solar

power installation at a U.S. government

facility. In August, SunPower Corp. signed

an agreement with Arizona Public Service

(APS) to design and construct a 15-MW solar

PV power system at the base. The system will

be installed on 100 acres and generate the

equivalent of 50 percent of the annual energy

requirements for Luke AFB. It will also

enhance the Air Force’s renewable energy

portfolio as they must meet a federal mandate

that requires 25 percent of all facility energy

come from renewable sources by 2025.

“With a climate that has few cloudy days

throughout the year, Luke Air Force Base is

able to effectively harvest the sun’s potential

to generate electricity,” said 1st Lt. Chris

Warshaw, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron

Energy Project Manager at Luke AFB.

“Other renewable energy sources were

looked into, however solar was found to be

the most feasible. The 15-MW solar array

will allow Luke to exceed all DOD (Depart-

ment of Defense) and executive order man-

dates for renewable energy use.”

APS, Arizona’s electricity, power and

energy service provider, will own the solar

system after SunPower Corp. designs, builds

and maintains it. APS will then sell the elec-

tricity to Luke AFB under a long-term power

purchase agreement. The solar system will be

APS’ largest-owned PV plant, exceeding the

utility’s previous-owned project at the

Prescott Airport Solar Power Plant.

“APS and Luke Air Force Base have had a

long and close relationship,” explained

Steven Gotfried, Spokesman for APS.

“We were also excited to have SunPower

Corp.’s exten-

sive experience

help bring sus-

tainable energy

to Arizona as

we are now at a

point in the in-

dustry where we

will see solar

really play a

role in meeting

e v e r y o n e ’ s

energy needs.”

S u n P o w e r

Corp.’s previous

work with fed-

eral solar proj-

ects was a huge

asset to APS,

including the Nellis Air Force Base in Las

Vegas known as the largest solar PV plant in

North America in 2008. The company was

looking to move into large-scale systems in

the United States after the base project gener-

ated so much positive response, according to

Karen Butterfield, SunPower’s Director of

Federal Accounts.

“The Arizona solar market was just taking

off, so we decided to pursue possible solar

projects with APS because they wanted to

promote future projects like this,” she said.

“And since the federal government requires

all military and civilian organizations to pur-

sue renewable energy projects, Luke Air

Force Base was very aggressive in terms of

meeting all of their goals in energy efficiency

and eager to be involved.”

In order to achieve the maximum produc-

tion of the solar panels during peak times of

the day, SunPower Corp. will provide its

high-efficiency solar panels with the

SunPower Tracker® system. The single-axis

Tracker follows the sun’s movement during

the day, increasing sunlight capture by up to

25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt

systems and using less land. This allows

SunPower Corp. to build bigger systems and

minimize the number of motors, according to

Butterfield.

The Luke AFB solar system is scheduled

for completion in the summer of 2011 and is

expected to create 550 local jobs. Construc-

tion will likely begin in January once all the

environmental assessments, permitting and

site preparation is complete. AEN

Diversified industrial manufacturer

Eaton Corporation will design and in-

stall a turn-key solar photovoltaic (PV) sys-

tem at the Albuquerque, N.M. Department

of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care Sys-

tem. The scope of the $20 million contract

includes designing and installing a 3.2-MW

PV system throughout the site, including

carport and roof-mounted arrays, as well as

implementing a building-integrated system

to help reduce demand from the local utility

grid. This will be the largest PV system in

New Mexico.

“Eaton is now fully engaged in the sus-

tainable energy market,” said Paul Cody,

Vice President and General Manager, Elec-

trical Service and Systems Division, Eaton

Corporation. “This major project will com-

bine our expertise in electrical components

and power distribution with comprehensive

solar power system design and installation.”

Eaton offers a spectrum of solutions de-

signed to reduce energy consumption and

leave a smaller footprint on the environ-

ment. By managing solar power through

turn-key services and support, electrical bal-

ance of systems solutions and hydraulic po-

sitioning systems, Eaton provides strategic

coordination of all the electrical equipment,

design and installation services required to

install a functioning solar power system.

This contract is one of several recent

agreements that Eaton has reached with

government organizations, including $8 mil-

lion in electrical products and services for

the San Antonio Military Medical Center on

the Fort Sam Houston Army base in Texas,

supplying hybrid electric power systems for

35 fuel-efficient shuttle buses purchased by

the U.S. General Services Administration

for use on U.S. military bases, and providing

energy conservation at the U.S. Postal Serv-

ice (USPS) Eastern Facilities Service Office

at postal facilities in North Carolina, Ohio,

Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

The New Mexico Department of VA

Health Care System is a leader in provid-

ing rural health care, opening its first VA-

staffed, community-based outpatient clinic

in Farmington, N.M., followed by clinics

in Artesia, Gallup, Raton, Silver City and

Santa Fe. In recent years, the system has

contracted with Health Centers of North-

ern New Mexico (multiple access loca-

tions), Ben Archer Health Center and

Health Net Federal Services to provide

veterans access to clinics throughout New

Mexico and southwest Colorado.

For more information, visit

www.eaton.com. AEN

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE (Continued from Page 1)

Eaton to Create Solar Power System for New Mexico VA Health Care System

Rendering of the IS-MW solar system at Luke AFB.


Alliance for Sustainable Energy Joins SolarTAC—The Largest Solar Test andDemonstration Center in the United States

The Solar Technology Acceleration

Center (SolarTAC),the nation’s largest

solar energy technology testing facility,

announced the addition of the Alliance

for Sustainable Energy LLC (Alliance),

which manages and operates the U.S.

Department of Energy’s National Renew-

able Energy Laboratory (NREL), as a

sponsoring member.

Located in Colorado, near Denver Inter-

national Airport, SolarTAC is a private,

member-based, 74-acre outdoor facility

where the solar industry tests, validates

and demonstrates advanced solar technolo-

gies. SolarTAC was launched in 2008 by a

public-private consortium, including

Midwest Research Institute (MRI), which

is a governing member of the Alliance.

SolarTAC members can work alone or

with other members on research and

demonstration projects, as well as fully in-

tegrated solar systems before commercial

deployment. Solar energy companies also

can use the facility to show customers

how their systems work under real condi-

tions. The facility provides field-testing

for both photovoltaic and concentrated

solar power systems, including access to

the electricity grid.

The Alliance recently signed a member-

ship agreement with SolarTAC on behalf of

NREL. Through this membership, NREL

researchers gain access to a collaborative

commercial-scale facility that is newer and

more extensive than facilities at its research

campus 20 miles to the west in Golden,

Colo. SolarTAC will help advance the Lab-

oratory’s goal to accelerate the commercial

adoption of solar energy technologies and

enhance the Laboratory’s critical role in

developing and testing the

next generation of solar

energy technologies.

“SolarTAC’s ‘kick-the-

tires’ environment provides

an unprecedented opportu-

nity for first-hand observa-

tion and evaluation of solar

technology performance

under real-world condi-

tions,” said Casey Porto,

NREL’s Senior Vice Presi-

dent of Commercialization

and Deployment.

“This membership with the Alliance

provides SolarTAC with a world-class

scientific partner for solar research and de-

velopment,” said SolarTAC’s Executive

Director Dustin T. Smith. “It is a signifi-

cant step toward our memberships’ goal of

accelerating utility-scale solar technolo-

gies into the marketplace.” AEN

Princeton Power Systems Partners with International Battery for Solar Generation System International Battery, a U.S. manufacturer

and developer of large-format lithium-ion

rechargeable batteries, announced that it has

been chosen as the energy storage system

provider for Princeton Power Systems’ ad-

vanced renewable energy system that com-

bines large-scale solar generation with

lithium-ion battery storage and smart controls.

The $1.5 million solar generation system

will be installed at Princeton Power Systems’

corporate headquarters and will connect to the

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G)

electric grid. The 200-kW solar array and en-

ergy storage system will be controlled and con-

nected to the electric grid using Princeton

Power Systems’ Grid-tied Inverter (GTIB)

product. The installation will demonstrate ad-

vanced smart grid functionality including mi-

crogrid operation, demand response, time

shifting, frequency regulation and power dis-

patch. The inverter and energy storage system

will be housed in a mobile shipping container

that is expandable to include 1-MWh of stor-

age. The completed system will be fully oper-

ational in the fourth quarter of this year as

system integration testing is now underway.

“To accommodate renewable energy in the

electric grid more storage is needed. Using

truly large format prismatic battery cells,

which are manufactured using International

Battery’s environmentally-friendly water-

based process, we can offer more energy

density and efficient lithium-ion battery solu-

tions,” said International Battery’s President

and CEO, Dr. Ake Almgren. “We’re very

excited to work with Princeton Power Systems

for this important demonstration project and

to further advance clean energy generation.”

Key advantages of International Battery’s

energy storage system are its “true” large-

format batteries and unique Battery Manage-

ment System (BMS). Its large-format prismatic

cells contain up to 10 times more energy than

other prismatic cells and 70 times more energy

than consumer-oriented cylindrical cells. This

results in a less complex system with a more

efficient electrical bus and low thermal

management requirements, allowing compact

packaging and good system energy density.

The BMS monitors the temperature and

voltage of each individual cell and provides

continuous active balancing of the system

maintaining all cells within a narrow voltage

range. Providing monitoring of each cell makes

the battery modules inherently more reliable

and efficient than traditional battery designs

that use wound cylindrical cells without

individual cell monitoring. The active cell

balancing also contributes to a very high

system efficiency in the 85 to 90 percent range.

“International Battery’s large-format

technology and approach to clean energy

storage is a perfect fit for our large-scale solar

and energy storage system,” said Darren

Hammell, Executive Vice President of

Business Development and Co-founder of

Princeton Power Systems. “We look forward

to successfully demonstrating how clean

distributed generation can be much more

valuable and effective using energy storage.”

