news digest ♦ Solar
“We’re excited about SoloPower’s ability to bring clean tech jobs to Oregon and promote smart job-growth in the private sector, which would not have been possible without the visionary support we’ve received from the State of Oregon, the Oregon Department of Energy and the City of Portland, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy,” said SoloPower CEO Tim Harris. “A big reason SoloPower chose to build our new manufacturing facility in Oregon was because of the highly skilled work force, and we look forward to drawing on that local talent as our facility comes online.”
SoloPower attended the Interstate Career Expo, one of the largest regional job and career events in the Portland metro area, on March 7th, looking for equipment engineers, chemical engineers, production and process engineers and front-end and maintenance technicians.
Heliotrop announces contracts to supply over 70 MW in solar power
The producer of III-V based solar cells says that most of the submitted projects are hybrid solar power plants, mixing CPV and traditional PV technologies
Heliotrop, an innovator of multi-junction solar cells, says that its clients have submitted several bids for a total of more than 70 MWp to be realised in France. The projects include more than 20 MW of 1024-sun Heliotrop CPV units.
Clients include major project Developers, Engineering, Procurement and Construction companies and Independent Power Producers. This Call for Tender was organised by the French Power Regulatory body (Commission de Régulation de l’Energie).
Most submitted projects are hybrid solar power plants, mixing innovative CPV and traditional PV technologies, which is a way for Heliotrop CPV technology to demonstrate its superior performances and accelerate its bankability.
Concentrated Photovoltaics technology is poised to become the leading solar technology, according to market reports and business analysts, with key advantages and low cost of electricity in sunny areas such as South of France and others locations with high direct normal irradiance.
Heliotrop 1024-sun CPV technology is being developed with several R&D laboratories and manufacturing companies. Laboratories include INES (Institut National de l’Energie Solaire), part of Atomic Energy Centre (CEA). Units are manufactured by leading companies in their sector, Eolane for electronics & packaging and GMD for mechanics.
First Solar to build 26 MW Avra Valley PV solar project for NRG
The project will use First Solar’s cadmium telluride cells and its tracker systems which provide more electricity in the afternoon, when energy demand is greatest
First Solar is to construct NRG Energy’s 26 MW (AC) Avra Valley solar project near Tucson, Arizona.
Electricity from the Avra Valley solar project will be sold to Tucson Electric Power under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
The project will utilise First Solar’s advanced CdTe thin-film photovoltaic technology, mounted on the company’s single- axis tracker system. This rotates the solar modules to follow the sun throughout the day. The tracker system extends the peak energy production period, providing more electricity in the afternoon, when energy demand is greatest.
“NRG and First Solar have built a very strong working relationship, starting with our first 21 MW project in Blythe, California, to our most recently completed 20 megawatt Roadrunner solar generating station in New Mexico,” comments James Kelly, Director of Development for NRG Solar. “We look forward to working with First Solar on the Avra Valley project that, when completed, will help Arizona meet its renewable energy goals.”
Construction on the project, which is expected to begin this month, will create an estimated 200 jobs. First Solar expects to complete Avra Valley by the end of 2012.
“We are proud to once again work with NRG as they add to their renewable energy portfolio and create clean energy for Arizona,” adds Jim Lamon, First Solar Senior Vice President for EPC and Operation and Maintenance. “We’re excited to construct this utility-scale project using our proprietary tracker system, which maximises the energy output of a solar facility.”
NextEra Energy completes acquisition of 40 MW plants from First Solar
The St. Clair Ontario Solar projects, which use cadmium telluride solar cell technology, have begun commercial operation
NextEra Energy Resources says it has completed the acquisition of two solar photovoltaic projects from First Solar.
The projects, totalling 40 MW are located in St. Clair, Ontario, Canada. They were designed, developed and constructed by First Solar, using its advanced thin film PV modules, and began commercial operation in February, 2012.
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www.compoundsemiconductor.net April/May 2012
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