Canadian Solar - Make The Difference Magazine by Canadian Solar

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Imprint: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make the differenceâ&#x20AC;? Canadian Solar Inc., 545 Speedvale Avenue West Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1K 1E6 www.canadiansolar.com, support@canadiansolar.com

DEAR READER This magazine showcases the difference Canadian Solar makes to its customers, its employees, the environment and all those whose lives are touched by our brand. I believe the stories featured here make for interesting reading whether one is part of the solar industry or not. This is because they illustrate the power of solar to change lives and the planet we call home for the better. I hope you enjoy reading this magazine as much as we have enjoyed being part of the stories behind it. If you have an insight or interesting story to add, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be grateful if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d share it with me. Sincerely, Dr. Shawn Qu. Founder and CEO, Canadian Solar

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

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The Canadian Solar Stories

About Canadian Solar

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Locations & Contact Details

Orcas enjoy a sunset cruise off the solar powered OrcaLab Whale Research Centre at Alert Bay, British Columbia.

A L E R T B AY, C A N A D A 3.04 kWh per m2 per day

WHEN TRACKING ORCAS, SOLAR SHOWS THE WAY Canadian Solar now powers the world-renowned OrcaLab Whale Research Center, situated on a remote island near Alert Bay off the British Columbia coast in Canada. “Thanks to fantastic donations of solar panels and hardware from Canadian Solar Industries (CSI), OrcaLab has a new and vastly improved solar energy capacity,” said Dr. Paul Spong, the whale expert and researcher who founded the facility in 1970. “Almost unbelievably… we are now virtually free from the need to run a generator for hours every day to keep our systems running. Life has changed at OrcaLab, and for the better,” he said. OrcaLab‘s work centers on research and conservation issues – preservation of orca habitat; release and rehabilitation of captive cetaceans, and bringing commercial whaling to an end. Its operations are centered on the philosophy that it’s possible to study the wild without interfering with lives or habitat. To this end a network of hydrophones (underwater microphones) and cameras positioned around the orcas‘ core-habitat, helps monitor their movements year-round. The newly donated solar system allows the off-grid OrcaLab to power its monitoring system with solar energy, while cutting generator use and fuel costs dramatically. Further, it increases battery performance, expands the range of hydrophones and cameras, as well as improves amenities for summer volunteers. An added advantage of the solar system is that is requires minimal maintenance when compared to generators and lasts for decades. In addition to its primary functions, the solar solution on the island will help reduce carbon emissions from the generators by 1.5 to 2 tons per year. “We are honored to be involved in the ground-breaking OrcaLab foundation‘s research,” said Shawn Qu, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar. “And we are proud to be able to help advance the team‘s ambitious work through this latest exciting application of solar energy,” he said. “As an industry leader, Canadian Solar strives to also lead in philanthropic efforts with organizations around the world, and this is why we are delighted to support OrcaLab,” added Qu.

SOLAR PARK OR BIODIVERSITY PRESERVE? When it comes to improving the environment solar can offer a lot more than clean energy. Solar farms have also been shown to offer protection to rare species of birds, animals, plants and to foster biodiversity.

This was highlighted by the recent, and perhaps misinformed, decision by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to cut subsidies to farmers with PV installations on agricultural land. According to PV Magazine, this blatant undermining of solar’s growth has been labeled “damaging and incorrect” by the Solar Trade Association (STA), which announced that it would write to department arguing that the matter need not be an either/or scenario.

Solar module CS6P-P

“The government‘s own planning guidance makes clear that farming practices should continue on solar farms on Greenfield land,” said the STA’s head of external affairs, Leonie Greene. “The industry has been very careful to define good practice to ensure continued agricultural production. It is damaging and incorrect to suggest that solar farms are in conflict with food production. The land is still available for farming and solar fixings only take up 5% of the land,” she said.

As Leonie Greene points out, most solar farm panels are set on posts and, typically, only about 5% of the ground beneath them is disturbed. This means 95% of any field used for a solar farm remains available for crops, grazing, or for whatever wildlife and wild plants are endemic to the area. Importantly, after installation, the ground remains relatively undisturbed because there is little human activity apart from occasional maintenance.

“Solar farms have an important role to play in conserving our countryside. Not only can solar power save huge amounts of greenhouse gases, but solar farms can provide protected spaces for boosting biodiversity, such as wildflowers and bees, as well as providing greater income stability for farmers who face increasing weather risks due to climate change,” she concluded.

“Panels like the Canadian Solar CS6P-P have a lifespan of 25 years, or more, which means wildlife has the chance to properly establish itself over the long term,” said Dr. Shawn Qu of Canadian Solar. As an added bonus, many species benefit from the diversity of light and shade that the solar arrays provide. And solar farms also offer enormous potential for honeybees, as the wildflowers that grow between the arrays are a great source of nectar.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA

Solar parks and agriculture are complementary.

“Bee populations around the world

Person Country Solar Park in North Carolina, USA, is a good example. Canadian Solar and partner Carolina Solar Energy completed construction of a 650 kW solar farm on the site of the Person County Business and Industrial Center. The system uses 3,420 high efficiency Canadian Solar 190 W crystalline PV modules and generates approximately 837,000 kilowatt-hours each year.

are under pressure and, since humanity is dependent on them to pollinate a wide variety of crops, any measure that increases their numbers can only be a good thing,”

“Instead of using a metal racking system, we use wood,” said construction engineer Eric. “So, as far as the goats are concerned, the arrays are very like trees. They provide good shade, absorb sunlight and convert it to energy without creating CO2 or other greenhouse gas emission. Every solar farm is potentially a unique eco-system that benefits the natural world of which we are all a part”.

said Dr. Qu.

The benefits don’t end there because farmers can get a lot more than energy off a solar farm. Bees make honey. And the land can also be used to feed sheep or goats, which keep the fauna cropped, which creates better conditions for wild flower growth, which is great for the bees… a virtuous circle.