When the system is fully commissioned,

the solar array will produce sellable Solar

Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs)

and offset a portion of Princeton Power Sys-

tems’ energy usage. The project is financed

in part by the State of New Jersey’s Clean

Energy Manufacturers Fund, which is

helping Princeton Power Systems to expand

its state-of-the-art research and development

and manufacturing facilities for next-

generation power electronics. AEN

SOLAR POWER

Reno Contracting and Atlas Project Support Form Alliance to Provide Renewable Energy Construction Projects

Reno Contracting announced its collab-

oration with Atlas Project Support

to provide energy conservation/renewable

energy solutions for clients interested

in creating energy efficient buildings.

These services include providing solar

PV energy systems.

As part of that work, a four-member

team of companies including Atlas and

Reno Contracting, has been selected to be

on a short list of solar photovoltaic (PV)

energy service providers for the California

Department of General Services Solar

Power Purchase Program. The other team

members are Alternative Energy Capital

LLC, which is the financing arm of the

collaboration, and design and engineering

firm Syska Hennessy Group Inc.

Reno Contracting is one of the leading

build-to-suit general contractors in South-

ern California. Last year, Reno launched a

new business group, Reno ESP (Efficient

Sustainable Practices), to help commercial

building owners enhance the energy and

environmental efficiencies of their new

and existing buildings and structures while

driving down operating costs. Atlas Sup-

port Project specializes in developing solu-

tions for clients with a focus on energy

conservation/renewable energy, construc-

tion management and cost engineering

best practices.

In addition to collaborating with Reno

on the state of California Department of

General Services Solar Power Purchase

Program, Atlas Project Support has

performed electricity consumption/offset

analysis on potential solar projects and

plans to work with Reno on

project development, program

administration and cost engi-

neering analysis and quality

control on diverse construc-

tion projects. Reno and Atlas

have focused on similar

projects in energy-efficiency

retrofits and consulting

opportunities.

“Atlas has admired and re-

spected the brand of Reno for

many years,” said Atlas Proj-

ect Support Owner Michael

Vargas. “It has been this recognition of

Reno's core values that has perpetuated our

business relationship. Atlas Project Sup-

port, in its own right, has time and again

proven its commitment to good gover-

nance, accountability and personal in-

tegrity. It is a natural fit for such

progressive and socially responsible

companies to seek each other out.”

“We look forward to continuing our

work with Atlas Project Support on the

state of California Solar Power Purchase

Program, as well as other construction

projects focused on energy efficiency and

conservation,” said Walt Fegley, President,

Reno Contracting. “Atlas is a world-class

service provider and Mr. Vargas is an ac-

complished professional in the renewable

energy space with more than a decade of

industry experience on projects in con-

struction, energy conservation and general

project management.” AEN

The Solar Technology Acceleration Center in Colorado

PV System at ResMed Corporate Headquarters in San Diego

17Alternative Energy News ■ October 2010 17Alternative Energy News ■ September 2010

Photo courtesy of Enbridge

Transforming arid farmland into land yielding clean power and jobs, Gov. C.L.

“Butch” Otter joined executives of GE and its partners to celebrate the start of

construction of the state’s largest wind power project, 8 miles from the Oregon

Trail where American pioneers pushed westward across the continent.

The governor—joined by project investors GE Energy Financial Services, Reunion

Power, Exergy Development Group and Atlantic Power Corp.—signed a turbine blade

to celebrate the new jobs and economic development this project is bringing to the

area. The 183-MW, 122-turbine project comprises 11 wind farms, spread across 10,000

acres of active and inactive farmland in southern Idaho’s Magic Valley. The valley

was a predominant migration route as part of the Oregon Trail in the 19th century,

and is becoming a critical renewable energy corridor in the 21st century.

The wind energy project, initiated by Exergy Development Group and slated for

completion by year’s end, is expected to create 175 construction jobs, as well as per-

manent employment for operations and maintenance. In addition to the people em-

ployed directly, a National Renewable Energy Laboratory model estimates that a wind

project of this size would typically support the equivalent of 2,200 full-time jobs in the

United States for one year—about half of which would be in-state—and create 25 per-

manent jobs. The project also benefits the environment: It will produce enough power

for 39,700 average Idaho homes and—according to U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency methodology—avoid 331,000 short tons a year in greenhouse gas emissions.

That’s the equivalent of taking about 57,000 cars off the road.

“The renewable energy industry is breathing new life into the Idaho frontier,” said

Gov. Otter. “We’re aggressively harnessing our abundant natural resources for growth

because that helps our economy, generating not only electricity but career opportuni-

ties right here at home.”

GE Energy Financial Services, Atlantic Power and project developer Exergy own non-man-

aging member equity interests in the nearly $500 million Idaho Wind project. Reunion Power

holds the managing member equity interest and serves as the project’s manager. The wind

farms will sell all of their power to Idaho Power Company under 20-year agreements. Once

completed, the portfolio is expected to qualify for the federal Treasury Grant program de-

signed to stimulate renewable energy projects.

“While we are delighted to embark on this new renewable energy project in Idaho,” said

GE Energy Financial Services President and CEO Alex Urquhart, “we are concerned that

such projects will become increasingly difficult without imminent passage of federal clean en-

ergy legislation. A federal incentive backing this project, the Treasury Grant, is expiring at

year’s end. Extending that program and other federal incentives would provide the long-term

certainty that investors and manufacturers such as GE need to ensure continued expansion of

renewable energy throughout the country.”

Construction of the Idaho project is well under way. Workers are delivering wind turbine

blades, towers and other components; they are installing foundations and footings for the tur-

bine towers, building access roads, preparing interconnection lines with Idaho Power’s grid

and readying a site for a new power substation. The project will use GE’s 1.5-MW turbines,

over 13,500 of which have been installed worldwide. In addition to supplying the turbines, GE

will provide operational and maintenance services.

“We have worked long and hard with our partners, including local landowners, contractors

and suppliers, to create this historic project,” said James Carkulis, President and CEO of Ex-

ergy, which conceptualized, planned and engineered the project over the last five years. “We

wanted from the outset to make the right kind of difference in the lives of the people who

live here, and we take great pride in our corporate responsibility, sensitivity to the local

environment, and promotion of traditional Idaho and community values.” AEN

Farming the Wind Near the Oregon Trail:Idaho’s Governor, GE and its Partners Launch State’s Largest Wind Power Project


WIND POWER


WIND POWER

Maxwell Technologies Reports Strong Demand for BOOSTCAP®

Ultracapacitor-Based Energy Storage Solutions for Wind TurbinesCompany Estimates More Than 13,000 Ultracapacitor-Equipped Turbines Now inService Worldwide.

Maxwell Technologies Inc., reported

that sales of BOOSTCAP® ultracapacitor

products for wind energy applications

through the first three quarters of 2010 are

running more than 40 percent ahead of

wind-related sales in the same period last

year, and estimates that more than 13,000

BOOSTCAP-equipped turbines are now in

operation worldwide. Maxwell now is sup-

plying BOOSTCAP cells and multi-cell

modules to several wind energy system in-

tegrators and turbine OEMs in Europe,

Asia and North America.

Ultracapacitors provide burst power for

electrical blade pitch control systems that en-

hance the consistency of wind turbines’ elec-

trical energy output and ensure that rotor

speed remains within a safe operating range

by constantly adjusting turbine blades to

compensate for changes in wind velocity.

Ultracapacitors also provide an independent

source of backup power for orderly shut-

down in the event of a main system power

failure and are used to smooth the flow of

wind farms’ output to the electric utility grid.

An estimated 60 percent of newly pro-

duced wind turbines employ electrical

blade pitch systems that incorporate ultra-

capacitors or batteries for pitch control and

backup power. The remainder employ hy-

draulic systems that do not require ultra-

capacitors or batteries. Ultracapacitors

have been designed into an increasing

share of the electric pitch system portion

of the market because of their longer

operating lifetime, low-maintenance

requirements and superior cold weather

performance compared with batteries.

“Wind turbine operators need systems

that perform reliably for many years in all

weather conditions with minimal mainte-

nance,” said David Schramm, Maxwell’s

President and CEO. “BOOSTCAP products

have demonstrated their durability and reli-

ability at temperatures ranging from -40 to

+65C, which enables electric pitch control

systems to meet wind energy customers’

expectations under virtually any conditions.”

Industry sources report that approxi-

mately 38 gigawatts of new wind genera-

tor capacity was installed in 2009, bringing

the total worldwide installed base to nearly

160 gigawatts. From 2005 through 2009,

the industry maintained an annual growth

rate of more than 30 percent, and it is

projected to continue growing strongly

through the balance of the decade. AEN

Juhl Wind Inc., Announces New $10 Million Community Wind Farmfor Gundersen Lutheran Hospital

Juhl Wind Inc., announced the recent ex-

ecution of a $10 million wind project

development agreement with GL Wind—a

wind farm, LLC formed by Gundersen

Lutheran Hospital. Gundersen Lutheran

Hospital is a leading teaching hospital con-

sistently named among the top 100 in the

nation, based in La Crosse, Wis., and

serves patients located throughout western

Wisconsin, northeast Iowa and southeast-

ern Minnesota. The 5-MW-sized GL Wind,

LLC project will be a community-owned

and operated wind turbine electrical en-

ergy generation facility with an estimated

cost of approximately $10 million.

The GL Wind project will be located in

southeast Minnesota and will consist of a

locally controlled LLC made up of Gun-

dersen Lutheran Hospital headquartered in

La Crosse, Wis. and an equity partner. Juhl

Wind Inc. has been assisting Gundersen

Lutheran in the development of the project

since the fall of 2009, and will now

provide full-scale development and con-

struction oversight services for the project.

Juhl is forecasting that the GL Wind Farm

is planned to begin construction in the

fourth quarter of 2010 and should be com-

pleted in 2011. The project will be funded

by the GL Wind, LLC.

“We are excited to move forward with

Gundersen Lutheran Hospital on this com-

munity wind project,” stated Dan Juhl,

CEO of Juhl Wind. “This project is led by

a leading institution, Gundersen Lutheran,

in the La Crosse, Wis. region and is repre-

sentative of other projects we see on the

horizon for our business. When an institu-

tion like Gundersen Lutheran makes a

commitment to clean energy and to lead

the development of a community wind

farm, it makes it so much easier to get a

project financed and built. Yet again, this

project is very representative of a new

model for our small- to medium-sized

wind farm business.” AEN

town of Burney. Development on the proj-

ect began in 2005 under the ownership of

Renewable Energy Systems America. The

company now known as Pattern Energy

acquired the project in 2007. State permits

for the project were secured by the end of

2008, and construction started last fall

with financing provided by Pattern Energy

and a consortium of lenders.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company has

agreed to purchase 100 percent of the out-

put for the next 15 years, and the wind

farm is expected to continue producing

electricity for five to 15 years beyond that.

