Archive for the ‘North America’ Category

Trina Solar signs 25 + 4 MW sales agreement with U.S. wholesale distributor Essco

March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Trina Solar's subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar, signed a sales agreement with Essco Wholesale Electric, the southwest US company of Sonepar USA, for supply of approximately 25 MW of PV modules and an additional 4 MW at the option of Essco, to be delivered during 2010.

With this agreements, Trina has now secured a total of approximately 40 MW of PV modules from customers in the United States during 2010, all with agreed prices.

Commenting on the announcement, Essco's President Scott L. Tonn said: "With the addition of Trina Solar modules to our renewable energy equipment portfolio, we truly are able to be a one-stop distributor for our electrical contractors and solar integration companies. With Sonepar's national coverage through its operating companies and encompassing Essco's direct coverage of the Southwest, we are making renewable energy products more available and affordable than ever before to our customers."

[source: Trina Solar]


Southern California Edison orders 200 MW of SunPower panels its large-scale project

March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | Comments (1)

SunPower has won a contract to provide solar technology for generating up to 200 MW or 80% of the solar power capacity needed for Southern California Edison's (SCE) large solar PV installation program.

During the next five years, the utility plans to install, own and operate 250 MW of solar generating capacity, most of it on otherwise unused large warehouse rooftops. The large 1-2 MW solar installations will be connected directly to neighborhood distribution circuits where the leased rooftops are located.

For the purpose, SCE is purchasing the SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile product, which integrates into a single unit a solar panel, frame and roof mounting system, thereby reducing installation time and costs. In addition, it produces more power per installation.

In a related development, on January 21, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the process to be used for a second track of solar installations that will double the size of SCE's PV program. Previously, regulators directed the company to conduct a competitive solicitation, offering long-term power contracts to independent solar power providers willing to install an additional 250 MW of PV generation. SCE hopes to launch the solicitation later this month. Eventually, the two installation tracks will add a total of 500 MW to the solar generating capacity of Southern California's power resources – the largest U.S. PV program ever undertaken.

[source: SCE, SunPower]

Acciona to build three wind farms in Mexico – totalling 306 MW of capacity

March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

Mexico will be getting 306 MW of new wind energy capacity.

Three new wind farms will be built, with 1.5 MW wind turbines to be supplied by Acciona, under a supply contract awarded to the company by the Mexican government. Acciona won the tender against three other companies, all from Spain – Iberdrola Renovables, Recursos Eólicos de México (ACS), and Enerfin Sociedad de Energía (part of the Elecnor group).

The wind farms will be located in the Oaxaca state, Mexico, and represent an investment of about EUR 450 million, totalling in 306 MW of new wind energy capacity. Construction is expected to begin in 2010, and operation of the new wind farms is planned to begin near the end of 2011. Once completed, the new 306 MW of capacity will represent 12.7% of Acciona's strategic wind power implementation plan to install 2400 MW of new wind capacity by 2013.

The particular wind farms are Oaxaca I, II and III, each to have 102 MW of installed capacity. The model of choice for these projects is Acciona's AW 70/1500 wind turbine.

[source: Acciona]

First Solar signs contract with PG&E for 300 MW PV solar power project

March 10th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

First Solar announced a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with electricity from a 300 MW (AC) utility-scale PV solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.

The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, will have a total capacity of 550 MW, which is enough to power approximately 160,000 area homes – or about 480,000 residents. The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison. First Solar's power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

The construction is expected to start by the end of 2010 and completion as early as 2013. When completed, the project will displace 300,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road. It will also create approximately 430 construction jobs…

[source: First Solar]

Small wind development in US gets boost through Westerly Wind

March 9th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

US Renewables Group has launched Westerly Wind, a company that will provide development capital for wind energy projects for small wind energy developers, who are currently struggling to advance projects due to difficult economic times.

Westerly Wind will focus at all stages of wind energy development, working with developers, communities and other stakeholders in the industry, with a goal to push these projects towards completion. One of the main changes in the current industry approach is that wind developers can no longer enter a wind energy project and "flip" it early on in the development process. Things are moving towards actually bringing projects very close to construction, before they can actually be sold to another company which will simply execute the project and start exporting power under a PPA.