IKEA INVESTS IN A NEW KIND OF FLAT PACK TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT Nobody knows the importance of combining design innovation, quality and value quite like IKEA. Which is why it chose Canadian Solar for its lighting and power requirements at selected stores in Australia. IKEA opted for Canadian Solarâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s tried and tested CS6P-P module to help realise its commitment to sustainable energy because, in addition to offering competitive quality and pricing, the products are backed by a 25-year warranty.

IKEA now powers 7 of its Australian stores with Canadian Solar panels.

N S W, A U S T R A L I A

“Using what would otherwise be dead space on our rooftops to reduce power costs and simultaneously reduce our carbon footprint was an easy decision to make,” said Richard Wilson, sustainability manager for IKEA Australia. The rooftop installations comprise 12,122 Canadian Solar PV modules. And the 3.6 MW project will span seven IKEA sites located in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Together, the sites will generate enough clean energy (around 4,658 MWh) to offset approximately 4,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. The panels are also grid connected so that any excess energy can be fed back into the National Electricity Market (NEM) for use where it is needed. This is Canadian Solar’s largest commercial PV project roll-out to date and emphasizes our unique ability to provide customers with turn-key solutions that reduce the complexities and costs of solar system installation. We have extensive experience with largescale rooftop installations across the globe, as well as capabilities in obtaining the required permits and providing cost-effective engineering, procurement and construction. Our capabilities also extend to operation & maintenance services. It was the above combination that contributed to IKEA choosing us as their PV partner. Richard Wilson of IKEA adds, “An installation of this size is a considerable undertaking and it was important to ensure that we had efficient, reliable, high quality product together with a competitive offer, expert knowledge and experience.” “The project is an important step in our long-term approach to sustainability. Globally our ambition is to switch to renewable energy and become energy independent by 2020 as laid out in IKEA‘s global sustainability report. We’re well on the way.” When one considers that Ikea has 349 stores across 43 countries, potential savings and benefits to the environment will be significant as more stores adopt solar energy. “It‘s encouraging that more and more of the world‘s leading brands are turning to Canadian Solar to meet their renewable energy needs,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. “Hopefully this will encourage other large originations to follow suit. The potential implications for the environment are enormous,” he added.

SOLAR IS COOL AT â&#x20AC;&#x153;BURNING MANâ&#x20AC;? AND BEYOND More and more participants in the Burning Man arts festival held in the Nevada Desert every year are turning to solar energy to meet their energy needs. And this has resulted in a major spinoff for the local communities in nearby towns. Panels are often donated to them once the festival is over.

To find out more on this story, or about how you can make solar energy work for you, scan this QR code.

NEVADA, USA

First it was solar powered cars. Now it's solar powered race tracks.

RACETRACK REFUELS WITH SOLAR POWER Racing solar powered vehicles is an activity that is gaining popularity around the world. And now a racetrack in Germany is following this lead by powering its facilities with a high-performance PV installation.

O S C H E R S L E B E N , G E R M A N Y 3.44 kWh per m2 per day

Well accustomed to testing automotive technology to its limits, the owners of the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben were no less demanding when it came to choosing the right solar technology for their needs.

The Motorsport Arena installed a 500 kW Canadian Solar system in 2012 and it has delivered impressive results ever since. “It covers a significant part of the circuit’s annual electricity consumption,” said Voss.

They lined up several competitive offerings and put them through their paces. The track owners compared durability, performance and design and carefully considered the various advantages and disadvantages of each system. After this intensive selection process, one brand emerged the clear winner.

“And since motor racing is not traditionally considered the most environmentally friendly of sports, it’s great that we’ve been able to offset this to some extent,” he added. The PV installation compromises 2,000 solar modules covering an area of around 3,000 square meters on the facility’s roof. “Besides the positive effects for the environment, the solid construction PV panel mounting system has considerably strengthened the pit roof,” concluded Voss.

“We decided on PV modules from Canadian Solar,

This project once again demonstrates the versatility of Canadian Solar’s CS6P-P module, which is employed on a huge variety of installations around the world. The sophisticated design and first-class production technology, backed by a 25-year warranty, ensure a winning performance year in and year out.

becauase an especially robust solution was important to us,” said Thomas Voss, Managing Director of Motorsport Arena.

“In addition they offer high quality and a really good price-performance ratio.”

The Motorsport Arena Oschersleben offsets the fuel burned in racing by powering its facilities with solar.

INVESTING IN A RENEWABLE FUTURE, ONE PANEL AT A TIME The disaster at Fukushima has inspired many in Japan to look more closely at safe, clean and renewable sources of energy. And imaginative ways of financing them. One such initiative invites private citizens to help build “citizen solar parks” by investing in as little as one panel. They can even choose to rent a panel if they wish to. The first installation, comprising 360 Canadian Solar CS6P-P modules is located outside Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and is surrounded by the scenic nature and farmland it aims to protect. Founder of the Citizen Solar movement, Mr. Sawa, explained that he was in the large-scale wind power generation business until his retirement a few years ago, and that he has never lost interest in the opportunities renewable energy offers. “I spent the first years of my retirement educating children about the importance of moving towards renewables in order to prevent global warming,” said Mr. Sawa. “But when Fukushima happened I decided that education alone was not enough and I came up with the ‘Citizen Solar’ idea to more directly engage people in creating renewable energy solutions.”