The 80-meter tall turbines are lined up

on a narrow swathe of private land atop

Hatchet Ridge in eastern Shasta County,

Calif., but although building along the

mountaintops raised some protests from

local residents who objected that the wind

farm industrialized the scenery, the loca-

tion produced no significant technical

challenges to the construction, according

to Pattern Energy Senior Developer

George Hardie. “The ridge line up there is

a pretty wide saddle,” he said. “For a re-

mote site, it had excellent access.”

Hardie noted that Pattern Energy has com-

mitted to investing $5 million into the local

community over the life of the project. Those

investments will include capital grants for

community projects and endowments for

local education programs. The project is also

expected to generate an estimated $1.75

million per year in property tax revenues, as

well as provide eight to 10 jobs locally.

“Our mitigation for minimizing the

impacts to birds and other wildlife is as

far-reaching as any wind project in North

America,” Hardie said. “We believe the

combination of a relatively environmen-

tally benign location combined with our

progressive mitigation plans for birds, bats

and other local wildlife will result in a

very light project footprint.”

Pattern Energy is the former Babcock &

Brown NA energy & infrastructure team,

which became Pattern Energy in 2009.

Pattern and its predecessor entity have col-

lectively developed 24 sites producing more

than 2,000 MW with more than $3 billion in

total capital investment since 2004.

As of June of this year, Pattern had projects

totaling over 520 MW in operation or under

construction. Its development pipeline in-

cludes more than 4,000 MW of wind power

projects and multiple transmission projects in

the U.S., Canada and Latin America. AEN

HATCHET RIDGE (Continued from Page 1)

Photo Courtesy of Juhl Wind Inc.

Hatchet Ridge wind farm nears completion


EMERGING teCHNOLOGIES

Line, the highest ridership line in SEPTA’s

system. The Viridity Energy-SEPTA project

will result in numerous economic, operational

and environmental benefits including, but not

limited to, the following:

• Delivers Energy Savings – SEPTA will

capture and productively use electric

power that would be otherwise wasted

while reducing its electricity consumption.

• Realizes Economic Value – In addition

to using less electricity and reducing op-

erating costs, the project will generate sig-

nificant revenues through participation in

PJM’s wholesale power markets.

• Increases Operational Efficiency –

SEPTA will increase operation and main-

tenance efficiencies through improved

power quality and system management.

• Achieves Sustainability and Carbon

Footprint Goals – By reducing its use of

electricity generated on the grid, the proj-

ect will help SEPTA decrease its carbon

emissions by 1,258 tons per year.

• Enhances Grid Reliability – The stored

energy will help balance electric genera-

tion and electric load on the PJM intercon-

nection system while assisting PECO

Energy Company in preserving the relia-

bility of its electric distribution system.

“We are delighted to receive this grant from

PEDA and are looking forward to working

with SEPTA to deploy the latest energy opti-

mization techniques with the goal of improv-

ing their operational efficiency, reducing their

carbon footprint and lowering their costs,”

Viridity Energy to Harness Energy from Braking Trains

Viridity Energy, a Philadelphia-area smart

grid company, announced that it had re-

ceived a $900,000 grant for its innovative pilot

project with the Southeastern Pennsylvania

Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the nation’s

sixth largest public transit organization. As part

of the project, Viridity Energy will deploy its

software optimization system to allow SEPTA

to recycle the energy created from the regener-

ative braking ability of trains and trolleys at a

high-use propulsion substation in Philadelphia,

which will in turn improve power quality,

produce energy savings and generate revenues.

The state of Pennsylvania awarded the

Viridity Energy “SEPTA Recycled Energy and

Optimization Project” funding through the

2010 Pennsylvania Energy Development

Authority (PEDA) grant program.

The project will pair the latest 21st century

technologies and energy optimization

practices with one of the country’s oldest

transportation systems, dating back to the

deployment of electric trolleys in 1892. Mass

transit systems across the country are striving

to maintain high-quality service while facing

growing fiscal challenges, which are further

compounded by rising energy costs. The pilot

represents a large and untapped potential for

transit systems to help meet these challenges

and at the same time improve grid reliability

in highly populated urban neighborhoods.

The project calls for Viridity Energy and

SEPTA to install a large-scale battery to cap-

ture the energy from regenerative braking of

trains along a portion of the Market-Frankford

said Audrey Zibelman, President and CEO of

Viridity Energy. “This project is a perfect

example of how smart grid innovations

and advances in technology can effectively be

paired with revenue opportunities from com-

petitive energy markets to yield substantial

economic, operational and environmental

benefits to all the parties involved.”

As part of the pilot project, SEPTA expects

to generate approximately $500,000 in eco-

nomic value for the agency. A successful pilot

could lead to potential deployment at all 38

SEPTA substations. It is estimated that this

expansion could translate into significant sav-

ings from SEPTA’s current electricity spend.

“We are pleased to partner with Viridity

Energy on this project under the PEDA grant

program,” stated Joseph M. Casey, General

Manager, SEPTA. “Upon implementation,

the storage system will serve as a foundation

for measurable gains in both energy effi-

ciency and voltage stability in this critical

corridor, providing a replicable and scalable

model for broader system-wide implementa-

tion. By moving towards energy storage,

SEPTA will be assuming a leadership role

among transit agencies.”

“SEPTA’s partnership with Viridity Energy

supports Philadelphia’s burgeoning market po-

sition as a cutting-edge center for smart grid

technologies,” said Rina Cutler, Deputy Mayor

for Transportation and Utilities. “This kind of

energy saving technology and improvement to

transit service reliability advances the Mayor’s

Greenworks Philadelphia agenda.” AEN

LORD Corporation, a leading sup-

plier of thermal management mate-

rials, adhesives, coatings and

encapsulants, has pioneered several prod-

uct advancements that are an improvement

over what is now available to the solar in-

dustry. These products are ideal for appli-

cations, such as screen-printed solar

collection grids, photovoltaic cells, bus bar

connections and thin films for flexible

solar cells.

“Currently, there is a drive in the solar in-

dustry for higher efficiency, which includes

increased conductivity of the conductive

trace, and also for the ability to produce

finer lines to allow more light to pass

through and be collected on the cell,” said

Jim Greig, LORD Corporation’s Sales and

Marketing Manager for Electronic Materi-

als in the Americas. “Improved conductiv-

ity and finer lines lead to better efficiency.”

Presently, the solar industry is typically

averaging only about eight to nine percent

efficiency on flexible solar cells. “Solar

cell manufacturers are interested in in-

creasing a cell’s efficiency, allowing

the cell to convert more sunlight into

electricity for a higher rate of conversion,”

Greig explained. “A higher conversion

rate translates into more sales for the

solar manufacturer.”

The ability to use smaller solar cells to

capture sunlight is another advantage for

solar cell manufacturers. If the same

amount of the sun’s energy can be col-

lected with a smaller cell, there are cost

benefits realized in using less materials

and products for manufacturing solar cells.

Among LORD Corporation’s products

geared to the solar industry is a silver con-

ductor, along with thermally conductive

greases, encapsulants and potting com-

pounds. “Many of these products are avail-

able in a wide range of chemistries, such

as silicones, urethanes and epoxies,” Greig

said. “We are not limited to one chemistry

and neither are our customers. We can pro-

vide a custom solution that better suits the

needs of the customer, rather than forcing

the customer to accept only one product.”

LORD Corporation’s PC10678HV Sil-

ver Conductor is designed for screen print

applications onto flexible substrates. As

screen printing and polycrystalline thin

film technology become more popular, the

solar industry is looking for products that

will provide good conductivity with ad-

vanced manufacturing techniques.

“This silver conductor features three

characteristics that make it a good choice

for the solar industry,” said John Francis, a

Staff Scientist at LORD Corporation.

“These properties are excellent adhesion,

flexibility and superior ohmic contact to

ITO (indium tin oxide) thin films.” The sil-

ver conductor can be applied by high-speed

automatic equipment and the cured film of-

fers excellent electrical conductivity.

Another product that is proving useful to

the solar industry is its TC-501 Thermally

Conductive Grease. This solvent-free, silicone

thermal interface material (TIM) is designed

to replace greases used as TIMs between the

heat spreader and the heat sink (commonly

known as TIM2). It provides high thermal

conductivity and low thermal resistance for

applications where superior heat dissipation

is required, such as in the solar industry.

For more information visit

www.lord.com. AEN

LORD Corporation’sConductive MaterialsImprove Solar Cell Conductivity Innovative developments in conductive materials, such as greases, encapsulants and conductors,

are helping the solar industry to produce better performing and less costly systems.

Photo Courtesy of SEPTA


EMERGING teCHNOLOGIES

Convia Helps Texas School Reach One of a Kind Energy StatusLady Bird Johnson Middle School will be the Nation’s Largest ‘Net Zero’ Middle School.

School districts around the country

looking to enhance their sustainability ef-

forts now have a new role model in Texas.

The Irving Independent School District

(IISD) recently broke ground on a new

‘net zero’ middle school—a building that

will produce as much energy as it con-

sumes—and selected technology from

Convia Inc. to help reach optimal energy

efficiency while also helping them main-

tain their ‘net zero’ status. The Lady Bird

Johnson Middle School, slated to open in

the fall of 2011, will be the largest ‘net

zero’ middle school in the country at

150,000 square feet.

“The construction of a ‘net-zero’ build-

ing helps reverse negative trends associ-

ated with climate change,” according to

Scott Layne, Assistant Superintendent

for Support Services for the IISD. “The

Lady Bird Johnson Middle School is

deploying advanced energy management

strategies to reduce overall consumption,

however we are also aiming to produce as

much power as we consume from the

power grid using renewable energy pro-

duction technology. Convia will aid us in

this effort by allowing us to understand

our energy usage in near real-time by zone

and by automatically adjusting power

levels accordingly to ensure we maintain

our ‘net zero’ status.”

