North American Clean Energy - July August 2010 by North American Clean Energy

VOLUME 4

Community Wind Power Excelling in the US Building-integrated PV Going beyond the rooftop

Expediting Hydrokinetic Project Reviews

PLUS The annual Regional Development Guide & Show in Print features: • Intersolar North America • HydroVision International

ISSUE 4

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VOLUME 4

ISSUE 4

contents Community Wind Power Excelling in the US Building-integrated PV Going beyond the rooftop

Expediting Hydrokinetic Project Reviews

NACE News

Trends in Solar Energy

Solar BIPV: Rooftop renewable energy key to achieving clean energy goals

July / August 2010 Volume 4, Number 4 EDITOR

PLUS The annual Regional Development Guide & Show in Print features: • Intersolar North America • HydroVision International

14 Cover photo: The “Morbacher Energielandschaft” (Morbach Energy Landscape) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Total capacity/Annual energy yield: 29.6 MW / Approximately 50 million kWh, which equals the demands of about 15,000 households.

Truths vs Myths: Micro-inverter or AC-Module inverter

Driving Ubiquitous Solar Energy Generation through BIPV

Moving Beyond the Rooftop & into the Home: Next-generation residential solar monitoring

Emission reduction: Approximately 32,500 t CO2/year. Credit: juwi Holding AG | www.juwi.com

departments Solar energy

Wind energy

Solar energy products

Michelle Froese mfroese@nacleanenergy.com ART DIRECTOR

Rommel Ramirez production@nacleanenergy.com SALES MANAGER

Ian Stuart istuart@nacleanenergy.com SALES

Ian Stuart istuart@nacleanenergy.com Jake Fidler jake@nacleanenergy.com Dave Benton dave@nacleanenergy.com CIRCULATION MANAGER

Community Wind: Taking off in the United States

Understanding Cable Protection in the Wind Industry

Show in Print: Intersolar North America

Investing in clean energy

Wake Up and Smell the Wake Effects

Regional Development Guide

Seeking Fair Winds: The small wind industry

Hydro and marine energy Show in Print: HydroVision International

Kristy Vail circulation@nacleanenergy.com ACCOUNTING

Wind energy products

Economic Curtailment of Renewable Energy

Alison Bell abell@nacleanenergy.com PUBLISHER

Ian Stuart istuart@nacleanenergy.com 255 NEWPORT DRIVE, SUITE 336

Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5H1 Phone: (604) 461-6223 North American Clean Energy is published bi-monthly by Action Media Ltd. Subscriptions: $48 per year. Foreign $89

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDE A highlight of various regions or institutions looking to expand and develop clean energy, promote companies and organizations in the industry, and bring economic growth to their city, state/province, and/or country.

Pocatello, Chubbuck, Bannock County, & the State of Idaho

Nebraska Public Power District

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

Pittsburgh Region

Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario, Canada, is a growing global sustainable energy centre and a logical choice for sustainable energy production and R&D as signiﬁcant investment is taking place. When the First Solar/Enbridge Sarnia solar farm brings the balance of its 80 MW of power on stream by the end of 2010, Sarnia-Lambton will be home to the world’s largest PV solar power generation facility. In addition, 500 MW of wind power has been announced for the area. Already a major petrochemical and reﬁning centre, Sarnia-Lambton offers manufacturers and energy providers an established industrial infrastructure, including a comprehensive energy system. Located at the heart of the Great Lakes industrial corridor, transportation routes include highway, rail, and deep water St. Lawrence Seaway port. Zoned manufacturing sites are available just minutes from the Ontario/Michigan Blue Water Bridge commercial border crossing. The University of Western Ontario’s Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus, works with business to help bring innovative new projects to the marketplace. The Park is also the location of Canada’s Bioindustrial Innovation Centre. Lambton College’s three-year Alternative Energy Engineering Technology program provides graduates trained in current and emerging energy technologies. www.sarnialambton.on.ca

The Pittsburgh region is poised to build a 21st-century economy on the foundation of the traditional and renewable energy industry. Already in the region, there is a critical mass of 700-plus companies in the global energy supply chain, as well as innovation assets, spanning government, and academic and corporate research and development. Unlike other regions in the country, Pittsburgh is rich in natural energy resources—coal and natural gas, including the Marcellus Shale natural gas play. The Marcellus Shale is the world’s largest unconventional natural gas deposit, and Pittsburgh sits directly atop it. The region boasts an exceptionally skilled workforce that is innovating, problem solving, and manufacturing to meet global supply chain demands for both traditional energy sources and renewables. Pittsburgh is a supply chain leader for companies seeking parabolic solar mirrors, electrical efﬁciency systems, and convertors and generators for offshore and other wind farms, coatings for windmill towers and ﬁberglass for windmill blades, and intelligent power grid software and services. www.pittsburghregion.org

are at 255 Newport Drive, Suite 336, Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5H1 (604) 461-6223.

Pocatello, located in Eastern Idaho, is quickly becoming a place for industries and businesses to expand. Leading the charge is Bannock Development Corporation (BDC), a non-proﬁt economic development organization focused on helping businesses create jobs through retention, expansion, and recruitment. BDC’s key focus in recruiting include alternative energy and advanced manufacturing. A local manufacturer of polysilicon for the solar industry recently completed equipment testing, and is now in limited commercial polysilicon production. Another local supplier of high-performance, energy efﬁcient, silicon solutions for green electronics, recently announced an $11 million-plus expansion at its Pocatello facility, solidifying its continued commitment to the community over the next few years. Additionally, there is approximately 400 MW of wind farms across the southeastern part of the state with another 200 MW+ in advanced planning stages. A 124 MW wind farm, which could power 37,000 average American homes, is currently under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2010. Bannock Development Corporation can help with site selection to the point of relocation. All of this is accomplished thanks to strong partnerships with the cities of Pocatello, Chubbuck, Bannock County, the State of Idaho, and community support. www.bannockdevelopment.org

Wind is one of North American’s fastest-growing power technologies, and Nebraska’s centralized location is uniquely suited to give renewable equipment manufacturers a profitable choice when locating new facilities. Proximity to future development in America’s wind corridor makes Nebraska a critical hub for timely delivery. Shipped by truck or rail, equipment can be delivered within hours, if not days, saving manufacturers and operators millions of dollars. Equally as significant, Nebraska gives manufacturers a profitable advantage by providing quality labor and low-cost energy. Due the state’s unique public power structure, industrial electrical rates are among lowest in the nation. The low cost of doing business is one of the reasons why Nebraska offers an inviting business climate. The Nebraska Advantage package rewards businesses that invest in the state and add jobs. The Nebraska Public Power District’s (NPPD) professional economic development team can assist renewable equipment manufactures in finding productive and profitable locations in Nebraska. By gathering community proposals, identifying informational and financial resources, and facilitating negotiations at the local level, NPPD works with state and local entities to ensure the best fit between companies and communities. http://sites.nppd.com

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Converting Carbon Dioxide Gas into a Clean Combination of Algae & Oxygen