“I chose Hokuto City as the first location because it has plenty of sunshine compared to other parts of the country. It also has a cool climate that enables PV modules to perform more efficiently, the ideal place for solar power generation,” he said. All the energy that the solar park produces is sold to a local power company and fed into the regional grid. The profits are then returned to investors. “Besides giving people the opportunity to show their support for a renewable future by making a real and immediate difference, the project also lets them enjoy a good return on their investment,” said Mr. Sawa. The imaginative project has also done a lot to raise awareness for solar power by capturing the attention of the media, and now enquiries from people wishing to invest are pouring in from all over the country. The first facility, Hokuto 1 was completed in 2013. It was soon followed by Hokuto 2 and demand is such that 3, 4 and 5 are now also in the pipeline. “Our first two phases generate about 400 kWh a day between them and when all 5 phases are complete the project will generate 900 kWh,” said Mr. Sawa. “It is my hope that this is the start of something even bigger and that the people of Japan will work together to build a completely clean a sustainable energy future for ourselves,” he concluded.

A man on a mission to create a clean energy future for Japan: Mr. Sawa.

H O K U T O , J A PA N

EAGLES AND BIRDIES SET TO WIN ON SOLAR GOLF COURSES

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Savings from solar power are reinvested in additional school materials.

LEARNING FROM SCHOOLS THAT SAVE WITH SOLAR Many schools around the US are switching on to the benefits of solar energy.

First stop is Fresno, California where students have sent their administrators to the top of class for investing in solar power. Millions of dollars will be saved on energy and the money will be used to improve student facilities. “We specified high quality materials for the system like the CS6P-P panels from Canadian Solar, which contributed to the high quality of the project,” said Don Ulrich, Assistant Superintendent of Facility Services for the Clovis Unified School District. Regional voters had the foresight to authorize the

financing for a 5.86 MW solar project that will provide immediate energy cost savings to support the district‘s core mission, educating children. “Early indicators tell us our solar power system will produce enough energy to save an anticipated $2.4 million dollars a year,” he said. “The ambitious Clovis Project exemplifies the school district‘s foresight to reduce energy costs. With education budgets tight across the U.S., this significant saving can be redeployed, directly benefiting students for

C A L I F O R N I A , U S A 3.7 kWh per m2 per day

generations to come,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. “Our team is always proud to provide affordable, high-quality solar energy solutions for educational institutions, as we share in our commitment to help create a sustainable and brighter future for our children,” he concluded.

Martins Creek Elementary School installs one of the Largest PV Arrays in North Carolina – Utilizing Canadian Solar Modules to Generate Green Power and Educational Opportunities.

“The school will use the impressive solar array’s monitoring system, a proprietary system developed by ESA Renewables to continuously track power output, as an educational tool teaching children how solar works and raising their awareness of energy conservation and environmental consciousness,” he said.

Panels will soon line the rooftops of shade structures like the one pictured at 21 sites: 19 of them at schools, and two of them at district headquarters. The $25 million project is expected to generate six megawatts of power or the equivalent of 6,000 homes. The solar revolution happening at schools extends far beyond Fresno. Martins Creek Elementary School recently installed one of the largest PV arrays in North Carolina, utilizing Canadian Solar modules to generate green power and educational opportunities. “Martins Creek Elementary and Middle School contracted ESA Renewables to complete a 999 kW array of Canadian Solar CS6P-P modules, generating clean renewable energy for the community,” said Thomas Körner, General Manager of Canadian Solar USA.

The PV system reduces carbon emissions equivalent to the amount that 4,681 trees would sequester per year, and the project also brought with it new jobs, helping to support local economic growth. The Bancroft School, a private boarding school in Worchester, MA has also discovered a new way to energize its 541 students: solar power. Composed of 486 of Canadian Solar’s top-performing CS6P-230P polycrystalline modules, Bancroft’s 106 kW fixed tilt ballasted roof mount system will produce more than 117,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, or approximately 25% of the building’s energy needs over an entire year, which makes it the largest private installation within the City of Worcester. In addition, it will reduce CO2 emissions by 127 tons annually, the same amount that 637 trees sequester in a year, and will save the school an estimated $8,000 to $10,000 in annual energy costs. The installer company, Future Solar Systems, also provided the school with a basic and advanced curriculum for solar and wind power, which will enable Bancroft teachers to use the Canadian Solar system as a tool to educate students about the importance of renewable energy in meeting our future energy needs and protecting the environment.

Bancroft School, a private K-12 Boarding School in Worchester, MA has discovered a new way to energize its 541 students: solar power.

A TOP-5 EMPLOYER THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST Canadian Solar was recently ranked 4th in the 2015 Randstad Awards – out of about 150 competing corporations. It’s the second year running we’ve made the top five, but what we found even more encouraging were the sub-categories in which we ranked first.

GUELPH, CANADA

We were voted number one in ensuring our employees enjoy great work/life balance and we enjoyed the same distinction in terms of offering interesting job content. We were also ranked #1 in corporate social responsibility for our approach to environmental and social issues.

"It’s great to see that our efforts to deliver an employeefriendly working environment, rewarding job content, goal-orientated training and strong management paying off year after year,” concluded Dr. Qu. Randstad Canada, the country's leading staffing, recruitment and HR services company and is dedicated to helping companies recruit the best talent and to support Canadian workers trying to find attractive employers.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that we placed second for the training investment we make in our staff and #2 overall for Western Canada.

The ranking is decided by over 9,500 workers and job seekers in search of employment opportunities, so the winning companies are truly the people's choice.

"As a Canadian company with a successful track record in Ontario, we are honored to be recognized as one of the top employers by Randstad Canada," said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. "Our company is committed to providing a diverse, vibrant, and professional work environment for all employees worldwide and we thank survey respondents for selecting Canadian Solar," he said.

Perhaps not that surprisingly, salary and employee benefits topped the list as being the most important factor for 23 % of respondents, while 14 % were most interested in long-term job security, and those driven primarily by pleasant working atmosphere and good work/life balance came in at 9 % and 7 %, respectively.

Making a difference to the lives of employees is as important as satisfying customers, not least because it enables Canadian Solar to attract and retain the best people in the business.