The Convia technology allows for the

integrated control of lighting, plug loads

and HVAC/thermostat set points—which

can account for nearly 93 percent of total

energy use within a building. The school

expects to consume roughly 50 percent

less energy than similar-sized schools.

Some key components of Convia that will

be featured in the school include:

Energy Savings: Occupancy sensors

will be located throughout the school,

reducing the amount of devices electrically

engaged at any given time. Timed events

will also ensure power levels in the public

areas are optimized based on the function

taking place in the space.

Daylight Dimming: Light dimming

levels will be automatically adjusted based

on the time of day and the level of natural

daylight available, which helps lower

energy while also ensuring students are

not distracted.

Dynamic Load Balancing: Low prior-

ity lighting zones will be dimmed or

shut down automatically when power

consumption in the building reaches a pre-

determined level. This will ensure power

consumed balances the power generated

by renewable energy sources.

Wall Switches: The switches will en-

able users to control daylight dimming.

Simply click once and lights turn on, and

daylight dimming is activated. Push and

hold the switch, and lights brighten and

daylight dimming is disabled.

Wand: Through Convia’s “plug and

play” connections and wand, users can

renovate space via virtual rewiring (with-

out the hardwiring of devices or switches),

allowing them to customize and configure

their space with ease.

With Convia’s Energy Track Reporting

Tool™, building managers can track

energy use at a zone (e.g. individual class-

room) or circuit level. Convia’s Energy

Track displays the schools’ actual energy

usage on a simple and intuitive dashboard

interface. Energy metering chips inte-

grated into the Convia-enabled control

components allow for accurate reporting.

Unlike traditional energy management

control products, which can only manage

energy based on estimates of consumed

use, Energy Track allows administrators to

accurately determine the efficiency of the

school, an essential part of maintaining net

zero status.

“The Lady Bird Johnson Middle School

serves as a prime example of the innova-

tions being made in green construction

and also as a testament to the lengths

local governments are venturing to reduce

energy consumption,” said Randy

Storch, President of Convia. “We’re

honored to have been selected to assist

the IISD reach its goal of building the

nation’s largest ‘net zero’ middle school

and help the district maintain that status

for years to come.” AEN

D4 Energy Group Receives Orders for Distributed Energy SystemsAsian-Pacific Development CorporationPlaces an Order for a 25-MW Power Generation System.

The D4 Energy Group of Washington,

announced an order for its nodal alternative

energy systems. The agreement further

validates D4’s product line as a viable and

valuable source of low-cost renewable en-

ergy. The D4 Energy devolatization system

takes carbon-based feedstock (municipal

solid waste, tires, biomass, etc.) and creates

energy. The patented system uses extreme

heat within a continuous closed loop system

where the feedstock is broken down at a

molecular level and high-quality syngas

(600-750 Btu) is produced along with high-

quality carbon. The system has virtually no

emissions due to its patented process, and it

is self-sustaining using less than 10 percent to

15 percent of the produced power to operate

the devolatization system. “We performed

due-diligence on more than 40 companies

and their systems,” proclaimed Randy Avon,

CEO of the Asian Pacific Development

Corp., and the purchaser of the systems.

“D4 has done something no one was

willing to do, namely produce gas that

directly feeds a generator or turbine that in-

turn produces electricity for local industry for

their heating and manufacturing needs. Their

cost to produce is less than $.04 per kW hour,

a cost-to-energy output ratio our customers

need. It’s clean, efficient, reliable and most

important scalable,” Avon said.

“Our nodal systems provide customers the

flexibility to quickly and efficiently produce

power for even the remotest of environ-

ments,” explained Don Rosacker, D4’s Pres-

ident/CEO. “We have taken our compact

design from development to delivery with

this order. Randy and his team spent months

looking at our systems. They were looking to

generate power in the harshest of geographic

and environmental conditions, and do so with

a high output-to-cost ratio for remote areas in

dire need of clean and reliable power. Our

systems deliver exactly what that they need

and do so quickly.”

D4 Energy Systems is an integrated

provider of devolatization solutions that sup-

port power generation using a common-sense

approach to deliver low-cost energy to ur-

gent-need markets. The company is a manu-

facturer, systems designer and integrator of

portable, scalable and sustainable power sys-

tems, including the generation of high quality

600-750 BTU gas and the generation of acti-

vated carbon.

The self-sustaining system has virtually no

emissions due to the patented process and

uses less than 10 percent to 15 percent of the

produced power to operate the devolatization

system. For more on D4 Energy Group, visit

www.d4energy.com. AEN

initial small-scale installation will be

supported by California’s Self Generation

Incentive Program (SGIP), which has to

date created more than 337 MW of clean,

rebated energy capacity for the state.

David Cynamon, Executive Chairman of

K2 Pure Solutions said, “The Ballard fuel

cell solution is a great fit with our sustainable

energy strategy. By combining our Inherently

Safe Technology with Ballard’s CLEARgen

fuel cell solution, we will be able to produce

high-quality bleach with nothing more than

water, inert salt and affordable, environmen-

tally clean electricity.”

“The CLEARgen fuel cell system is

designed to be scalable to customers’ re-

quirements, from 163 kW to more than 10

MW. It can offset power demand at indus-

trial process plants, and can also be used in

a clean energy storage solution for

grid-scale renewable energy projects,”

added Michael Goldstein, Ballard’s Chief

Commercial Officer. “The Ballard system

provides dependable clean power at a lower

cost and higher efficiency than any other

Ballard Fuel Cell System to Produce Clean Power from By-Product HydrogenBallard Power Systems and K2 Pure Solu-

tions (K2) announced that they have fi-

nalized a sales agreement for deployment of

a clean energy fuel cell power generator to

be sited at a K2 Pure Solutions bleach plant

in Pittsburg, Calif. Ballard’s CLEARgen™

fuel cell system will convert by-product hy-

drogen into clean load-following electricity

that will partially offset power demand at the

state-of-the-art bleach plant.

K2’s vertically integrated plant will gen-

erate the highest quality safer-produced

bleach. For water utilities and other indus-

tries, K2’s safer produced bleach provides

an alternative to conventionally made

bleach, typically manufactured from chlo-

rine transported by railcar.

The CLEARgen system will utilize by-

product hydrogen that would otherwise be

burned to generate heat. In supplementing its

power requirements with the 163-kW fuel

cell generator, K2 Pure Solutions will dis-

place approximately 220 tons of CO² emis-

sions annually, equivalent to removing

almost 40 passenger cars from the road. This

Pure Solutions anticipates receipt of a routine

air permit exemption for the fuel cell system

from the Bay Area Air Quality Management

District and a grant from the SGIP, with in-

stallation and commissioning planned for

completion in early- to mid-2012. AEN

zero-emission product.”

Ballard’s CLEARgen fuel cell system con-

verts hydrogen into cost-effective electricity

that may be used on-site by the customer or

sold back to the grid for use in the commu-

nity. The agreement between Ballard and K2

Ballard Power Systems’ CLEARgen™ fuel cell product is a megawatt scale turnkey solutionfor distributed generation. Photo courtesy of Ballard Power Systems.

OTHER alternatives


biomass in an oxygen-free environment and

break down the waste. The methane produced

from the digester can then be used as a natu-

ral gas energy source or be converted to elec-

tricity. The digester will also reduce odors

and help reduce the risk of ground and sur-

face water pollution, which is a common

challenge among dairy farm operations.

“Biomass and biogas have only one thing

in common: they both use organic matter. But

biogas doesn’t involve any burning because

it’s a natural decaying process,” said Keith

Hughes of R-Qubed Energy Inc., a company

currently building one of New Mexico’s first

biogas plants that will turn methane from

cow manure into energy, as well as make fer-

tilizer and compost from the manure.

Construction on the 11-acre biogas plant in

Las Cruces, N.M., is expected to break

ground in September and provide up to 90

full-time jobs in the neighboring Dona Ana

County, N.M. The site selection offered mul-

tiple dairy farms that house between 40 and

50,000 cows within 16 miles. Due to such a

stable waste resource that can literally be

seen from the highway, R-Qubed Energy re-

quired a state-of-the-art commercial digester

with technology that had only been done in

Europe and hadn’t caught on in the U.S. yet,

according to Hughes.

Entec Biogas of Austria was brought on

to build the plant using its biodigester

technology that mimics a cow’s digestive

system, a process that is basically a contin-

uation of a cow’s stomach that works on

microbes already in the manure. A combina-

tion of fresh waste and dirty water used by

the dairy cows will be put into a septic

system and brought to the biogas facility

using backing trucks. The waste will be de-

posited into mixing tracks and then poured

into the biodigester. The liquid waste needs

to be stirred constantly for 28 days at

roughly 100 degrees. During that time, mi-

crobes in the manure will produce methane

gases and be routed through a pipe at the top

of the tank to go through an intense cleans-

ing process. The gas will not be burned on-

site as it will be sent directly to Public

Service Co. of New Mexico to be used as

electricity for the utility’s customers.

In addition, the plant will also make fertil-

izer and compost from the manure, and recy-

cle effluent water for re-use on the dairy

farms. Reynolds Inc. of Ind., a municipal

water and waste water utility construction

company, will construct the water treatment

facility and pipeline system for the plant.

Initially, the site was no different than

other dairy plants faced with environmental

hazards of ground water contamination due

to the buildup of animal waste, and the land

became a liability. R-Qubed Energy appealed

to the New Mexico Environmental Depart-

ment (NMED) and enrolled in a voluntary re-

mediation program, which enables R-Qubed

Energy to clean up the site and turn it into a

brownfield. After the cleanup, NMED will

perform an environmental assessment on the

site for remediation planning costs.