Case Study: Floating Wastewater Geomembrane Cover

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editor's note

Photo by Michelle Moore

It’s tough to pick up a newspaper or turn on the radio without catching word on the tragic aftermath and clean-up efforts from the Gulf Coast oil spill, even now, nearly three months after the disaster. Though it’s easy to tune out after such mass and ongoing coverage, and ongoing finger-pointing as to who’s ultimately to blame, it’s in our best interest not to. The explosion of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig that led to the BP oil spill has been declared the greatest environmental disaster in US history (among the top three in the world). Eleven people were killed, 17 injured, and millions impacted. The damage to wildlife and ecosystems is really unquantifiable. Figures vary, but estimates are that between 125 and 145 million gallons of oil have leaked since the explosion on April 20th—that’s nearly 60,000 barrels (or 2.5 million gallons) per day. To provide some perspective: it would take approximately 14 Exxon Valdez spills to equal this one BP oil spill. Or, if you take 125 million gallons of oil and convert it to gasoline (what most Americans use it for), you get 58 million gallons of gas. That’s enough to fill up the tanks of 3.6 million cars. (Sources: www.thedailygreen.com | www.ap.org) And that doesn’t even begin to account for the financial or recovery costs of this disaster—which some say are simply unrecoverable. (According to National Geographic, for example, over 21,000 gallons of crude oil still remain on Alaska shores from the Exxon Valdez tanker leak in 1989.) The statistics are countless and none of them positive. So, where do we go from here? Back in the 90s, Greenpeace ran an advertisement in the New York Times that read: “It wasn't the Exxon Valdez captain's driving that caused the Alaskan oil spill. It was yours.”

A powerful statement. One that offers a shift in perspective and responsibility. Of course it doesn’t mean accountable sources shouldn’t remain accountable. But it is to say that every environmental disaster is worth a little self-reflection and, perhaps, this one in particular, which is still seriously affecting our planet, deserves a lot of reflection (not to mention, action). Food for thought anyways. At the very least, the disaster is affecting public support for offshore drilling. Back in February of this year, 63% of the public supported more offshore drilling as a policy response to address our energy needs, according to a Pew Research Center poll, with 33% opposed. More recently, 52% of those polled opposed offshore drilling, meaning support has fallen to 44%. In this issue of North American Clean Energy, we consider renewable energy from a somewhat smaller-scale than usual, and focus on Community Wind (CW) power and Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). We also offer our annual Regional Development Guide, which highlights some cities and states/provinces that are expanding green energy development in their region. For ways you can help make a difference in relation to the oil spill, search online. There are plenty of opportunities—from sending a political message (the National Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club offer online form letters) to ways to donate money and even hair (yes, hair, as it helps collect oil; check out http://matteroftrust.org).

Michelle Froese

news bites

Energy audit tool A new mobile data collection and management platform software streamlines process and increases value of commercial energy audits. kW-Field is a software package designed for a touch-screen tablet PC. The customizable program allows an engineer to include only those factors they want considered in a specific building. The field auditor is then guided by a series of prompts for inputs. The data collected can then be directly uploaded into an accepted efficiency analysis program, such as ENERGY STAR, for immediate ratings and efficiency improvement recommendations. kW-Field brings a quantum leap of data collection efficiency to the $3.5 billion US commercial energy auditing industry, at a time when demand for audits is significantly outpacing auditors’ current capacity. This imbalance is projected to worsen as a direct result of economic stimulus funding and commercial tax credits aimed at improving energy efficiency for buildings—some 40% of the energy consumed in the US. kWhOURS Inc. | www.kwhours.com

Regional roadmap for biofuels

US consumers demand more solar

Tom Vilsack released a report outlining both the current state of renewable transportation fuels efforts in America and a plan to develop regional strategies to increase the production, marketing, and distribution of biofuels. The report provides information on current production and consumption capacities, as well as projections to meet the Renwewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) mandate to use 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year in America’s fuel supply by 2022. USDA plans to adopt regional strategies that allow the placement of biorefineries in areas of economic distress through the leveraging of regional resources for transportation, labor and feedstocks. The regional strategy provides greater potential for economic benefit.

A new survey reveals that two-thirds of Americans believe solar technology should play a greater role in meeting the country’s energy needs. Applied Materials, Inc., a supplier of solar panel manufacturing equipment, conducted its “Second Annual Survey” to gauge the public’s current knowledge and opinion of solar energy usage in the US. Accordingly, Americans are strongly supportive of integrating renewable energy sources into the country’s overall energy mix… • Consistent with last year’s results, two-thirds of Americans strongly agree that solar energy needs to have a greater role in the country’s energy output; • More Americans are willing to invest in renewable energy (67% versus 53%); 49% would be willing to pay $5 or more per month if their utility company increased its use of renewable energy, compared to 35% in 2009; and • Three-quarters of respondents felt it was very important that the current US energy bill address increasing renewable energy (75%) and decreasing US dependence on foreign oil (73%). For the complete survey results and key findings visit http://blog.amat.com/solstice.

Review the full report at www.usda.gov.

Applied Materials, Inc. | www.appliedmaterials.com

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Ed Feo is a partner in the international law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. He co-chairs the Firm’s project finance and energy practice and is a member of the Firm’s Global Executive Committee.

Economic Slowdown and the Deployment of Renewables By Ed Feo | Partner, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP

long with 20,000 other enthusiasts, I attended the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER 2010 Conference & Exhibition, held this year in Dallas, Texas (http://2010.windpowerexpo.org). The exhibit floor was especially impressive, having expanded to nearly 370,000 square feet while accommodating 1,400 exhibitors from 22 countries. The wind industry in the United States installed over 10,000 MW in 2009, for a world-leading total capacity of 35,000 MW. Very impressive for an industry that in early 2000 and installed capacity in the US of less than 2,500 MW. To be expected, the AWEA show was an opportunity for the industry and its trade organization to trumpet the accomplishments of the past year, and to reiterate its bright future. The overall theme was that “wind works,” as an energy source and as a provider of jobs in the US. Despite the overall positive tone, a couple of trends were noted that would suggest some uncertainty for the wind industry—and for renewables in general. One major issue is the strength of demand for new renewable energy given the state of the economy. More than one developer commented on the difficulty of obtaining new long-term power purchase agreements with decent pricing. A longterm power purchase agreement is critical to obtaining financing in today’s market. Merchant plants are not presently financeable and financial hedges, as an alternative to power purchase agreements, are difficult to access. Developers are finding that utilities, even with mandatory renewable portfolio standard obligations, are slower in reaching an agreement or are looking for lower prices. Why? The reason is simply that most utilities are still subject to load demand destruction. One utility representative I spoke with said their industrial load had declined 11% from 2008 to 2009. Lower demand for electricity is being matched by lower demand for other energy resources such as natural gas. Reduced demand for feedstock commodities and for electricity means that electric prices have softened considerably. So, the utilities are less interested in buying because they don’t need the energy for their load and, when they are buying, they offer lower prices. At the same time, the utilities are seeing a longer line of vendors of renewable energy. Recent RPS solicitations have seen a record number of responses, meaning that competition for power contracts is becoming fiercer. I have directly witnessed the two-fold effect of increased competition for power contracts. One is price reductions: a price that resulted in an award a year ago will not get on the shortlist today. Secondly, the willingness of buyers to negotiate is limited. More and more, I am seeing sellers having to accept the standard terms, or be shown the door.