"Having a favorable employer brand when recruiting can mean the difference between attracting the best people for the job or being overlooked," says Tom Turpin, President of Randstad Canada.

S A N D I E G O , U S A 5.06 kWh per m2 per day

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES™ ADD MORE WARMTH TO CARING When Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego wanted a solution the obvious choice was Canadian Solar. The house supports families with seriously ill children in a local hospital, and this is the first Ronald McDonald House in California to use solar energy.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities

The San Diego based institution will serve more than 20,000 families this year alone, and was looking for a system that was both reliable and inexpensive. The solution: a 116 kW roof-mount photovoltaic solar electric system that will help offset the electrical costs with clean energy.

greatly offset power costs,”

“The Ronald McDonald House Charity ensures families in San Diego receive the necessities they need as they care for their sick child, and we are so pleased to be able to provide our high-quality modules to this pivotal community facility,” said Thomas Körner, U.S. general manager of Canadian Solar Inc. “Through its leadership in California by implementing a renewable energy solution, the Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego will reap significant financial savings while contributing to environmental sustainability for years to come,” he said. The solar installation consists of 518 Canadian Solar CS6P-P 220 W polycrystalline modules. These modules are among the top-ranked in the industry in PV USA (PTC) ratings, which are quickly becoming universally accepted standards for measuring real-world module energy production and performance. Canadian Solar, and other companies involved in the project all donated price reductions to benefit the charity.

decided to pursue solar energy to create a healthy and sustainable environment for the children and families we serve, and to help said Bill Lennartz, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House of San Diego.

”Our partners have been vital to our success as a resource to families going through the most challenging times of their lives, and we are excited to now be producing clean solar energy to help us provide care to even more families.” The Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego solar electric system was designed and installed by HelioPower and will produce an average of 147,846 kilowatt hours per year. The environmental offset is equivalent to curtailing the release of 151,420 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, or planting 554 new trees and sequestering the carbon dioxide over their lifetime.

GREAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO START Does a manufacturing process really need 360 quality control points? Some would call that obsessive, wasteful even, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be right. We worked out you only need 359 quality controls to make the best products possible.

GLOBAL

Then the job becomes changing what’s possible. For example, we’ve tried and tested our PV products again and again, to the point where we’re so confident in them that we offer a 25-year performance warranty. Even more testing and the consistent excellence of our products in the field have grown that confidence to the point where we will soon be offering a 30-year option. And, if we can hit the 30-year mark, well then… you get the idea.

The design process includes every test imaginable: durability, UV resistance, degradation rate and extreme temperature variation, as well as mechanical performance in the face of torrential rains, high winds and heavy snowfalls. There’s no room for inferior components or workmanship. And this ensures our panels will work across a wide range of applications as well as stand up to harsher conditions than competitive products. Getting down to specifics, 158 of our 359 quality control points are for incoming materials, while 62 are for raw materials processes and the others for production control. Every module goes through the following:

As much as we’re focused on delivering the best products of tomorrow, we’re also proud of the standards we set today. These are illustrated by the terms of our performance warranty, which guarantees that the actual power output of a module will be no less than 97% of the labeled power output during its first year of operation, and will decline by no more than 0.7% annually so that by the end of year 25 the actual power output

· Electroluminescence (EL) testing: a 100% EL screen test to eliminate cell or module defects. · Cleaning: 100% module visual inspection and clean before packing · Testing and analysis: performance reliability, mechanical and chemical tests of raw materials and components. This is done in warehouse, on the production line, in the testing lab and at other 3rd parties. · Machine testing: advanced automatic equipment in testing and manufacturing process. · Lab testing: In 2008 Canadian Solar commissioned the first module manufacturer-owned photovoltaic reliability testing laboratory to meet ISO/IEC 17025 (Accreditation Criteria for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories). The laboratory has total area space 3130 square meters and employs 23 full time technicians.

will be no less than 80% of the module‘s labeled power output. In addition, Canadian Solar has expanded its product warranty covering workmanship and material defects to 10 years. “We are proud of our ability to offer an enhanced warranty policy that, combined with our positive power tolerance and our insurance policies, provides the best value in the industry,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. “These enhancements underlie our confidence in our manufacturing and quality control processes, and our commitment to the success of our customers,” he added.

In addition, as a tier one module manufacturer, our products are used all over the world. As a result they’ve been tested by local standards authorities, banks and independent auditors in Australia, USA, Japan and many other countries, where they’ve delivered excellent results and proven top performance across the board. Even so, we see this as no more than a great beginning. The future of solar energy promises so much more. Which is why we have a staff of over 400 scientists, engineers and technicians working on it today.

And Dr. Qu’s confidence has a solid foundation: From incoming material selection to the assembly of finished products, Canadian Solar applies strict step-by-step procedures that ensure the performance of each component in every module.

GOING NUTS FOR SOLAR A US nut processing company that exports to over 30 markets around the world has enthusiastically embraced solar energy to fuel its operations on the fertile grounds of California’s Central Valley. And the business‘ enthusiasm for solar is based on a lot more than its power generation capability. Setton Pistachio, the 2nd largest pistachio processor in the United States, harvests both environmental and fiscal savings with its 1.7 MW system, the largest in California’s Central Valley. Going solar was a two-fold decision for Setton – the significant amount of energy they required for their agricultural operations and the company’s commitment to sustainability. They chose Canadian Solar products, and Cenergy Power to design and implement the solution because it has extensive experience in the agricultural sector. “Our decision to go solar with Canadian Solar and Cenergy was made simple by their outstanding track records, reputation for quality, and power quality capabilities,” said Lee Cohen, General Manager, Setton Farms. “We are a family business and the decisions we make have to be good for customers and our growers, partners and suppliers. This project was an obvious next step in practicing what we preach about our dedication to the valley‘s environment and sustainable business practices,” added Cohen. In total 7,600 Canadian Solar CS6P-P modules were deployed in the project. Together they provide a 1.7 megawatt solar plant that produces over 2.6 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean renewable energy per year – to sort, roast, and package millions of pounds of pistachios in Setton’s 300,000 square foot processing facilities.