[source: US Renewables Group]

US DoE loans USD 117 million to Hawaii wind energy project

March 9th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

The US Department of Energy is conditionally loaning USD 117 million to an "innovative" wind energy project on Hawaii. The island state is going to get a wind farm with 30 MW of capacity, using 2.5 MW wind turbines, but with an additional component which will ensure electricity load stability – batteries for storing produced energy. The Kahuku wind farm, to be developed by Kahuku Wind Power, will be receiving the 117 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Once completed, the Kahuku wind farm will output electricity estimated to be enough to supply about 7700 average homes on the island state with clean electricity. The construction of the wind farm will provide about 200 jobs.

The Kahuku wind farm will be located on the island of Oahu. Hawaii has set a very high goal for renewable energy, which is to achieve 70% of electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2030. At the moment, each of the islands is using its own separate power grid, mostly using fossil fuels to produce electricity. The company sponsoring the project is First Wind Holdings.

[source: US DoE, image: Hawaii State]

Suzlon planning 728 MW of new installations in 2010

March 5th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

Suzlon is planning to install 728 MW of new wind power capacity during 2010. The nine new projects will feature a total of 351 wind turbines, will be able to produce clean electricity for about 220,000 average homes in seven US states. The company will be supplying the units for projects being developed by Duke Energy, Iberdrola Renewables and other renewable energy developers.

Nearly all the new projects will be using the S88-2.1 MW wind turbines, which has been proven around the world in various conditions.

With the 728 MW of capacity planned for this year, Suzlon should have a total of 2480 MW installed in the US by the end of 2010.

[source: Suzlon]

NRG Energy to acquire 101 MW wind farm in Texas

March 5th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

NRG Energy announced the company has signed a letter of intent with AEP Energy Partners for purchasing the South Trent 101 MW wind farm located near Sweetwater, Texas. The wind farm consists of 44 2.3 MW Siemens wind turbines, and can generate enough clean electricity for about 80,000 average local households during peak generation times.

The South Trent wind farm is exporting electricity under a long-term PPA for the next 20 years. Once the acquisition is complete, NRG Energy will own and operate its fourth onshore wind farm. The company already owns and operates Elbow Creek wind farm (120 MW), Langford wind farm (150 MW) and owns a 50% stake in the Sherbino wind farm (150 MW), all located in Texas.

[source: NRG Energy, image: NRG Energy]

OwnEnergy and Horn Wind complete 51 MW wind farm in Texas

March 5th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

OwnEnergy, a development platform for community wind in the United States, and Horn Wind have completed the Windthorst 1 wind farm near Windthorst, Texas. The wind farm has 51 MW of installed capacity, and is a joint-venture project between the two companies. A majority stake in the wind farm has been sold to a global renewable energy company.

The wind farm was developed in the spirit of community wind which includes characteristics like local ownership, increased local jobs, greater involvement, control and financial upside for members of the local community. OwnEnergy co-owns wind projects and operates them in collaboration with local partners. OwnEnergy and Horn Wind will continue to have long-term interest in the wind farm.

[source: OwnEnergy, image: OwnEnergy]

Showa Shell Solar to open new offices in California and Germany (Munich); Announces new name and brand – Solar Frontier

March 1st, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Showa Shell Solar announced that it will open two overseas offices this April in Northern California and Munich, as part of its plan to facilitate 1 GW per year of sales and delivery of its proprietary CIS solar panels to customers worldwide. The move will be accompanied by a global branding consolidation under a single name, Solar Frontier, and a new logo.

Commenting on the announcement, Solar Frontier's CEO Shigeaki Kameda said: "We chose Solar Frontier as the name of our international division a few years ago because we knew we stood at the frontier of the photovoltaic industry in terms of research and development. With CIS solar technology, our PV modules today combine compelling economics, non-toxic materials, lower energy consumption in production, increasingly higher efficiency, and greater potential for tomorrow. With this announcement we signal our commitment and capacity to set and supply the new global standard for photovoltaic panels into the future, starting with the European and North American office expansions."

[source: Showa Shell Solar]

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