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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The challenge of the market for the sale of energy is translated into a challenge for the vendors of equipment and services to energy sellers. In 2009, the robust level of wind energy project installations was driven by deferral of projects from late 2008, and the further need to deal with turbine deliveries committed in prior years. The industry was in strong equipment buying mode in 2007, with commitments into the succeeding two years. As we proceed through 2010, the backlog of equipment is being worked off. Vendors continue to look for new orders. But their customers, in turn, are facing tougher pricing and reduced demand from their customers. Therefore, equipment sales and prices have slackened. One expert estimated that current prices for wind turbines are off their peak by as much as 15%. Solar panels have seen steeper declines. This brings us back to the AWEA exhibit hall floor. Of the 1,400 vendors, 50 were from Germany, 30 from Denmark, and 25 from Spain. Many of these are major equipment vendors. More noteworthy, this year included a strong contingent of over 30 manufacturers from China selling parts, components, and complete turbines. The Chinese turbine suppliers currently have a very small presence in the US market, and are not likely to arrive with significant deliveries for another two years. That said, experts are forecasting the Chinese manufactured turbines as selling for as much as 20% less than US or European machines. The entry of major new players in the US equipment market will make life more difficult for vendors already hungry for new sales. Another challenge for renewables is regulatory uncertainty—especially the future of the Section 1603 Department of Treasury grant. That program has been (in my view) the most successful federal subsidy program for renewables by underwriting more than $3 billion of project costs with direct grants. Projects will only qualify for the program if construction is commenced by the end of 2010. Understandably, developers are pushing hard to get their projects into construction this year, rather than take the risk of the grant program deadline not being extended. The grant extension, or replacement of it with a refundable tax credit, was discussed to great length at the AWEA meeting. Of course, no one can accurately predict when or if the program will continue. The conclusion? For energy developers, softening demand and uncertain incentives will require deft project management. For vendors, the potential hole in the pipeline of energy projects and increased competition will likely mean financial distress for some. As always, the energy project business remains a game for the hardy. Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP | www.milbank.com

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solar energy

Trends in Solar Energy By Jack Calderon & Chaim Lubin

quarterly transactions within the solar energy market. These statistics clearly show the increase of transactions within the solar industry since 2005, as the industry continues to expand. This year is on track to be another record year from a transaction perspective, partially driven by the increase in consolidation transactions. Within these transactions, consolidation represented 50% of total transaction activity or 16 deals in the first quarter of 2010. The next largest category of transactions was private equity investors with seven transactions, or 22% of transactions in Q1 2010. Diversification into the solar energy industry by corporations and investors accounted for five transactions in the first quarter, or 16% of the total, while vertical integration accounted for four transactions, or approximately 13% of the quarterly total. From a geographic perspective, 66% of transactions occurred in Europe in the first quarter of 2010, which should not be surprising considering the history and leadership of the European market within the solar energy industry. The number of transactions within the US and Canada in Q1 2010 was five, or 16% of the total. Cross-border transactions accounted for three transactions, or 9% of the total, while Asia represented three transactions of the quarterly total. Transactions occurred throughout multiple sectors of the solar energy value chain. In Q1 2010, there were 14 acquisitions of companies categorized as producers of solar energy, or 44% of total transactions. This quarter saw eight transactions, or 25%, of EPC integrators or developers, while there were four transactions for cells and modules producers, or 13% of the total. There were three transactions of companies categorized as wafer/ingot producers and two transactions with companies categorized as solar equipment providers, or 9% and 6% of the total, respectively. Finally, there were no transactions with vertically integrated target companies, and there was one acquisition of a research firm focused on the solar energy industry. The increase in consolidation activity highlights the repositioning in the solar industry as companies look to capture technology, build, scale, and grow their solar project portfolios through acquisition. In particular, there has been a recurring interest in companies that are installers, integrators, or developers of solar systems and have solar project portfolios as the larger global players are looking to enter or capture more scale in the US market. In addition, large cell and module manufacturers are looking to purchase projects or project portfolios in order to supply modules in the development of larger solar farms. These continuing trends have the potential to provide opportunities for companies to monetize value at attractive valuations. Many companies and solar projects left 2009 financially weakened due to J#H# EViZci Cd# +!-,'!%(. the economy and general decline in ;dgZ^\c EViZcih >hhjZY the credit markets, which limited their available capital. However, some or)NTRODUCING THE NEW 3,)# 0IN WITH A 3ELF ,OCKING )MPLANTED ganizations have found solace through #OTTER )T S LIKE A PIN AND COTTER ALL IN ONE a merger or acquisition, therefore, en#/34 3!6).' 15)#+ ,/#+).' 3%#52% hancing their platform and gaining more )F YOU RE USING LABOR INTENSIVE PINS

financial stability. Now, with the brighter 'REAT FO COTTERS OR CLIPS TRY SOMETHING 3,)# &AST 3 R outlook at the end of the first quarter of ECURE ! 2010, these stronger companies are wellS S E M &2%% 3!-0,%3 B 3OLAR &R LY OF positioned to take advantage of what AMES looks to be a very positive year. 0ANELS

he market for solar energy continues to grow and is providing many opportunities for companies throughout the value chain. Although 2009 was a challenging year economically, solar installations managed to increase over 40% globally with total installed capacity reaching greater than 21GW, as reported by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), by the end of the year. Many in the industry are forecasting even greater growth during 2010, potentially seeing annual installations for the year achieve greater than 10GW for the first time in history. In the United States, solar continues to become a larger component of our energy portfolio with total installations now greater than 1.7GW, making the US the fourth largest market for solar in the world. A more recent trend has been the growth of utility scale solar projects, which have more than doubled since 2007. The major factors behind this trend are the national push toward having utilities source more energy from renewable sources and, in particular, the renewable portfolio standards that are coming to a head in California. These trends have also concentrated solar for the time being in states that have been more progressive with these types of requirements, such as California and New Jersey, which combined account for almost 70% of the US solar market. Despite these positive growth trends, companies in the solar industry have not been immune to the difficulties in the credit market and overall economy, which has impacted their market valuations. According to Lincoln Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solar Stock Index, solar companies underperformed the S&P 500 for the first quarter of 2010 as they have been hurt by depressed financial performance. These same companies, however, are still trading at significantly high EBITDA multiples with cell and module companies exhibiting trading multiples greater than 20x EBITDA. These high trading multiples potentially underscore the marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief in the overall momentum and significant growth opportunities in the industry. This also presents a potential opportunity for companies looking to exit in this market environment through a merger with or acquisition by another entity. Overall M&A activity in the solar industry continues to be very strong with 32 completed solar energy transactions in the first quarter of 2010, as reported by Lincoln Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solar Energy Deal Reader, which tracks M&A activity in the industry. This number is tied with the last three quarters for the highest level of