“Canadian Solar modules provide our customers with many benefits including higher than average PTC ratings, excellent workmanship, and reliability. Their modules consistently provide high efficiency when kilowatt hours are measured with respect to production numbers,” said Andrew B. Goldin, VP of Field Operations, Cenergy Power. The solar installation will reduce Setton Pistachio’s monthly energy bills along with their carbon footprint. It will continue to generate renewable energy for its owners for decades to come, stabilizing their energy budget, and creating security for their future power needs. And, as an added advantage, the project costs were offset by federal and local incentives lowering the initial investment and establishing a payback period of 4 short years. It is also estimated that the installation will generate $14 million in energy savings over 25 years. Of course, it was great for the environment too. Potential CO2 production avoided as a result of this installation is approximately 1,880 metric tons, which is equivalent to planting 400 acres of pine forest annually. In addition to the above project, Canadian Solar also partnered with Cenergy in delivering a 540 kW PV System to a San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Facility. Minturn Huller, an almond huller and sheller cooperative in Chowchilla, California serves more than 260 almond growers in the valley and runs almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from mid-August to November. Their PV system has 2,702 Canadian Solar CS6P-200PE eModules, which saves the facilities an estimated 20 % off their annual electric bill - savings of approximately $40,000 per year.

C A L I F O R N I A , U S A 5.62 kWh per m2 per day

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our decision to go with Canadian Solar was driven by the quality and value of their products along with the outstanding service and support of their team,â&#x20AC;? Andrew B. Goldin of Cenergy

SOLAR TAKES WATER FROM POLLUTED TO PURE

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FLOWER POWER MEETS SOLAR POWER “PV solutions enable farmers to

Solar powered greenhouses are not a new idea. Technically, green houses – and plants – have always been solar powered. So how can photovoltaics make a difference to the commercial hothouse industry and agriculture in general?

create environments where they can control temperature and light at vastly reduced cost, when compared with conventional power sources,”

“There is enormous potential for the use of solar power in agriculture,” said Colin Parkin, General Manager of Canadian Solar Inc.

he said.

These can be smaller scale projects like the 20 kW clear-module one pictured here in Heihe, China, which uses innovative transparent panels to let light

O N TA R I O , C A N A D A

Solar module CS6P-P

through to the plants below, to much more ambitious projects.

The system, made up of 1,339 CS6P-P 230 W Canadian Solar modules, is big enough to meet far more than his own needs. It is connected to the Ontario grid and creates additional revenue by supplying enough energy to power approximately 30 homes annually and, not least, helps eliminate the production of 279.80 metric tons of carbon every year. Solexium Solar Solutions, installer of the system, chose Canadian Solar modules for their excellent quality and high efficiency wattage.

A 250 kW system in Moose Creek serves as an excellent example, not least because it is Eastern Ontario’s Largest Solar Rooftop Installation. It is owned by local farmer, Mr. Castonguay. “Besides saving on electricity, I am actually generating direct revenue from the installation,” he said. “In addition, it significantly reduces my farm’s carbon footprint and contributes to a cleaner, renewable environment.”

They were also attracted by the 10-year warranty on materials and workmanship, and the 25-year linear power output warranty. The future looks extremely promising for PV in agriculture.

Solexium solar solutions completed the 250 kW construction of Eastern Ontario’s largest solar rooftop installation in Moose Creek.

Smaller scale projects like the 20 kW one pictured here in Heihe, China, are also gaining popularity.

E X E T E R , U N I T E D K I N G D O M 1.08 kWh per m2 per day

UK WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTS SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS, AT LEAST The United Kingdom’s national weather service, the MET office, has installed Canadian Solar’s famously reliable CS6P-M modules at its Exeter Headquarters.

As a world-renowned provider of 24/7 weather, climate and environmental forecasts and research, the Met Office’s Exeter HQ Energy Centre sought a reliable source of clean energy that would reduce CO2 emissions and complement their existing sustainability initiatives.

conditions at locations around the world. The new system is already generating around 1,000 kWhs of electricity per day - enough to meet the demand of one of the organization’s three supercomputers used to carry out research into climate change.

They decided on a 1000 module, 250 kWp rooftop PV system from Canadian Solar, not least because the panels have a 25-year warranty and have proven themselves to be dependable under widely varying weather

Installed by SunGift Solar, a renewable energy specialist offering customized solutions in the UK, this PV system is one of the largest rooftop installations in the UK. “When you’re carrying out thousands of installations every year, you need top quality modules from a manufacturer that has a trusted global reputation,” said Gabriel Wondrausch, Managing Director of SunGift Solar.

“That is why we specify Canadian Solar modules for many of our jobs. They have that distinctive quality – bankability – which gives us absolute confidence that the modules will continue to perform at a high level and give consistent results throughout their lifetime,” said Gabriel Wondrausch.

035

REMOTE COMMUNITIES GAIN ACCESS TO REAL POWER

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R E D L A K E , O N TA R I O , C A N A D A

MUNICH, GERMANY

SOLAR GETS BEER FROM THERE TO HERE Perhaps not that surprisingly, one of the first companies to respond to the The Munich Solar Initiative was a brewery. Augustiner is one of the region’s oldest and best-known brewers and Oktoberfest suppliers and is now taking a very modern approach to fuelling its logistics center. Perhaps not that surprisingly, one of the first companies to respond to the The Munich Solar Initiative was a brewery. Augustiner is one of the region’s oldest and best-known brewers and Oktoberfest suppliers and is now taking a very modern approach to fuelling its logistics center.