“We now have no liability other than

cleaning up the property,” said Hughes. “And

the bonus of recouping some of our remedi-

ation costs certainly helps a bit. Our goal is to

become the poster child for waste cleanup,

and since you’re only as good as the last proj-

ect you built, we’re eager to move forward to

prove that this system really works.” AEN

DOE Announces Awards for up to $16.5 Million for Biomass Research and Development

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary

Steven Chu announced the investment of

up to $16.5 million for two major research

and development (R&D) initiatives that will

support the expansion of renewable trans-

portation fuels production. The first initiative

will invest up to $12 million over three years

for four projects to advance technologies for

the thermochemical conversion of biomass

into advanced biofuels that are compatible

with existing fueling infrastructure. The

second initiative provides up to $4.5 million

for three projects that support research

focused on designing landscapes that produce

bioenergy feedstock while protecting air, soil,

water and wildlife resources, and enhancing

ecosystem services. These biomass R&D

initiatives continue to strengthen the depart-

ment’s efforts to accelerate development

and deployment of sustainable, renewable

biofuels in order to significantly reduce U.S.

dependence on foreign oil.

“Developing cost-effective renewable

transportation fuels is a key component of

DOE’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions and move the nation toward energy

independence,” said Secretary Chu. These

innovative projects will help America

develop a clean, sustainable transportation

sector while spurring the creation of jobs in

the domestic bio-industry.”

Sustainable Bioenergy

Feedstock Production – up to $4.5 million

These projects will take important steps to

help design, model and implement sustain-

able biomass production systems across dif-

ferent regions of the country, looking at a

variety of feedstocks and critical factors like

soil erosion and water quality. With sustain-

able production and processing, the nation’s

vast agricultural and forest biomass resources

have the potential to provide a source of liq-

uid transportation fuels, as well as biopower

and bioproducts.

Advanced Biofuels

Technology Development – up to $12 million

These investments are for further R&D of

thermochemical conversion catalysts and

processes that will produce gasoline, diesel

and/or jet fuel from biomass. Each selectee

will utilize a thermochemical process known

as pyrolysis, which breaks down biomass

using heat in the absence of oxygen to pro-

duce a bio-oil. This bio-oil has shown poten-

tial to be refined and used in current

infrastructure and vehicles.

To see the complete list of projects scheduled

for funding, visit the DOE website at

www.energy.gov. AEN

BIOGAS PROJECT (Continued from Page 1)

provide heat, steam or hot water for use

in commercial activities, such as mills

or greenhouses.

The “distributed generation” model creates

more jobs per megawatt of capacity than a

single large plant because there are multiple

facilities spread among a region and a focus

on local fuel sources, Gabler said. Moreover,

smaller plants can more easily be designed to

harmonize with a community’s architectural

character and surroundings.

“By integrating smaller biomass projects into

the community—instead of just plopping down

a huge plant—we create a sustainable system,

provide jobs and safeguard the environment,

while, most importantly, not disturbing the

character and quality of life of the community,”

said Gabler. “This is the approach that will help

realize the significant potential of biomass as

an alternative energy source.”

As an example of Clean Power’s approach,

Gabler cited the firm’s planned 29-MW Com-

bined Heat and Power (CHP) biomass facility

in Berlin, N.H., which is fully permitted to

begin construction. The plant, which will di-

rectly employ 23 people and hundreds more

in construction and associated commercial ac-

tivities, will be located on a green field site

Clean Power Development UrgesSustainable, Community-CentricApproach to Biomass EnergyNew Hampshire Firm Says Smaller PlantsReduce Environmental Impact and IncreaseCommunity Acceptance.

A biomass energy approach that stresses

multiple, smaller generation plants scaled to

make use of local fuel supplies on a sustain-

able basis would make biomass projects more

appealing to communities and more beneficial

to local economies over the long haul, said Bill

Gabler, Project Director of Clean Power De-

velopment, LLC, in a prepared statement.

“Communities want the jobs and they want

the power from biomass generation,” noted

Gabler. “But residents are justifiably worried

about the impact on their quality of life. They

see a potential threat to air quality, the water

and local forests. And they worry about the

noise and heavy truck traffic associated with

large generation plants.”

The answer, said Gabler, is an approach

that Clean Power terms “distributed

generation”—a network of smaller plants

appropriately scaled to minimize environ-

mental impact and to operate mostly on

fuel available locally and harvested on a

sustainable basis. Projects should

whenever possible seek to maximize their

efficiency by looking for opportunities to

away from the town’s center. The plant will

use 340,000 tons of biomass fuel annually on

a long-term sustainable basis within a 30-mile

transport radius. The exterior of the plant is

designed to resemble a farm with a large red

barn and two silos, fitting into the northern

New Hampshire landscape.

In line with Clean Power’s model of sell-

ing both thermal and electrical energy to

nearby or co-located industries, the planned

Berlin facility is only three quarters of a mile

from the local Fraser/Gorham paper mill, a

ready customer for the biomass plant’s steam.

Moreover, the Berlin plan offers a cost-

effective thermal source for a city-wide

District Heating System in Berlin.

“This allows the Berlin project to serve as

the catalyst for additional development,”

noted Gabler, who addressed a session of the

Northeast BIOMASS Conference & Expo,

sponsored by Biomass Magazine.

Clean Power Development is a renewable

energy development company based in Con-

cord, N.H. In July, it announced a cooperation

agreement with Gestamp Biomass, a division

of Gestamp Renewables, a global leader in

wind, solar and biomass energy and a sub-

sidiary of Gestamp Corporation, to develop

biomass projects in the six New England

states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,

Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecti-

cut, plus New York and Pennsylvania. AEN

Rendering of what the Clean Power Development's Berlin Project will likely resemble.

POWER PROFILES


AEN: How did

you become

involved in the

solar industry?

JJ: Working in

the industrial

electronics in-

dustry for more

than 20 years,

I’ve been in-

volved with AC

inverters since

they became

commercially popular in the late 1980s as

motor controllers. In 1988, Control Tech-

niques introduced the first mass-produced

AC inverter drive available to the market.

This technology made for a natural transition

to solar power conversion and we began

installing our inverters in German PV appli-

cations about four years ago. At that time, I

was the AC Drives Product Manager for Con-

trol Techniques in the Americas. With high

success in Europe and an inevitable demand

worldwide, Control Techniques formed a

dedicated solar group and launched the SPV

inverter line in the U.S. Our high-efficiency

inverters are a perfect fit for today’s demand-

ing large-scale renewable energy applications

and I’ve been fortunate to play an increasing

role in this exciting industry. Not only are

Control Techniques inverters an integral part

of our company’s growth strategy, they are

also making a significant contribution to re-

sponsible environmental stewardship.

AEN: What can you tell us about Emerson?

JJ: With annual sales in fiscal 2009 of $20.9

billion, Emerson is a global leader in bringing

technology and engineering together to pro-

vide innovative solutions for customers in in-

dustrial, commercial and consumer markets

through its network power, process manage-

ment, industrial automation, climate tech-

nologies and appliance, and tools businesses.

We’re committed to helping our customers

develop a variety of renewable energy

sources including solar, wind, hydropower,

biomass and biofuels.

Control Techniques has specialized in power

control and conversion for more than 35

years. When Emerson acquired Control Tech-

niques in 1996, Emerson provided its long-

standing reputation for excellent financial

performance to Control Techniques’ leading-

edge technologies. The resulting synergy is

especially important in today’s large-scale

renewable installations where long-term,

environmentally-responsible power genera-

tion strategies rely on a strong technology

partner to maintain a solid corporate presence

well into the future.

AEN: Are there any new products Emerson

is currently working on?

JJ: Our SPV inverters are utilized in more

than 30 large-scale PV plants worldwide

including a multi-phase plant in Germany

planned to reach 70 MW and a 10.9-MW plant

in Spain. Most recently, we signed an agree-

ment to provide power inverters for what will

be one of North America’s largest PV solar

power installations, a 45-MW plant in Avenal,

Calif. Demand for our SPV utility scale invert-

ers has been so strong that we recently opened

a new production facility in Romania and have

plans for a North American facility in 2011. In

addition to our highly efficient grid-tie invert-

ers, Control Techniques offers matched mo-

tors, drives, and controllers used in solar

heliostat positioning systems. Other Emerson

businesses such as Process Management and

Network Power also play a significant role in

the solar industry providing DCS/SCADA

systems and a line of residential size inverters.

AEN: How is Emerson handling the chal-

lenges facing the industry?

JJ: The key metric of the solar power industry

is efficient yield and today’s utility-scale solar

power conversion systems must guarantee a

proven return on investment. Emerson’s trans-

formerless central inverters are constructed

using multiple 175 kW modules and are of-

fered in many model sizes to meet any array

requirement. The modular, master-master ar-

chitecture is truly unique to the industry and

offers several benefits. First, only the required

numbers of modules are powered at any given

time, which reduces losses and extends life.

The SPV has an extremely low on/off thresh-

old of just 900 W, even on inverters as large as

1.5 MW. The result is a longer production day

than a single-inverter design. Because our in-

verters have built-in redundancy they are also

fault tolerant. The multi-master design allows

a tripped module to be automatically isolated

and the system continues to generate power.

Emerson has designed the SPV to meet the

various demands of interconnection require-

ments. Our inverters have VAR compensa-

tion capability, low voltage ride through or

IEEE1547 anti-islanding, remote control

functionality, and closed loop automatic volt-

age regulation (AVR) control. It is important

to know that our inverters have had these

functions for years; we understand the needs

of the power conversion industry.

AEN: Where do you see the solar industry

headed in the next five to 10 years?

JJ: As the solar power industry matures,

Emerson will continue to be on the leading

edge of technological improvements and in-

novation. Considering the expectation of 20-

year warranty periods that include

guaranteed operational up time and effi-

ciency levels we predict today’s large, fis-

cally stable companies will capture the

supplier market share. In the long-term, own-

ers and financers need to ensure ROI and this

can only be guaranteed by sourcing products

from companies that will undoubtedly be in

business 20 years from now. Emerson meets

this mark. AEN

Jay JohnsonDirector SPV Products, Emerson

AEN: Please

tell our readers

a little bit about

A. O. Smith.

MP: For more

than 70 years,

A. O. Smith

has been a

leading manu-

facturer and

marketer of

residential and

c o m m e r c i a l

water heaters and hydronic boilers. The

company’s focus on innovative technolo-

gies drives A. O. Smith’s efforts to develop

products that meet the evolving needs of

our customers. Technological innovations

and changes in consumer demand led the

company to develop a full suite of new

high-efficiency water heaters.