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JULY/AUGUST 2010

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Conﬁgure-to-order solar combiners Bentek Solar introduces the first string combiners in a family of standard and configure-to-order (CTO) solar combiners that surpass the solar industry’s most demanding requirements. These string combiners are designed with innovative features aimed at increasing reliability and flexibility while reducing installation time and costs. The Bentek Solar combiners provide numerous features including models in 600VDC and 1000VDC, integrated disconnects with load-break capability, UL1741 as well as CSA section 107 approval, maximum GF protection, complete data collection, real-time systems monitoring, and availability. Additionally, the Bentek Solar combiners allow for an easy integration and reduced requirements for field service and repair. Also, with the Bentek Solar combiners numerous variables can be monitored simultaneously including tracking, shadowing, contamination, breakage, shorting, opens, and material degradation. Bentek Solar | www.benteksolar.com

Back to Black! PV module series Schüco has released two PV module series for the North American market. The new, all-black PV modules of the “MS 05” series with 170 Wp / 175 Wp / 180 Wp output power are ideal for residential rooftop installations. The light weight of the module (only 33 pounds) makes it easy to handle by one person. The small footprint helps optimize PV system design and installation, even on irregular roofs. Featuring a black anodized aluminum frame, black monocrystalline PV cells, and black backsheet foil, these modules perfectly compliment dark asphalt shingle roofs. Schüco also offers all key components of the racking system (L-brackets, flashing, rails, and module clamps) in black to provide an aesthetically impressive “all black” system. To target large commercialscale systems, Schüco has also designed the commercial-grade “PS 09” series. Featuring panel output power of 220 Wp / 225 Wp / 230 Wp, the polycrystalline modules with silver frame and white backsheet ensure the highest output and best cost to performance ratio. Schüco | www.schuco-usa.com

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solar energy

Solar BIPV

Rooftop renewable energy key to achieving clean energy goals By Mike Tommasi

hen it comes to renewable energies, most people tend to think of largescale energy farms as the most efficient way of diminishing dependence on CO2 generating fossil fuels. Large-scale solar and wind farms are viable if two key prerequisites are satisfied: 1. The availability of huge tracts of unused land; and 2. Incentives, usually in the form of an attractive Feed-In Tariff (FIT). Experience in Europe, however, has shown that land is scarce and high FITs generate distortions. For lack of available unused land, greed has encouraged some farmers and investors to take perfectly good productive agricultural land and convert it to energy production, with potentially catastrophic strategic consequences. Before governments stepped in and put the brakes on such endeavors, thousands of agricultural hangars were popping up all over Europe for the sole purpose of supporting PV panels. These ground stations were benefitting from the higher FIT for BIPV, but the buildings served no other purpose—they were not really buildings at all. Real buildings have an enormous potential for energy production. Europe and America are covered with billions of square metres of rooftop surface that could be used for generating energy. In France alone, retail stores account for 66 million square metres*, enough to host about 5 GWp of PV panels, equivalent to about

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BIPV solar products should meet the following requirements: • High mechanical strength. Most panels are tested to 2400 Pa (50 psf), but the higher 5400 Pa (113 psf) rating is a must. BIPV roof products should be treadable. • High resistance to impact. Such as from hailstones; IEC certification involves tests of this kind. • Fire resistance. Class A rating is essential, especially in areas like California or southern France or Italy. No standard solar panel meets class A criteria and requires a class A subroof. • Recyclability. Most panels are based on non-recyclable EVA encapsulants and Tedlar backsheets. • Aesthetically pleasing. Standard solar panels are often unsightly. • High efficiency. Crystalline cells are a must; amorphous silicon prices have reached a plateau, while their efficiencies remain too low for practical use on limited area residential roofs. • Easy to install. Solar BIPV products should install as easily as regular roof tiles. Normal solar panels require complex aluminium frames that are difficult to install. • Weatherproofing. Normal solar panels are notorious for leaking during severe storms. BIPV solar products should be as good as a roof tile in this respect. Solar roof tiles meeting some of these criteria are available from Imerys, Atlantis, Eternit, Solar Century, Korasun, Saint Gobain, Centrosolar, Wattea, and from System Photonics. * Source: INSEE 2004; www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?ref_id=ip1095&reg_id=0 Article courtesy of System Photonics. The company offers BIPV roof tiles that meet all of the above criteria by virtue of their glass-on-ceramic frameless construction using ionomer encapsulants.

1.877.NGE.4SUN

NACE_JulyAug2010.indd 1 JULY/AUGUST 12

5 TWh of energy per year, which is over 1% of the yearly national electricity consumption. Residential roofs present an even larger potential. In France, there are 30 million homes totalling 2.4 billion square metres. Assuming 30% of that area were available on the roof for PV, it represents about 70GWp and a yearly production of 70 TWh, which is 16% of the yearly national energy consumption. The example above shows that residential roofs represent a huge potential for PV electricity production. Feed-In Tariffs in most European countries and in Ontario, Canada are so high that a residential PV installation pays for itself in about five years or less. For instance, the microFIT program now available in Ontario yields $0.802/kWh for 20 years for systems under 10kWp. In France, the tariff for strictly Building-integrated PV is 0.58€/kWh for 20 years for systems under 3kWp (plus there is an 8000€ one-time tax credit), and in the UK the tariff for retrofitting a roof under 4kWp is 0.413£/kWh for 25 years. A typical financial model would be as follows. In southern France the production potential is around 1300 kWh yearly per kWp of installed power. With a fiscal limit of 3kWp, a house in France can produce 3900kWh per year and, therefore, bill the utility 2262€ per year for 20 years. If the system is purchased at 18000€, given that the tax credit will be 8000€, the homeowner must get financing to cover the remaining 10000€. With revenue of 2262€ per year, this easily covers the loan repayment over five years, and for the following 15 years the revenue from the utility is pure profit for the homeowner. The problem with most solar PV offerings for residential roofs is that they are based on regular solar panels with a complex mechanical structure to adapt these to rooftop usage. Solar panels were never designed to act as roof tiles and, as a result, they are fairly fragile, can be quite unsightly due to their aluminium frames, and they can be difficult to integrate onto a roof while ensuring the correct type of weatherproofing. The aluminium frames of solar panels are notorious for collecting dirt, which eventually interferes with the generating capability of the installation. Neverthelss, the greatest obstacle to residential PV is that solar panels are simply unattractive. A home is most often the largest investment a family will make, so it is understandable that most people will think twice before allowing someone to take away their perfectly sound roof tiles and replace them with PV panels. A new generation of BIPV roof tiles have recently been developed in an attempt to counter the above objections. Although some products are no better than the classic framed panels, there have been alternatives.

System Photonics | www.system-photonics.com 6/25/2010 5:37:38 PM

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solar energy

Truths vs Myths: Micro-inverter or AC-Module inverter

A SolarMarkt AG Company

Solar Distribution & Project Development Session Solar, a subsidiary of the Global SolarMarkt Group, is a national distributor and project integrator. We offer:

aName Brand Products aProject Management Services aPPA Facilitation aStrong Working Partnerships By challenging ourselves to grow the PV market worldwide with high-end products, technical innovation and commercial project development, we’ve become one of the largest distributors of solar energy systems in Europe and the United States.