“More than any other big city, Munich is showing the way in the production of clean electricity and we aim to deliver about 7.5 billion kWh of renewable energy by 2025, which will correspond to the city’s entire electricity consumption,” said then-mayor Christian Ude when establishing the initiative.

The brewing company recently installed a total of 1628 solar panels on its roof. And the highly efficient CS6P-P from Canadian Solar will achieve annual electricity production of around 420,000 kilowatt-hours. Augustiner ordered the installation on the back of an initiative from the Munich municipality that incentivizes businesses to adopt clean sources of energy. The municipality has stated its goal is to make Munich the first city of over a million people to run entirely on renewable energy resources.

The brewery installation is a strong step in the right direction. Its annual output is roughly equivalent to the amount of energy 120 households consume in a year. “The new installation is also highly effective from an environmental point of view. The fact that the Augustiner logistics center now uses clean energy means that the production of around 370 tons of CO2 will be prevented,” said Valentin Fliess of Canadian Solar Germany. “So all those who enjoy Augustiner can thank solar energy for more than the fact that their favorite beer is successfully distributed. They can take added enjoyment in the knowledge that it is now a more environmentally friendly beer too,” Fliess said.

USA

SOLAR WILL LIGHTEN "THE BURDEN" Energy. Some nations have more than they need, and others need more than they have. This fact lies at the heart of many of the conflicts we see in the world today and is the subject of a thought-provoking new documentary film called The Burden, of which Canadian Solar is a co-sponsor. The documentary premiered in Washington on March 27, 2015, as part of an environmental film festival.

“The price for guarding oil is too high. In Afghanistan every 1 in 24 fuel convoys ended with a casualty,” according to the film, not to mention that the US Military spends $85-billion a year protecting oil chokepoints.

“The Burden” refers to our dependence on fossil fuels and the stress that this places both on the environment and on those engaged in, or affected by the various energy-related conflicts around the world. At an environmental level fossil fuels are a security threat to the continued well-being of humanity and, more immediately, the conflicts they cause result in considerable suffering and political instability. The only solution is, clearly, to reduce fossil-fuel dependence and, in time, eliminate it completely through the continued development and implementation of renewable, clean energy sources like solar.

Given the above fact it is not surprising that the US Military takes the view that the more it can use, and encourage others to use non-renewables the better, and it is on track to meet its goal of 1 GW of renewable energy by 2025. Renewables offer benefits over and above clean energy. The solar industry is also a big employer of veterans, not least of whom is Kevin Johnson, Iraq war veteran, West Point graduate & Director of Federal Business Development at Canadian Solar USA, who has attended first screenings of the movie with the director. “The Burden is well worth watching,” says Kevin. “It features issues and solutions that could have an important impact on the future of humanity,” he said.

As the fighting arm of the world’s strongest superpower, the US military is pretty much continuously engaged in conflicts around non-renewables. In addition, it relies heavily on oil products to fuel its war machine, the resupply of which only adds to the hazards of any military operation. The film makes the point that the US military is the single largest institutional consumer of oil. And this comes at a cost.

Scan this QR-code to watch "The Burden"

HOW GREEN IS YOUR CLOUD? According to recent research from human rights organization Greenpeace, the Internet is now responsible for 27 tons of radioactive waste a year. In fact it consumes more electrical power than a good-sized country – and most of this energy currently comes from pollutant, non-renewable sources. A single Google search uses as much energy as a lowvoltage 11 W light-bulb uses in an hour. Which may not sound like much until one factors in that there are around 6-billion Google searches a day. And that’s just Google, never mind Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and the rest of the online world. The Internet as a whole now consumes around 2% of all power produced on Earth, or about 300 TWh annually. That’s roughly equivalent to 30 nuclear power plants worth of energy translating into into at least 18,5 million tons of CO2 from non-renewables.

The good news is that many companies are doing a lot to clean up their energy footprint. Greenpeace’s 2014 “Clicking Clean” report reveals that major cloud brands like Apple, Box, Facebook, Google, Rackspace, and Salesforce have committed to powering their data centers with 100% renewable energy. “This is great for renewable energy tech producers like us,“ said Thomas Körner of Canadian Solar USA. “A significant portion of the renewable energy these online companies use will be solar, as is evidenced by the large solar facilities that Apple, Google and others have already built.” A number of leading brands, most notably Apple and Facebook, have also made significant improvements in their energy transparency and are only too happy to share the progress they are making in achieving their renewably energy targets. Google, for its part, is showing the way in building a renewably powered Internet by significantly expanding its renewable energy purchasing and investment, both independently and through collaboration with its utility vendors. “By making better energy choices and demanding more from utility vendors, some internet companies are already demonstrating their ability to be critical catalysts in driving utilities and governments toward the development of cleaner electricity generation that will ensure a truly green online world – and a greener offline world for us all,” says the Greenpeace report.

USA

The Internet is responsible for 27 tons of radioactive waste a year.

Greenpeace’s 2014 “Clicking Clean” report reveals that major cloud companies have committed to powering their data centers with 100 % renewable energy. Scan this QR code to read more.

FIRE POWERED ICE: EUROPE‘S LARGEST SKI HALL WORKS WITH SOLAR

To find out more on this story, or about how you can make solar energy work for you, scan this QR code.

CANADIAN SOLAR ADDS POWER TO GATORADE

More than 5,600 Canadian Solar PV panels now adorn the roof of the 900,000 square foot distribution center.

A R I Z O N A , U S A 5.32 kWh per m2 per day

A leading energy drink’s thirst to do the right thing for the environment and its customers led to the installation of a 1.7 MW PV system at it´s bottling and packaging facility in Tolleson, Arizona.

PepsiCo is developing sustainable energy and water programs at a variety of its other manufacturing sites too, including an experiment to take its Casa Grande Frito-Lay snack-chip facility nearly entirely off the public electric, natural-gas and water systems. The company also installed a large solar system at a Fullerton, California, facility last month.