A. O. Smith’s proactive approach seeks

out new opportunities and ways to im-

prove our technology. This further sup-

ports the company’s move to high

efficiency, as well as our forward-looking

focus on alternative energy products, such

as solar thermal water heating solutions.

A. O. Smith has developed a solar water

heating system that provides customers

with an eco-friendly and energy-efficient

product. It’s an excellent example of an

alternative energy solution.

AEN: What can you tell us about your

company’s commitment to solar energy?

MP: A. O. Smith is committed to offering

customers competitive technologies and

energy-efficient solutions for water heat-

ing, including solar systems. Earlier this

year, A. O. Smith entered a strategic agree-

ment with Chromagen, a global leader in

solar technologies. The agreement gives

A. O. Smith exclusive use of Chromagen

solar collectors for residential and com-

mercial solar water heating systems in

North America. The companies are work-

ing together to design, develop and market

energy-efficient solar products.

AEN: Are there any new products that A.

O. Smith is currently working on?

MP: Through our agreement with Chro-

magen, we have launched the Cirrex™

Solar Water Heating System, one of our

most energy-efficient water heaters to

date. The Cirrex solar thermal system can

provide up to 70 percent of energy needs

for water heating—completely cost-free,

as it captures energy from the sun. Cus-

tomers who purchase the Cirrex get an in-

credible product, and are eligible for a 30

percent tax credit, thanks to its ENERGY

STAR® qualified rating.

The Cirrex is one of the most advanced

solar thermal technologies in today’s water

heating market. It’s part of A. O. Smith’s

full suite of high-efficiency products, a

key element of our drive toward energy-

efficient, innovative products.

AEN: What are the biggest challenges fac-

ing the solar industry today?

MP: The biggest challenge is penetrating

the market. Consumer demand is focused

on greener technologies and appliances.

Manufacturers, organizations and busi-

nesses alike are striving to meet demand

while staying ahead of the market curve.

Consumer demands include more eco-

friendly options for improved home living

and functionality. Homeowners want

appliances that make their lives easier,

but also are energy-efficient and green.

Alternative energy products such as solar

water heaters can meet these needs;

however, consumers are hesitant to go

solar. There is a larger up-front investment

to purchase a solar water heating system,

so monetary incentives are needed to

support the cost. According to the U.S.

Department of Energy, it historically took

about 10 years for a solar water heater to

pay for itself. However, with significant

federal tax credits in addition to other

state and local incentives, the payback

period is now much more compelling.

Likewise, the organization stresses that

solar water heating cuts carbon dioxide

emissions in half, preventing almost 4,000

pounds of carbon dioxide from entering

the atmosphere. Rising to the challenges

of solar water heating, A. O. Smith will

continue to find ways to drive costs down

and make solar an affordable option for a

wider customer base.

AEN: Where does A. O. Smith see

the solar industry headed in the next five

to 10 years?

MP: The good news is that the solar energy

industry is growing. Trends suggest that in

the past 20 years the demand for solar elec-

tric energy has consistently grown by 20 to

25 percent. It’s obvious that consumers see

the long-term benefits of this kind of energy

and are willing to invest for the future.

Federal mandates will go into effect within

the next five to 10 years, and consumers

need to be prepared to make the appropriate

changes. Changing to a high-efficiency

water heater now is an excellent option. Tax

incentives are currently available for up to

30 percent off various high-efficiency water

heater purchases.

A. O. Smith recognizes the importance of

investing in high-efficiency products, in-

cluding solar technology. The move to-

ward this type of technology is the future

for manufacturers like A. O. Smith. Our

company is committed to leading the mar-

ket in innovative water heating solutions

that evolve with new technologies and our

customers’ needs. AEN

Solar Industry on the RiseMike ParkerVice President Marketing & Strategic Planning, A. O. Smith Water Products Co.

Alternative Energy News ■ October 2010

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

31

Illinois Governor Quinn Signs Solar Ramp-Up Law and AnnouncesLargest Solar Development in the U.S.

in the sale and marketing of green power. The

project will also source PV solar panels locally

from the Wanxiang solar panel plant.

“We are helping to establish Illinois as one of

the largest producers of solar energy in the coun-

try and generating much-needed jobs for the

Rockford area,” said Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,

President of New Generation Power.

Production has already begun on Wanxiang’s

solar panels in the newly constructed flagship

manufacturing facility located in the Rockford

Global Trade Park adjacent to the Rockford In-

ternational Airport. Rockford officials have in-

dicated the facility is designed for expansion on

the 10-acre Wanxiang campus.

“Solar energy is becoming more and more

popular in America, and in the world as well.

We believe the market is poised for rapid

growth,” said Pin Ni, President of Wanxiang

America. “We appreciate the state and city gov-

ernments to support the solar business. Our goal

is to expand the plant threefold to meet the de-

mand of Illinois’ new solar energy mandate.”

In March 2010, the Illinois Department of

Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

awarded a grant of $4,025,000 to Rockford

Solar Partners, equivalent to 1.26 percent of the

project’s total cost. Sixty-eight percent will be

financed by nongovernmental sources. The fed-

eral funding was awarded pursuant to the Amer-

ican Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Community Renewable Energy Program to

create and retain jobs. AEN

Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn arrived at

Wanxiang America Corporation’s newly

built solar panel manufacturing plant in

Rockford, Ill., to announce a more than $4 mil-

lion stimulus grant award for an up to 62-MW

Rockford Solar Project, the largest photovoltaic

(PV) solar development in the Midwest and one

of the largest in the U.S., and to attend the rib-

bon-cutting ceremony of Wanxiang America

Corporation’s solar panel manufacturing plant.

“The state’s investment will help ensure Illi-

nois remains a leader in renewable energy de-

velopment, while continuing to build on the

state’s energy independence goals,” said Gov.

Quinn. “With partnerships with companies

like Wanxiang and New Generation Power,

we’re creating hundreds of sustainable, green-

collar jobs and providing an economic boost

to the entire state.”

Gov. Quinn was also in Chicago to sign

House Bill 6202 into law, which establishes in-

terim solar targets to help Illinois successfully

scale up to reach the state’s solar renewable port-

folio standard of 6 percent by 2015. The new

law marks a landmark achievement for solar en-

ergy in Illinois and will create more than 5,000

solar panel installation, manufacturing and

maintenance jobs, and significantly reduce

Illinois’ carbon footprint.

The up to 62-MW Rockford Solar Project

will generate enough electricity to power more

than 10,000 homes and reduce carbon dioxide

emissions at a rate of 113,000 tons annually,

equivalent to the emissions from nearly 20,000

cars. The project will significantly help electric-

ity suppliers achieve the required 0.5 percent

solar target by 2012.

“We thank Wanxiang for their investment in

its North American solar panel manufacturing

facility,” said City of Rockford Mayor Larry

Morrissey. “We are equally enthusiastic about

New Generation Power’s potential solar farm at

Chicago Rockford International Airport. Invest-

ments in green technology such as these will

help reinvent Rockford’s economy.”

The project is the effort of Rockford Solar

Partners LLC, a joint venture between Wanxi-

ang America, the U.S. subsidiary of one of the

largest non-state owned companies in China

with $8 billion in revenues worldwide, and

Chicago-based renewable energy developer,

New Generation Power to develop and operate

an up to 62-MW photovoltaic solar generation

facility in Rockford, Ill.

“Thank you to Wanxiang and New Genera-

tion Power for its investment in our region. This

is the perfect example of how the city and

county came together to create jobs and promote

the renewable energy industry. Currently, we

have locally made Wanxiang solar panels, pur-

chased by Winnebago County, producing en-

ergy at Freedom Field,” said Winnebago County

Board Chairman Scott Christiansen.

The Rockford Solar Project not only creates

jobs in construction, installation and servicing,

but also countless additional jobs are generated

DOE to Advance Solar Energy Grid Integration SystemsStage III awards through DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories to help advance solar energy deployment and grid reliability.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu an-

nounced that the Department of Energy’s Sandia

National Laboratories is investing $8.5 million

for four projects that have reached Stage III of

the Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems

(SEGIS) program. These investments will be

matched more than one-to-one by the SEGIS

contractors to support more than $20 million in

total projects. The selections announced are part

of the department’s ongoing work to improve

the nation’s electrical grid reliability as solar en-

ergy technologies reach cost-competitiveness

with conventional sources of electricity and in-

creasing amounts of photovoltaic (PV) solar

electricity flow into the nation’s electrical grid.

“Continuing to support solar and grid tech-

nologies is necessary in order for America to

maintain its competitive edge in the clean en-

ergy industries,” said Secretary Chu. “These

types of projects will help ensure that our efforts

to advance renewable energy and support the

modernization of our electrical grid are coordi-

nated and integrated, helping to provide Ameri-

cans with reliable, clean energy at lower costs.”

Initiated in 2008, the SEGIS program is a

partnership that includes DOE, Sandia National

Laboratories, industry, utilities and universities.

Under the program, projects are emphasizing

complete system development for solar tech-

nologies, for instance, how to move designs of

intelligent system controls towards commercial-

ization and how best to integrate expanded solar

resources onto the grid while maintaining or im-

proving power quality and reliability. Today’s

awards are follow-on selections from the first

two stages of the SEGIS program. Projects were

selected based on the highest likelihood of com-

mercialization of reliable products that will best

enable and accelerate the integration of solar PV

technologies into an intelligent electrical grid.

The SEGIS Stage III selections announced

are as follows:

Florida Solar Energy Center of the

University of Central Florida-Cocoa, Fla.-

$660,329: The Florida Solar Energy Center is

partnering with Satcon Technology Corpora-

tion (Mass.), SENTECH, Inc. (Md.), SunEdi-

son (Calif.), Cooper Power Systems EAS

(Minn.), Northern Plains Power Technologies

(S.D.) and Lakeland Electric Utilities (Fla.).