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icro-inverters provide module level performance visibility. Although at first glance this feature may seem desirable, upon closer examination it becomes clear that there is also an inherent flaw with this feature. A system owner who carefully watches their PV system performance, and does not understand the mechanics of PV, is liable to panic when faced with such multifarious data points. Consider that one underperforming panel could cause any tech-savvy homeowner immediate alert. The overall performance of the system may still be at an acceptable level; however, the system owner is likely to contact the installer and complain about their “underperforming” system. This will not only increase maintenance calls, but also user training costs. Add in the higher upfront cost of the hardware and software, and the lifecycle costs associated with maintaining this owner’s system is higher than it would be with a string inverter. Keep in mind most micro-inverter technologies boast increases in kWh annually of anywhere from 4% to 10%. Therefore, the ability to monitor the performance of each module presents convenient and inconvenient scenarios for the system owner and operator. At the other end of the spectrum are system owners who prefer the convenience of a built-in inverter display. This system owner will want to check if their inverter works properly without additional accessories and monitoring software. String inverters, from most manufacturers, are sold with a display that shows the most pertinent performance data. The micro-inverter system requires use of monitoring hardware and software to access performance data. Not all system owners want this level of performance data. High performance, accurate monitoring, and easy maintenance are all important aspects of a well-designed and properly installed solar system. However, it is physically and financially overwhelming over the course of 20 years to make certain every panel in every 1.5kW system in the field performs to 100%. Micro-inverter MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) is touted frequently as a reliability metric. Yet, most current commercially available versions of the micro-inverter concept have been on the market for no more than three years. This is an unacceptably imperfect measurement of reliability as the products are not “tested,” except by very basic mathematical analysis of the probability of component failures. Many modern conveniences enjoyed today are tested by this same method. Imagine, however, that a car’s crash safety rating was based solely on mathematical evaluations of impacts through modeling alone. This is convenient, but not practical in the real world. But this method of validating the effectiveness and reliability of micro-inverter components has been used since the inception of the AC module concept.

Thorough research was conducted by many organizations in the 1990’s about the longevity and reliability of micro-inverters. One study published in 1997 mentioned that: “It is expected that before the next century 50,000 to 100,000 AC modules (with micro-inverters) will be installed. With these numbers, the reliability of AC modules (with micro-inverters) will be proven by the year 2000” (http://www. oke-services.nl/downloads/199807_acmodules_paper_wcpec02.pdf). Why all the hype with no results? As with many other “revolutionary” ideas funded with vast sums of investment capital, arguments have been theoretical and based on scientific and mathematical calculations—yet to be proven in the real world. To use MTBF is questionable for at least two reasons. First, it is apparent that in-depth, long-term testing of the products currently for sale has not been possible within the time frame of the current microinverter manufacturer’s first successful launch, until today. Second, MTBF cannot realistically predict the reliability of the product’s individual components. It is important not to forget that bad batches of components make it through to final production, even for the most trusted and experienced manufacturers, and that passive devices such as resistors, if compromised, can halt the proper function of a PV inverter. Some say it’s beneficial to distribute failure points in a PV system. Consider that a micro-inverter is a small device consisting of well over 100 electronic components, and that each component is a possible point of failure. Therefore, one effectively increases the potential points of failure by utilizing micro-inverters. Additionally, micro-inverters must be installed and operate daily in harsh, high heat environments. These ambient conditions quickly decrease the life of the components, regardless of the temperature ratings. Most research refers to vague and, otherwise undefined “test” sites with little to no definitive details about the temperatures found in the inverters (www.oke-services.nl/downloads/200909_acmodules_paper_24eupvsec.doc). No reference is made to the duration of the test, only the size, site location, and model number of the micro-inverter, and/or reference to a competitive string inverter. Few articles, if any, mention how long temperatures were measured on testing sites, or mention the orientation or azimuth that is usually referenced, or whether or not competing arrays were identical to the test array are presented. Large thermal deviations over time certainly affect the electromechanical connections of the components inside the inverter via expansion and contraction, and this degrades performance reliability. Incidentally, the location of the micro-inverter installation will subject the product to more frequent and probable surges from nearby lightning strikes. Most micro-inverters provide limited circuit protection (small surges up to 6kV seem standard; the peak

current uses is relatively low compared to the significantly higher real-world surges), as per UL 1741. A string inverter, on the other hand, includes heavy duty EMC filters to protect against high-frequency line interference and transient spikes on both the PV input and the AC output. Semiconductors that have higher power ratings designed to withstand longer term and higher energy transient conditions, large overvoltage varistors, and spark gaps to protect power semiconductors from high-energy transients found on the gridside, and DC overvoltage varistors to protect against transients and surge pulses. A micro-inverter is more susceptible to damage from grid transients and surges from near lightning strikes. In this context, micro-inverters represent a single point of failure, as all of the inverters will inevitably fail (as would any other product in catastrophic situations); thereby, again negating the benefit of distributed failure points while considering a common PV mishap. When this happens, all micro-inverters will need to be replaced at a huge cost, which includes downtime and re-installation costs. Here it appears beneficial to use a string inverter, which represents a single point of replacement. Most micro-inverters cannot be repaired. String inverters can be repaired, recycled, and re-used. When a micro-inverter fails, they will likely have to be thrown away. The units are completely set in epoxy resin potting compound, which cannot be removed without harsh chemicals. Shading mitigation is a serious issue for this industry. In a system that uses a string inverter, the poorest performing module will determine the system’s overall harvested power. With a micro-inverter system, each module is an independent, optimized power producer. Regardless, it is unwise to mount solar modules where there is significant chance of shade. It won’t matter which inverter the installer chooses as no amount of harvesting will replace absent irradiation. This argument means microinverters make sense for only a small portion of the residential PV market. The final argument is in regards to the costeffectiveness of the micro-inverter options currently available. Based on industry research on MSRP pricing at leading distributors of PV equipment, micro-inverter systems are simply more expensive. A comparison of the costs of two 5 kW PV systems—one with a string inverter and the other using a micro inverter— demonstrates that a micro-inverter system, plus monitoring, is nearly twotimes the cost of a comparable KACO string inverter system with a watchDOG monitoring solution (utilizing identical panels and BoS components). When the same comparison was done for a 100 kW system using these two inverter technologies, the difference is even more significant. The cost of using microinverters for a system of this size is almost

three-times higher than using a string inverter. Estimated shipping costs were considered in this analysis. An often overlooked fact for smaller systems is that the weight of a micro-inverter shipment is usually double that of a string inverter. The weight of the inverters necessary to complete the analysis of the 5 kW reference system is more than twice as high as the weight of one string inverter. Therefore, on top of higher upfront product cost there will be higher shipping costs.