“Gatorade understands the positive impact clean energy can bring to the bottom line as well as to the community around them,” commented Curt Hilliker, VP of the Commercial Division at Sun Valley Solar Solutions, which designed and implemented the solution.

“Ultimately, it‘s a commitment

More than 5,600 Canadian Solar PV panels now adorn the roof of the 900,000 square foot distribution center, which can generate more than three million kilowatt hours annually. That’s enough electricity to power approximately 200 average Arizona homes for an entire year, or over 10 percent of the electricity used by the entire Tolleson facility annually. And that translates into electricity cost savings for PepsiCo, which is Gatorade‘s parent company. The solar thermal system uses a variety of technologies, including flat panels and solar beams, to pre-heat ingredient water for hot-fill products, such as Gatorade, which is heated and pasteurized before bottling. The Gatorade facility, the largest of nine plants making the drink in the US, can now use renewable solar energy to pump out 59 million cases of the sports drink a year, according to the company. “Solar generated electricity is used for everything,” said Tom Schaefer, Director of Engineering for PepsiCo Resource Conservation. “The warehouse, the plant – anything that uses electricity. We’re directly offsetting what we normally would have bought from the electrical grid,” he said. More than this, the installation has important implications for solar energy in the region as a whole. The fact that such a well-known brand has taken solar on board will be noticed by other companies. “Gatorade’s leadership plays an important role in driving the acceptance of commercial-scale solar energy, and we’re tremendously excited to partner with them on such an important initiative,” said Sun Valley Solutions’ Hilliker.

to the future,” said Rich Schutzenhofer, vice president for engineering technology and sustainability for PepsiCo in Chicago.

While Arizona is known for its blue skies and sunshine, PepsiCo is also implementing solar solutions in less sunny climes. The United Kingdom’s Copella plant in Boxford is proving that solar energy generation is possible, even in less than optimal conditions. It recently installed solar rooftop panels that produce 150 kilowatts of electricity, becoming the first PepsiCo facility in the United Kingdom to generate on-site renewable electricity. “This project has generated enough electricity in its first week to run an average U.K. home for a whole year,” said Dave Clark, sustainability manager, PepsiCo United Kingdom. The solar panel project at Boxford is the first of many projects that PepsiCo UK is using to continually increase the percentage of energy coming from renewable sources and help reach its goal of becoming fossil fuel-free by 2023.

SOLAR MAKES IT BETTER High-tech medical equipment is only as reliable as its power supply. And it goes without saying that there are times when hospitals just cannot afford to be without electricity, not least, with the recent re-emergence of Ebola in nearby countries. “Delivering reliable power to hospitals in Somalia is challenging due to the minimal infrastructure available,” said Trevor Devries, Sales Director of Canadian Solar Africa. “To help solve this problem solar energy systems have now been installed at four medical facilities in need of a cost effective, stable energy supply that they could rely on,” he said.

All the solar energy systems are also energy-save solutions, which means they are connected to the grid. This allows the daytime production of electricity to be used firstly by the hospital, then to fill up the batteries, and then feed the excess supply into the grid, while at night, electricity from the batteries is consumed first, before drawing power from the grid. This maximizes the efficiency of using all solar power produced and also minimizes costs.

“Our belief is that access to electricity is key to economic and social development of rural and remote

Canadian Solar CS6P-P modules formed the backbone of the systems that were installed by W. Giertsen Energy Solutions, a Norwegian technical services company, during the first half of 2014. These particular modules were chosen because of their reputation for absolute reliability and their ability to survive tough environmental conditions for 25 years, or more.

areas. That’s why we are dedicated to providing places like this with renewable energy solutions, while reducing their impact on climate change and dependency on fossil fuels,” said Bart Van Ouytsel, VP Business Development for W. Giertsen Energy Solutions.

GAROWE, SOMALIA

Solar is helping

Four hospitals in Somalia were recently equipped with solar systems.

to save lives

The efforts of W. Giertsen Energy Solutions and the reliable performance of the systems they installed have not gone unnoticed. In Garowe, many excited people from the local community watched the inauguration of their first solar energy system when Dr. Abdisamed Ahmed, head of the hospital, officially turned on the solar energy system in May 2014.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks for your efforts in installing the solar system to Garowe General Hospital. The solar system is working powerfully and I am very happy that you did a good job in our hospital,â&#x20AC;? said the Hospital Director in Garowe, Somalia. Due to the success of the installations, more projects have been contracted and will be built in the horn of Africa 2015.

UNSPOILT PARADISES WANT TO STAY THAT WAY

S T. K I T T S , B R I T I S H V I R G I N I S L A N D S

Many an island paradise is choosing solar power over diesel and other non-renewables for their energy needs. By their very nature they are blessed with an abundance of sunshine, and the fact that island populations often rely heavily on tourism means they have a vested interest in

To find out more about our microgrid solutions for off-shore locations, please scan the QR-code.

keeping their environments as clean as possible.

ABOUT CANADIAN SOLAR

A Canadian company with global reach

A well-known global player strong on business strategy and execution

A brand accepted by many financing banks*

Highest product quality standards and quality management systems

· Leading global solar company founded 2001 · NASDAQ-listed since 2006 as CSIQ · 3 GW module production capacity · > 8.5 GW solar projects worldwide · > 9 GW solar modules delivered to customers in > 90 countries

· Led by visionary founder and experienced executive management team · Independent board of directors with over 100 years of experience in law, finance, research and manufacturing

· 14-year quality track record · Product warranty insured by leading insurance companies in Europe and USA · Prudent corporate finance management with strong balance sheet · Trade finance arranged for qualified customers

· Uses quality management system of the automotive industry in PV manufacturing (ISO 16949) · Strictly executes international quality management standards (ISO 9001:2008) · 359 quality control points from incoming materials to product delivery · Environment-friendly production following ISO 14001