This Stage III project focuses on the imple-

mentation of a larger “shared” inverter serv-

ing multiple residential or commercial PV

systems. The demonstration will feature a suite

of new functionalities such as “Smart Grid”

power controls, continued operation in the

events of voltage and frequency disturbances,

and improved safety of PV systems. These

new functionalities will enable higher penetra-

tions of PV into the grid of the future.

Petra Solar South - Plainfield, N.J. -

$2,729,712: Petra Solar is partnering with the

University of Central Florida (Fla.), Public Serv-

ice Electric & Gas (N.J.), PEPCO Holdings

(three electric utilities operating in N.J., Del.,

Md. and Washington D.C.) and BP Solar (Md.).

This project addresses utility-grid interactivity,

system reliability and safety through low-cost,

easy-to-install modular inverters. The Stage III

work expands the micro-inverter system concept

to higher voltage operations to reduce costs and

expand utility-friendly functionalities.

Princeton Power - Princeton, N.J. -

$2,729,897: Princeton Power is partnering with

First Energy Corp. (Ohio), Center for Power

Electronics Systems (Va.), International Battery,

Inc. (Pa.), Tectonic Corp (N.J.) and Process Au-

tomation Corp. (N.J.). This project will address

finishing details to complete a design for a 100-

kW “Demand Response Inverter” based on

Princeton’s unique circuit designs and the use of

new state-of-the-art components. Demonstration

installations with utility collaborations are

planned during Stage III and will be announced

once details are available.

PVPowered - Bend, Ore. - $2,408,276: PV

Powered is partnering with Portland General

Electric (Ore.), Northern Plains Power Tech-

nologies (S.D.) and Schweitzer Engineering

Laboratories (Wash). This project focuses on

several key developments in Stage III, includ-

ing next-generation controls and advanced

communications technologies that enable dis-

tributed PV systems to communicate with

power utilities. These innovations will allow

utilities to manage networks of distributed

power sources, reduce PV systems costs and

remove barriers to high levels of PV grid pen-

etration. Stage III demonstration installations

are being planned and will be announced when

details are available. AEN

BY JACK JACOBSIt seems that much of the hesitation about

switching to a cleaner and greener economy

revolves around empathy for our neighbors’

livelihoods. No one wants to see a factory

boarded up or miners standing in an employ-

ment line. It’s only human to consider the

hardships of our neighbors, and un-American

to stand idly by when our traditional manu-

facturing industries shrivel up. But truthfully,

clean technologies and renewable energy has

finally made coal as obsolete as asbestos, and

so the time has arrived for industry to evolve

from brown to green, or close their doors for

good. There is really no other option and cer-

tainly no time to look back.

While change is inevitable, it need not be

as painful as opponents to clean energy think.

In fact, many claim that green jobs will more

than compensate old-fashioned brown jobs

and our economy will flourish once again,

rather than stagnate or fall.

Factory owners everywhere are beginning

to reconsider their current business models, re-

examine their facilities, and re-tool their oper-

ations to create greener and cleaner products.

The same ingenuity and innovation that orig-

inally created polluting technologies still ex-

ists, and should be tapped into once again to

help grow the economy and shift our depend-

ence on non-renewable sources of energy.

Forty years ago, many companies that pro-

duced asbestos products were faced with a

similar challenge as companies today: Either

turn off the lights, lock the door and go home,

or grab a broom, carefully sweep the asbestos

dust from the factory floor, and make a prod-

uct that did not include asbestos. And they

never looked back.

Today, logging towns that have been chop-

ping down carbon-rich forests for decades

can reinvent their lumber mills as recycling

facilities. Assembly lines that put together

bulldozers can re-tool to produce wind tur-

bines, and car manufacturers that have been

producing gas guzzlers for years can now

start to produce the next generation of vehi-

cles powered by alternative sources of en-

ergy. With a little creativity, resolve and

foresight, industries can reinvent themselves

to ensure a strong and successful future.

The sincere empathy that we all feel for

the shop owner hurt by the downfall of the

desert racing industry should definitely not

be minimized or ignored. On the contrary—

it is exactly that empathy that preserves our

society, makes us uniquely human and

should be preserved at all costs—without that

level of caring for strangers, global warming

would be the least of our problems. But per-

haps some of that emotional energy could be

focused on encouraging our legislators to

draft new laws, policies and incentive pro-

grams that support industry to evolve from

brown to green, producing products for to-

morrow, rather than for yesterday.

Feed-in tariffs, renewable portfolio stan-

dards and climate change legislation can

play a major role in protecting the environ-

ment, reducing C0² in the atmosphere and

preserving jobs.

Jack Jacobs is the Founder and Manag-ing Partner of Cleantech Law Partners, aboutique law firm that represents renewableenergy project developers and cleantechcompanies. He can be reached via e-mail [email protected]. AEN

Similarities Between Energy, Logging and Asbestos Miners

POLICY PERSPECTIVES

MONEY MATTERS


Eight water power companies receiveSBIR funding.

The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition

(OREC) congratulates members of the

Coalition on securing Water Power R&D

Small Business Innovation Research

(SBIR) grants with funding from the Re-

covery Act and Fiscal Year 2010. The

companies secured Phase II Department of

Energy (DOE) grants to focus on principal

water power R&D, with awards of up to

$750,000 over a two-year period. “The

Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition is

proud of all of its members who competed

for the grants, and looks forward to the

momentum these awards will bring, not

only the winners, but to the industry as

a whole,” said Sean O’Neill, OREC’s

President. “As additional research and

development initiatives progress, the ma-

rine and hydrokinetic technology industry

will prove to be a key piece of the puzzle

in moving our nation closer to a clean

energy future.”

OREC Recovery Act grant awardees

include OREC Members: Dehlsen Associ-

ates in California for its Centripod Wave

Energy Converter; Columbia Power Tech-

nologies in Oregon and Virginia for its

High Torque, Low Cost, Direct-Drive

Rotary Generator; Ocean Renewable

Power Company in Maine for its Refine-

ment of Cross Flow Turbine Hydrofoils;

and Resolute Marine Energy in Massachu-

setts for its Viable-Geometry Oscillating

Wave Surge Converter for Utility-Scale

Electricity Production.

Two additional Recovery Act grants

were secured by Natel Energy in Califor-

nia for its Scale-up of Low-head SLH Hy-

droengine and by Lucid Energy

Technologies in Indiana for its In-conduit

Hydropower project.

DOE’s Fiscal Year 2010 water power

R&D program (Non-Recovery Act)

grants were awarded to FloDesign in

Massachusetts for its Next Generation

Hydrokinetic Turbine and Princeton

Power Systems in New Jersey for its

High-Voltage, Highly-Efficient, Power-

Dense Electronic Converter Using Sili-

con Carbide and AC-link.

OREC commends DOE for its demon-

strated commitment to graduating water

power projects from the R&D stage to

commercialization, beginning with the

recently announced grants. A full list of

DOE Phase II Recovery Act awardees

can be found here: www.science

.doe.gov/sbir/ Awards_Abstracts/2010

ARRAPhaseIIAwardsByState.htm#3

and, FY 2010 DOE Phase II awardees

can be found here: www.science.doe

.gov/sb i r /Awards_Abst rac t s /2010

PhaseIIAwardsByState.htm. AEN

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu an-

nounced that two consortia—one led

by the University of Michigan and one led

by West Virginia University—will receive

a total of $25 million over the next five

years under the U.S.-China Clean Energy

Research Center (CERC). The funding will

be matched by the grantees to provide at

least $50 million in total U.S. funding and

will facilitate joint research and develop-

ment of clean energy technologies by the

United States and China. Chinese counter-

parts will contribute an additional $50

million, with combined funding from both

countries totaling $100 million. The Uni-

versity of Michigan’s award will advance

technologies for clean vehicles, while

West Virginia University will use its fund-

ing to focus on the next generation of clean

coal technologies, including carbon cap-

ture and storage.

“The U.S.-China Clean Energy Research

Center will help accelerate the develop-

ment and deployment of clean vehicle and

clean coal technologies here at home,” said

Secretary Chu. “This new partnership will

also create new export opportunities for

American companies, ensure the United

States remains at the forefront of tech-

nology innovation, and help to reduce

global carbon pollution.”

U.S. President Obama

and President Hu

Jintao formally

announced the

e s t a b l i s h -

ment of the

CERC dur-

ing President

Obama’s trip to

Beijing last Novem-

ber. At the time, Sec-

retary Chu joined Chinese

Minister of Science and Technology Wan

Gang and Chinese National Energy Admin-

istrator Zhang Guobao to sign the protocol

launching the center. As the world’s top

energy consumers, energy producers and

greenhouse gas emitters, the United

States and China will play central roles in

the world’s transition to a clean energy

economy in the years ahead.

Details of the two winning consortia are

as follows:

Clean Coal: West Virginia University will

lead a consortium that includes the Univer-

sity of Wyoming, University of Kentucky,

Indiana University, Lawrence Livermore

National Laboratory, Los Alamos National

Laboratory, National Energy Technology

Laboratory, World Resources Institute,

U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum, General

Electric, Duke Energy, LP Amina, Bab-

cock & Wilcox and American Electric

Power. The consortium will develop and

test new technologies for carbon capture

and sequestration.

Clean Vehicles: The University of Michi-

gan will lead a consortium that includes

Ohio State University, Massachusetts Insti-

tute of Technology, Sandia National Labo-

ratories, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Oak

Ridge National Laboratories, General Mo-

tors, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Cummins,

Fraunhofer, MAGNET, A123, American

Electric Power, First Energy and the Trans-

portation Research Center. The consortium

will focus on vehicle electrification.

The $25 million in U.S. government fund-

ing will be used to support work

conducted by U.S. institutions and individ-

uals only. Chinese partners will be an-

nounced in the coming months by the

Chinese government.

The announcement of another $12.5 mil-

lion to a third winning consortium focused

on building energy efficiency will be made

this fall. AEN

Secretary Chu Announces U.S. Centers for U.S.-China Clean Energy Research

OREC CongratulatesSBIR WaterPower R&DAwardeesM

ichigan Community Action

Agency Association (MCAAA)

was recently awarded two grants

related to energy efficiency and low-

income families, including a $15 million

grant to administer a federal Department

of Energy-ARRA program to weatherize

low-income, multi-unit housing across the

state. The duration of the grant is 21

months, which began in August 2010.