In today’s dynamic solar industry, micro-inverter technology is commonly considered. However, residential system costs must continue to drop to be attractive to the home owner. There are definitive theoretical benefits to the concept of the micro-inverter. But at the forefront of this discussion should be pressure to reduce the cost of micro-inverters. These pressures to reduce costs will eventually demand compromises be made, which will inevitably affect their reliability. KACO new energy | www.kaco-newenergy.com

solar energy

Driving Ubiquitous Solar Energy Generation through BIPV By Udi Paret

he square footage available on building rooftops, car parks, or other structures is not sufficient to allow for enough on-site electricity generation to get us to the holy grail of creating net zero energy buildingsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or buildings that generate as much energy as they consume. If, as a society, we want to generate significant amounts of on-site renewable power without using up large swaths of land, as required by ground-mount solar and wind or biofuel production, cost-effective solutions are required for using the building envelope (and, in particular, windows) for both energy generation and energy efficiency. Over the last decade, the adoption of renewable energy has accelerated as the effects of climate change become more accepted and energy security threats more apparent. However, in the US renewable energy still accounts for a relatively small portion of the overall generation, with solar only contributing a mere 0.07%. This

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percentage is increasing as the economics of the solar market become more favorable with equipment price declines and supportive public policies. But, it is still insignificant in aggregate. Siting renewable energy projects is a big source of cost and delay and, as a result, the concept of distributed generationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;smaller power plants located closer to energy demandâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;has become a large growth market. The energy demand is also in buildings (both residential and commercial), which account for 70% of the use of power plant-generated electricity, according to the US Department of Energy. Furthermore, a staggering 34% of this energy is lost through poor building efficiency. This represents a (multi-billion dollar) opportunity to add value in the built environment by increasing on-site renewable power generation and by improving energy efficiency without disrupting the existing building process. Photovoltaic modules started appearing on buildings in the 1970s, and by the 1990s the first PV products designed to be integrated into the building envelope appeared. An industry was born. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products are broadly considered to be building elements that have PV electricity generation capability.

The International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme has defined BIPV as: Natural integration of PV systems: PV systems that are architecturally pleasing within the context of the building, good material and color composition; PV systems that adapt well to overall modularity, the visual aspect of the grid, which is in harmony with the building and creates a satisfactory composition; PV systems that are appropriate to the context of the building and the integration of which are well-designed; use of PV that has generated an innovative concept. Much like this detailed definition, however, all current definitions miss one important characteristic: the ability to improve overall efficiency. Beyond power generation and aesthetics, it is this significant third benefit that stands to advance the utilization of BIPV products by helping mitigate one-third of the energy wasted through inefficiency in most buildings. Award-winning international architect Sir Norman Foster is famously quoted as claiming, “Solar architecture is not about fashion—it is about survival.” Though a grandiose statement, it does speak to the huge potential BIPV technology has in terms of climate change and energy security. It will largely be up to architects to drive the adoption of BIPV into the fundamentals of building design. Up until recently, the inclusion of BIPV technology has been relatively limited—to curtain walls, roof, or shadowing systems—and has required a high level of architectural and engineering expertise. This level of complexity has kept costs high and adoption low. The market, therefore, needs a product that can easily be integrated into existing building design and construction processes. For example, new technology has resulted in the world’s first integrated Photovoltaic Glass Unit (PVGU). This is a product that is built on the form factor of the ubiquitous Insulated Glass Unit that can easily integrate into existing processes. Now if the industry is successful in combining these three value propositions in integrated products, it is likely that BIPV will become the main driver of solar energy adoption over the next decade. The United States Department of Energy estimates that it has the potential to generate up to half the electricity needed in the country and, most importantly, where it is needed most— the point of consumption. To achieve this, Building-integrated PV needs to

overcome two remaining barriers to mass adoption: improve economics by delivering improved building energy efficiency and energy generation, and increasing its ease-of-use as a construction material. If solar developers, architects, engineers, and builders focus on these factors, we’ll likely see a dramatic increase in PV throughout the built environment.

Udi Paret is vice president of business development and marketing at Pythagoras Solar. Pythagoras Solar focuses on the creation of PV solar devices, such as glass, that replace conventional building materials while improving the energy efficiency. Pythagoras Solar | www.pythagoras-solar.com

Will your module last? Put it to the test. Your company may be a market leader, but are your products ready for the long haul? One sure way to know is to employ Atlas testing products and services designed specifically for the solar energy market. With our proprietary Atlas 25PLUS Comprehensive Test Program, we can determine how PV modules will stand up to UV, salt spray corrosion, moisture, heat, freezing temperatures and extreme outdoor conditions. Put the elements to work for you and gain a reputation for reliability and durability. Visit www.solardurability.com today to request a free white paper on the Atlas 25PLUS program.

Introducing the new Atlas XR360 PV Module Weather Durability Testing System Combining the advancements in environmental chamber and xenon solar simulation technology, the XR360 comes in three models with capacity to test more than 90% of current PV modules. • Chamber is equipped with four high performance water-cooled xenon arc lamps • Full climatic functionality • Expanded capability to run IEC environmental tests

North American Clean Energy

solar energy

SOLAR ENERGY FROM BAVARIA Exhibitors' Forum with presentations

Next-generation residential solar monitoring

Intersolar North America, San Francisco Moscone West Convention Center, Level 1, Booth 7623

www.cluster-energietechnik.de

Moving Beyond the Rooftop & into the Home By Ron Pitt

July 15th, 2010 10:30 – 13:00 Topics Partners Photo: Schletter

• • • •

High quality polysilicon Combi modules BIPV-systems Mounting Systems

Get-together with Bavarian snacks

for s t n rs e ne f o a p ic W om a C t l k o n otov Schu h P ng i r u t ac anuf

Schunk Graphite Technology Schunk Graphite Technology and associated members of the global Schunk Group manufacture a complete line of products used in the production of photovoltaic wafers. These include wafer carriers and boats for coating processes, a full line of furnace components for crystal growing, as well as purified products pyrolytic carbon or p ducts and those containing pro g either py pyro silicon carbide coatings. Schunk used in these products nk manufactures the materials use us and can work with you to optimize the th products for the greatest gre eatest efficiency in your processes. processes We We support our broad offering of products with sales, customer service, and technical experts across all e of North America.

W146 N9300 Held Drive, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 ÚãØãÀã ÞÀ{×ãôÚaÚìììÀÓb å¨ ÐJ» ÜvÀb¬£

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s the residential solar industry matures, consumer expectations expand to encompass previously overlooked aspects of the technology. It is no longer enough for a homeowner to boast of the benefits of solar power as he nods toward his PV panels. The market is expanding well beyond the early adopters, ideologues, hobbyists, and tinkerers to include a wide variety of users with diverse needs and expectations. Among other things, homeowners want to be shown exactly how much money their solar system is making them. Although the solar industry has moved at a slower pace, there are parallels to the computer revolution of the last decades, where solar users are beginning to expect more choices and a far more robust user-interface that allows them to optimize, troubleshoot, and readily see the value of their investment. Traditional solar monitoring has typically fallen into two general categories: 1. Simple in-home displays or computer programs that provide a basic readout of kiloWattHours (kWHr) generated, potentially including some peripheral information about environmental conditions; and 2. Monitoring service subscriptions offered through solar integrators; sold as a service with monthly or annual charges that may enable proactive troubleshooting from an integrator who receives more detailed technical information about the health of the installation. These models will still have a valuable place in the clean energy offerings of most dealers and integrators. However, the increasingly diverse nature of solar buyers will have expectations that require a user experience that is simple, yet even more comprehensive in the information it provides. Fortunately, a new breed of residential energy monitoring systems, born in the era of smart grid development, provides solar integrators, dealers, and ultimately end-users with the same sort of user-friendly interface they have come to expect from their computers. These new systems offer an assortment of benefits to address the needs of a broad range of users including enhancements to traditional monitoring that effectively enables in-home net metering and personal load management, smart messaging that adapts to individual user requirements, as well as privacy features to assure end-users ultimate control of their personal energy consumption data. Enhanced real-time monitoring