* U.S.A. Bank of America, Merrill Lynch / Canada Royal Bank of Canada, National Bank of Canada, Manulife Financial / Europe Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, Standard Chartered Bank, Credit Suisse, Rabobank, BBVA, Dexia, UniCredit, la Caixa, De Lage Landen, LBBW, Crédit Agricole, Deutsche Kreditbank AG, Banesto, Natixis, Caja Madrid, HSH Nordbank, Bayern LB, Santander, Raiffeisen Bank / Japan Tokyo Tomin Bank, Mizuho Bank, Shoko Chukin Bank / China Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications

· Top module PTC rating by California Energy Commission · Top energy yield system out of 35 systems recorded by DKA SC Australia · Higher solar system power yield by PVsyst simulation software

Higher module output energy yield

· Insurance policy matches Canadian Solar’s 25-year warranty terms · Insurance underwritten by world leading insurance companies · Non-cancelable and allows third party bankruptcy rights

25-year performance warranty backed by warranty insurance

· 18 warehouses in four continents, 8 countries · Customer support team of >150 PV experts in 20 countries

Local sales and customer support

CANADIAN SOLAR PRODUCT RANGE

Solar modules Canadian Solarâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s modules are best in class in terms of power output and long term reliability. Our meticulous product design and stringent quality control ensure our modules deliver an exceptionally high PV energy yield in live PV systems. Our accredited in-house PV testing facilities guarantee all module component materials meet the highest quality standards possible.

Off-grid applications The Maple Solar System is a multifunction device capable of acting as a light source and as a charger. It provides a convenient source of mobile power for outdoor activities such as camping, boating, fishing and hiking.

PV energy storage Canadian Solar Camel Energy Storage System (ESS) is equipped with bidirectional inverter, battery pack, energy management unit and switches. The Camel ESS has two automatic power charging modes, on-grid and off-grid. When grid is down during emergency, the energy storage system will automatically switch to off-grid mode.

Solar systems Canadian Solar offers home owners complete residential solar system solutions to meet their green energy needs. Canadian Solarâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s residential solar power systems are designed to meet different building applications in system sizes of 1.5 kW (CS1500), 3.0 kW (CS3000), 5.0 kW (CS5000) and 10 kW (CS10000).

Camel ESS is a great investment in saving on your energy bill as you can charge the battery with solar energy during the day and use electricity from the battery during peak rate hours. In addition, Camel ESS system is a highly reliable energy source in emergency when utility is down.

Canadian Solar also provides customized solar system solutions for special solar energy requirements.

A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF OUR PRODUCTION SITES IN CHINA

Are you interested in seeing the quality of our module production facilities and the practices of our factories in China?

area you want to have a closer look at. A competent local team will accompany you on your visit and answer any questions you might have.

Canadian Solar would like to offer you the unusual opportunity to have a comprehensive tour of our production facilities.

Please inform your sales manager if you want to visit the factory. They will pass your request on to our customer service center. The team there will set a date for you and arrange the transfer to the hotel and the factory. It will also organise your hotel and meals*. Our team will make sure that every aspect of your onsite visit goes smoothly.

What areas are you interested in? Quality control, certification, test labs, planning, order processing? Or are you more interested in getting an overall impression of our factory? Decide for yourself which

* Please note that these arrangements are the only support we will be able to provide. The law unfortunately prevents us from covering any of the cost of your visit.

CONTACT

Headquarter Canada 545 Speedvale Avenue West Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1K 1E6 T +1 519 837 1881 F +1 519 837 2550 M sales.ca@na.canadiansolar.com

Germany Landsberger StraĂ&#x;e 94 80339 Munich, Germany T +49 (0) 89 5199689 0 F +49 (0) 89 5199689 11 M sales.eu@canadiansolar.com

U.A.E. No 115, Level-1 Incubator Building Masdar City, 135051 Abu Dhabi T +971 02 698 53 60 F +971 02 698 53 60 M sales.mi@canadiansolar.com

USA 2420 Camino Ramon, Suite 125 San Ramon, CA, USA 94583-4385 T +1 888 998 7739 F +1 925 866 2704 M sales.us@canadiansolar.com

Spain Paseo de la Castellana 79, 7th floor 28046 Madrid, Spain T +34 91 791 66 24 M sales.eu@canadiansolar.com

South Africa 26 Coachman Close Midstream 1692 South Africa M sales.za@canadiansolar.com

UK 1 Lumley Street London W1K 6TT UK M sales.uk@canadiansolar.com

China 199 Lushan Road, Suzhou New District, Jiangsu, China 215129 T +86 512 6690 8088 F +86 512 6690 8089 M sales.cn@canadiansolar.com

Brazil Ruo Barao do Triunfo 427 12th floor, Office 1204 Brooklin, Sao Paulo, Brazil, CEP 04602-001 T +55 11 509 605 25, F +55 11 509 605 25 M sales.br@canadiansolar.com

Japan Round-Cross Shinjuku 5-Chome 8F 5-17-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan 160-0022 T +81 (0) 3 5312 7301 F +81 (0) 3 5312 7302 M sales.jp@canadiansolar.com

Singapore 101 Thompson Road #15-03 United Square Singapore 307591 T +65 6572 9050 F +65 6559 4690 M sales.sg@canadiansolar.com

Japan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Project Shinjuku Mitsui Building 50F 2-1-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 163-0450 Japan T +81 (0) 3 6911 2901 F +81 (0) 3 3349 1310 M sales.jp@canadiansolar.com

India M sales.in@canadiansolar.com Australia 165 Cremorne Street, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia T +61 (03) 8609 1844 M sales.au@canadiansolar.com

Korea 201 SKHUB B/D, 431 Seolleung-ro Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea T +02 539 7541 F +02 539 7505 M sales.kr@canadiansolar.com