MCAAA will work with CLEAResult

Consulting of Okemos, Mich., to provide

outreach to residents and building owners.

Eligible buildings will include Housing and

Urban Development (HUD) Qualified As-

sisted Housing. The majority of building res-

idents must be income-eligible for the

federal Weatherization Assistance Program,

currently at 200 percent of the federal

poverty guidelines. Eligible buildings and

units will undergo an energy audit performed

by certified Michigan inspectors to deter-

mine what measures should be taken to in-

crease energy efficiency. MCAAA and

CLEAResult Consulting will issue a Request

for Quotations to identify and select quali-

fied contractors to perform the work. Weath-

erization measures typically include furnace

repair or replacement, installation of insula-

tion and reduction of air leaks around win-

dows and doors, among other improvements.

“This work will extend the great success

our member agencies have had in the home

weatherization program over the last four

decades,” said MCAAA Executive Direc-

tor James E. Crisp. “Now low-income res-

idents and owners of apartment buildings

will start receiving the savings and other

benefits of energy efficiency, and Michi-

gan contractors will be doing the work.”

MCAAA was also named the adminis-

trator of a $1.9 million grant that will fund

a pilot program for the Michigan Public

Service Commission on energy affordabil-

ity in southeast and western Michigan.

This program will engage households that

are in arrears in their utility bills and pro-

vide case management to the residents in

an effort to improve the energy efficiency

of their homes and management of their fi-

nances. It will also help determine if the

MPSC should establish separate utility

rates for low-income households. MCAAA

is partnering with DTE Energy, The Heat

and Warmth Fund and CLEAResult Con-

sulting on the pilot program.

Michigan Community Action Agency

Association is the state association of the

30 Community Action Agencies that pro-

vide programs and services to low-income

families and individuals in all 83 Michigan

counties. Its website includes links to CAAs

around Michigan at www.mcaaa.org. AEN

Michigan Community ActionAgency Association AwardedLow-Income Energy Grants

Modified Ionomer Sheet for Thin Film Photovoltaic Modules

DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions (DPVS) introduced anew encapsulant material know as the DuPont™PV8600 Series that was developed for amorphoussilicon and other thin film module technologies. Un-like traditional ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsu-lants, this new offering needs no cure step, resultingin shorter lamination cycles and increased produc-tivity—helping reduce module cost. It also offers in-creased moisture resistance for improved long-termmodule reliability. The DuPont™ PV8600 Seriessheets require no refrigeration or interleafing to pre-vent blocking, and their stiffer modulus is well-suited to high-speed automated manufacturing.

DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions(tel) 800-438-7225www.photovoltaics.dupont.com

Inline Cleaning and Coating Systemfor Thin Film Solar Cells

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES introduced a machinewhich can process thin film solar glass substrates withlengths between 1,200 and 2,600 mm, and a widthrange of 600 to 2,200 mm. The VITRUM modular de-sign allows the easy integration of different processsteps according to the required applications at CIS orCd-Te technology. The standard configurations with asmall footprint and a minimized CAPEX are adapted tostandard glass sizes for thin film cell applications,started by R&D substrates, up to 2,600 x 2,200 mmjumbo size. The system offers in-line concentrationmeasurement system or a separator removal bar toadapt to customers’ requirements and applications.

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES(tel) +49 6188-440-161www.singulus.de

Industrial Lithium-Ion Battery for Energy Storage Applications

Corvus Energy introduced an advanced lithium-ion battery technology that is able to store and distribute energy in megawatt sizes, and has the capacity to output sustained power comparable to diesel engines inhybrid and full-electric vessels and vehicles. Current hy-brid designs in the marine industry installed with Corvusbatteries will cut CO² emissions and fuel consumption inheavy-polluting work boats by 75 percent. The batterydesign is built around a new nickel manganese cobalt-based Dow Kokam cell and patent-pending Corvus bat-tery management system that exponentially enhancesbattery efficiency and performance with energy storagecapacity from 6.2kWh to unlimited sizes.

Corvus Energy(tel) 604-227-0280 www.corvus-energy.com


NEW PRODUCTS

Commercial Inverters Offer Installation Solution

The PVP35kW and PVP50kW commercial invertersfrom PV Powered are designed for ease of installa-tion and maintenance with features such as front-access service, bottom and side AC/DC cable entry,large cable bending area, a wide range of fusingoptions, load-break rated AC and DC service dis-connects, and fast-change circuit board card cage.The new products’ clean and simple design fea-tures low component count and the company’s in-novative Smart Air Management system, whichtogether provide the foundation for high reliabilityand long life.

PV Powered(tel) 541-312-3832 www.pvpowered.com

New Multi-Megawatt Utility-Scale Inverter System

Alencon Systems Inc., introduced its latest inverterseries that represents a major leap forward in boththe conversion capacity and reliability of photo-voltaic (PV) inverters making utility-scale solarfarms much more cost-effective and reliable to de-ploy and operate. The Alencon Inverter Systems,consisting of modules known as a GrIP(s)™ (GridInverter Packages), easily scale up to supportmulti-megawatt utility-grade installations of 100MW. This new system also includes very sophisti-cated virtual reality remote monitoring software tohelp operators assure their PV system is runningat peak capacity at all points in time.

Alencon Systems Inc.(tel) 610-825-7090www.alenconsystems.com

Pressurex Increases Bond Strength and Reduces Defects in Ultrasonic Welding of Batteries

Ultrasonic Welding (USW) is a joining techniquewhich uses high-frequency ultrasonic acoustic vibrations to create solid-state welds. Since careneeds to be taken during the setup of the ultrasonicbonder, the use of Pressurex® pressure indicatingsensor film will reveal the distribution and magni-tude of pressure between any two contacting sur-faces. When placed between the horn and the anvilof the ultrasonic bonder, the film instantaneouslyand permanently changes color directly proportionalto the actual pressure applied. The precise pressuremagnitude is then easily determined by comparingcolor variation results to a color correlation chart.

Sensor Products Inc.(tel) 973-884-1755www.sensorprod.com

First Bio-Based Plasticizers for Wire and Cable Applications

Dow Wire & Cable recently launched DOW ECOLIBRIUM™ Bio-Based Plasticizers, a new family of phthalate-free plasticizers for use in wire insulation and jacketing that are made from nearly100 percent renewable feedstocks. The use of DOWECOLIBRIUM Bio-Based Plasticizers in PVC com-pounds for wire applications can help cable-makersand original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reducegreenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 percent if usedinstead of traditional PVC plasticizers. The new plas-ticizers offer specific benefits in terms of processing,electrical and temperature performance, and end-usefor low- and high-temperature wiring applications inseveral key wire and cable market segments.

Dow Wire & Cable(tel) 800-441-4369 www.dowwireandcable.com

Stainless Steel Ballast Racking System

Applied Energy Technologies (AET’s) Rayport-series racking systems continue to lead the commercial flat-roof PV mount market. Installersacross the U.S. and Canada have noted the ease of installation and adaptability of the Rayport. Currently in use on small private buildings andlarge commercial rooftops, the Rayport has become the go-to flat roof solution for every company that has used it. The Rayport system isnow available in tilt angles of 0 to 30 degrees,making it even more adaptable for projects withpanel-output specific incentives. Rayport is completely made in the U.S. and will soon be madein Canada.

Applied Energy Technologies(tel) 810-300-3871 www.aetenergy.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

OCTOBER

October 3-5 Saudi Water and Power Forum 2010 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia www.ksawpf.com

October 5-7 AWEA North American Offshore Wind Conference & Exhibition Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA www.awea.org

October 6-7 Energy Solutions Expo London, England www.energysolutionsexpo.co.uk

October 14-15 Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum Paradise Island, Bahamas www.caribbeanenergyforum.com

October 20-22 METALCON Las Vegas, Nevada, USA www.metalcon.com/metalcon10/public/enter.aspx

October 21-22 Third Annual Exploration & Production Technology Summit 2010 Houston, Texas, USA www.exproevent.com

October 26-27 AWEA Wind Power Health & safety Workshop Austin, Texas, USA www.awea.org

October 27-29 Solar Power International Los Angeles, California, USA www.solarpowerinternational.com/sepa2010/public/enter.aspx

NOVEMBER

November 2-4 Clean Energy Expo Asia Singapore www.cleanenergyexpoasia.com

November 2-4 RenewableUK 2010 Glasgow, Scotland, UK www.renewable-uk.com/events/annual-conference/index.html

November 17-19 AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium Phoenix, Arizona, USA www.awea.org

Novemer 17-19 Build Boston Boston, Massachusetts, USA www.buildboston.com/ResPlus/BuildBoston

November 18-19 Third Concentrated Photovoltaics Summit Europe Seville, Spain www.cpvtoday.com/eu

November 18-20 11th China Solar PV Conference and Exhibition 2010 Nanjing, China www.ch-solar.com

November 22-23 International Green Energy Conference & Exhibition Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.greenenergyconference.org

November 24-26 RENEXPO South-East Europe Bucharest, Romania www.renexpo-bucharest.com

November 30-December 1 3rd Thin Film Solar Summit USA San Francisco, California, USA www.thinfilmtoday.com

November 30-December 2 NextGenFuels 2010 Delhi, NCR, India http://nextgenfuels.web.officelive.com

DECEMBER

December 1-2 PV Power Plants 2010 USA Las Vegas, Nevada, USA www.solarpraxis.de

December 6-7 Solar Canada 2010 Toronto, Ontario, Canada www.cansia.ca

December 7-9 AWEA Small and Community Wind Conference Portland, Oregon, USA www.smallandcommunitywindexpo.org

December 8-10 World Energy Engineering Congress Washington, D.C., USA www.energycongress.com

December 9-12 RENEX 2010 Istanbul, Turkey www.renex-expo.com

December 14-16 Intersolar India Mumbai, India www.intersolar.in

December 15-16 SEIA Sitting Workshop San Diego, California, USA www.seia.org/cs/seia_siting_workshop_general_information

INDUSTRY calendar • 2010


UPCOMING EVENTS

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