Virtually all solar monitors provide some display of kWHrs generated. The next-generation monitoring systems build on this to provide real-time displays of both energy generation and consumption with meaningful details that show circuit-by-circuit loads in both kWHr and dollars, based on the user’s actual utility rate tables. These energy dashboards allow the user to see the impact of load changes immediately, and can include easy to understand graphic features such as: • Home floor plans identifying individual loads with room-by-room or wholehouse detail; • Segmented monitoring of multiple generation sources; • Charts and graphs indicating net energy use over user-selectable periods— from hours to years; • Real-time breakdown of utility billing information with explanations of various charges; and

• Printable status and savings reports defined by the user that can help the user see the savings from their solar investment. Messaging & alerts

Since most users don’t sit in front of their computers all day, the latest monitoring systems store data for viewing at any convenient time as a matter of course, and can also can send out messaging via SMS text, e-mail, or other means based on user-defined parameters. These messages can include assessments of energy saving opportunities based on individual usage patterns, as well as notifications of energy “hogs,” malfunctioning appliances, vampire loads, and solar system performance issues. Messages can further be defined to notify the system integrator of problems so that they can respond to issues proactively, or assist in troubleshooting. While some manufacturers of the new breed of monitors still use a subscription model for some or all of these services, others require no additional fees after the initial system purchase.

Bonding sealant Christopher Associates Inc. introduces Tonsan’s 1523 Rail Bonding Sealant. Tonsan 1523 has been formulated in cooperation with several of the world’s largest thin-film module manufacturers, and exhibits significantly superior electrical and mechanical performance, as well as unparalleled weather resistance. With a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certifications, Tonsan is able to offer some of the most advanced and cost-effective solutions in the solar industry. Christopher Associates | www.christopherweb.com

Solar thermal control technology

Feel the heat! VBus®Touch – the solar system at your ﬁngertips

Privacy in the age of smart energy

Just as security issues were overlooked at the dawn of the Internet era, many have failed to notice the personal information that is tied to energy usage data. With the growing availability of detailed energy use information come new issues relating to privacy. Apart from concerns about lifestyle data being mined for marketing purposes, it is important to be aware that patterns of energy consumption can be misused to determine when occupants go to work, leave on vacation, or where they are in the home. Unlike a breach of financial data, issuing a new account number cannot rectify misuse of these private facts. The safest and most secure systems are those that keep the bulk of usage details within the home network. Though some consumers may think that easy web access is a handy convenience, it is vital that system integrators be aware of the potential issues involved and take these factors into consideration when recommending a monitoring system. Overall, new options in solar monitoring can be a real boon to solar providers by giving customers convenient, easy to use tools to help optimize their solar systems, troubleshoot problems, further reduce their energy bills, and watch the return on their investment in no-nonsense dollars and cents. EcoDog | www.ecodoginc.com

Visualisation was yesterday – VBus®Touch is now! The new RESOL app for the Apple iPad makes your solar yield palpable – worldwide. Easy to install and designed for intuitive operation Different displays and diagrams Interactive display of data records in the progression chart Compatible with the iPhone and the iPod touch Basic version available free-of-charge on the App Store Add-ons with new features coming soon

To visualise an individual system with VBus®Touch, a RESOL controller with a VBus® interface (e. g. DeltaSol® BX) and a datalogger are required. To enable worldwide system access, the datalogger simply requires a connection to the Internet.

VBus® is a registered trademark of RESOL GmbH App Store, iPad, iPod touch and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

www.resol.com

solar energy

Motion system for ultrasonic spray pyrolysis applications Sono-Tek Corporation has developed an ultrasonic coating system to meet the needs of spray pyrolysis applications, often used in thin-film solar cell manufacturing. The FlexiCoat SC features a low oxygen (less than 3% oxygen), fully sealed spray chamber with 1/2" lexan windows for safely spraying solvents at high temperatures. A high temperature heat plate (up to 500° Celsius) is used to heat substrates prior to ultrasonic coating, resulting in uniform pyrolyzed TCO layers such as Indium or Zinc metal compounds onto thin-film solar cell substrates. Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis offers several advantages over other deposition methods, such as sputtering or pulsed deposition, as it is less costly, easier to scale, and requires no vacuum and less gas for processing than other coating methods. Coating results have been shown to be uniform, thin, and crack-free, with high transmittance and conductive properties. In addition, this RTP coating technique allows the ability to control desired morphology characteristics. Sono-Tek Corporation | www.sono-tek.com

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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PV monitoring for medium-sized solar systems

Small slew drive

Draker Labs’ new Sentalis 200PV monitoring system is a cost-effective solution for systems with an energy capacity of 50kW to 250kW. The turnkey system includes all monitoring hardware and a web interface for data management and reporting. In addition, Draker provides on-site support to assist in installing and commissioning the Sentalis 200PV monitoring system. At the heart of each Sentalis 200PV system is a base station that collects data from environmental sensors and an energy production meter. To prevent data loss in the event of a power outage, each base station includes a back-up battery power supply, as well as on-site, redundant data storage. The base station also includes a dedicated power supply and a simplified wiring panel to facilitate quick and safe installation. Data are transmitted from the base directly to Draker’s secure, offsite data servers for processing. To ensure that energy production is at peak efficiency, access performance data from the Sentalis web interface, which quickly displays a variety of historical and real-time performance metrics.

IMO Antriebseinheit presents the new slew drive WD – LB 0140, which was especially developed to meet the requirements of solar thermal applications. The patented slew drive—so far the smallest—has a low maintenance effort and a high stiffness, which is intensified by the elaborated Slewing Ring of the integrated IMO slew drive. A gearing with very little axial clearance bears the high demand on the precision of the position and the repetition when correcting the reflection mirrors. Appropriate heat treatment methods and coating processes, combined with the suitable lubricant and a new structure of the drive, assure IMO, even under extreme environment conditions, an extremely long lifespan. Due to the compact design, with its generously dimensioned output shaft for easy and elegant execution of supply lines, and the possible individual adaptation of the drive motor and the provider system to individual system requests of customers, WD-LB 0140 can be integrated in almost every encoder system. The good price-performance ratio and the approved IMO quality make the small IMO slew drive perfect for the solar sector.

Draker Laboratories, Inc. | www.drakerlabs.com

IMO Antriebseinheit GmbH & Co. KG | www.imo.de

Stainless Steel Cable Ties Mudge Fasteners, Inc. offers stainless steel cable ties: a wire management system and method for protecting wires originating from roof-mountable photovoltaic panels. The 316 stainless steel provides high resistance to heat, salts, and acids. Plain or polyester coating is available. Polyester coating enhances corrosion resistance and acts as a barrier between dissimilar metals. Operating temperatures: uncoated 1000°F/500°C; coated 302°F/150°C. UL compliant product.

Spectrum thermal process optimization software

Mudge Fasteners, Inc. | www.mudgefasteners.com | www.solarfastenerexpert.com

KIC announces the third and final link to KIC’s technologies for increased solar cell efficiencies—the Spectrum thermal process optimization software. The solar cell manufacturing industry has long linked higher cell efficiency to the ability to manufacture the solar wafers in the “sweet spot” of the thermal process window. The Spectrum automatically identifies the correct furnace set-up that achieves a thermal profile that is positioned within the sweet spot of the established process window. The prediction software uses the information from a single profile pass to evaluate the millions of possible furnace set-ups. Each possible furnace recipe will yield a profile, and the Spectrum identifies the fit between the profile and the established process window. Within seconds, the Spectrum can complete an exhaustive ranking and present its recommendation for the furnace recipe (zone temperatures and conveyor speed) that yield the optimal profile. The Spectrum is a software-only option for the SunKIC profiler. KIC | www.kicthermal.com

Solar thermal collectors In addition to the SRCC OG 300 certified Thermo Siphon Solar Water Heating Systems, Premium Solar recently introduced the EZINC SRCC OG 100 certified Solar Thermal Collectors into the US market. EZINC SUPERLINE SRCC OG 100 Thermal Solar Collectors are sized as: Superline XXL (4 x 8), and Superline L (4 x 6.5). The EZINC Superline 3XL (4 x 10) collector is currently in the SRCC certification process. EZINC thermal collectors have a 10-year manufacturer limited warranty. Furthermore, EZINC Full Plate Absorbers are manufactured on a completely automated production line, and the tubes are fixed to a selective absorber plate by ultrasonic welding. Some US solar system manufacturers have already started using EZINC collectors in their systems because of the affordable price and high quality.

SERVICES: Detailed Design • EPC • CM • Studies • Owner & Bank Engineering CLIENTELE: Utilities • IPPs • Industry • Universities • OEMs • Banks/Investors PROJECTS: Biomass • Solar (Thermal & PV) • Wind • Simple & Combined Cycle • Fluidized Bed/PC/Stoker Boilers Biofuels • Landfill Gas • MSW • Gasification • Pyrolysis • Plant Improvements • Air Pollution Control Engine-Generators • CHP/Cogeneration • Energy Savings • Facilities/Buildings & Systems

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Premium Solar | www.presolarnet.com North American Clean Energy

solar energy Solar thermal collector Solimpeks Corp. has added a new product to its range of flat solar thermal collectors: the Wunder Drain collector. The Wunder Drain’s absorber consists of a 0.20mm thick copper plate coated with a selective titanium coating capable of absorbing 97% of the solar radiation it receives. Thanks to an 18mm manifold, it is possible connect 10 Wunder Drain panels in one single string. The Wunder Drain collector can be mounted on or integrated into flat and sloping roofs alike and, the company claims, has one of the most cost-efficient rates in the world. Like all Wunder products, the Wunder Drain collector comprises an all-aluminum case cover with a low iron tempered solar glass panel, 4mm thick. The glass is sealed with a high-quality EPDM seal. The Wunder collectors are insulated with 50mm Rockwool and have a thermal conductivity of 0.037 W/mK. Solimpeks Corp. | www.solimpeks.com

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E & E drives schedules for project success. SITING E & E's environmental planning teams perform all required studies for hydrogeology and water availability, terrestrial and aquatic/wetland habitat, cultural resources, land use, socioeconomics, and noise.

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Remke Energy recently introduced an expanded line of Helio-Link solar products for thin-film and crystalline PV panels and arrays. The Helio-Link line includes IP 68 rated field wireable and bulkhead connectors, assembly/ installation tools and kits, PV/USE cable, custom cable assemblies, thin-film junction boxes, combiner boxes, and grid tie products. Remke Energy Type 4 Solar Connectors are available in either a bulkhead or field wireable configuration. The HelioLink connectors offer several unique features including: field assembly without special tools; the highest current rating in the industry—40A; an IP 68 rating; and wider cable range (8 to 18 AWG). The Helio-Link product line also includes assembly/ installation tools and kits that feature a funnel entry on the crimp tool for extra-easy crimping and extraction. The PV/USE Cable is offered in 8-18 AWG with moisture resistance that exceeds UL 44. Helio-Link Thin-Film Junction Boxes are preassembled with cables and connectors, and optional bypass diodes. Combiner Box features operation/protection to 1000V, a plug-and-play design from 8 to 30 PV strings, and is customizable with a wide range of optional products such as lightning and overvoltage protection.

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solar energy Remote display solar monitoring Steca Elektronik GmbH provides a new Internet remote display that allows permanent monitoring and performance analysis for solar thermal systems. The Steca TK RW2 IFA router was developed to visualize solar thermal systems in combination with the Steca TR 0603mc U solar thermal controller. Temperature and performance data are clearly displayed for analysis in an Internet browser window and changes in temperature, over time, are visualized using diagrams. If a heat meter is used, the system is even capable of displaying energy balances and CO2 savings. By logging online (www.solarthermalweb.com), with a personal username and password, the operator can monitor system information worldwide. The historical data archived on a server is permanently available and can be downloaded for detailed analysis with the applicable software, Steca TS Analyzer 1, at any time. Steca Elektronik GmbH, Germany | www.stecasolar.com

Chief Commercial OfďŹ cer SkyFuel is seeking a veteran sales/marketing executive who is experienced in selling large capital equipment to utilities, IPPs and project developers. This senior manager will drive the overall commercial efforts of the company and directly supervise the business development team that is responsible for equipment sales, strategic relationships and product management. The Commercial leader will reďŹ ne and implement the GoTo Market strategy, recruit and motivate the sales force, develop a high potential sales pipeline and maintain organized customer relationship records. The ideal candidate will have proven success securing orders for early stage technology in the renewable energy sector. He/she will be customer centric, able to demonstrate superior communication skills and be a ďŹ rm believer in CRM. This position will report to the company President and is located in Arvada, CO.

Sales Representatives SkyFuel is seeking sales/marketing professionals to build up its business development team. The company has immediate openings for equipment sales personnel and individuals to manage strategic relationships. The company is in search of technically-savvy career sales individuals with more than 10 years in direct sales and at least 3 yrs in the CSP industry. This team will drive the commercialization of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proven technology. Experience selling early stage renewable energy technology is a deďŹ nite plus. Ideal candidates will have veriďŹ able sales success closing transactions and/or negotiating strategic agreements. The most desired individuals will have excellent communication skills with hands-on CRM ďŹ&#x201A;uency. These positions report to the Chief Commercial OfďŹ cer and are located in Arvada, CO.

SkyFuel Inc. is a leading supplier of utility-grade CSP collector systems. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SkyTroughÂŽ is a high-performance, low-cost parabolic trough solar thermal collector using ReďŹ&#x201A;ecTechÂŽ Mirror Film to form its shatterproof reďŹ&#x201A;ector panels at much lower cost than curved glass mirrors. For more information visit: www.skyfuel.com QualiďŹ ed candidates are invited to submit their resume to: JoinBDTeam@skyfuel.com

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wind energy

Community Wind: Taking off in the United States By Cynthia Crooks

he modern age wind energy industry has its roots in Europe. It was born out of the oil embargo in the 1970s. This event was a wake-up call to the European nations of Denmark, Germany, Spain, and others. Policy makers in these countries set out to reduce their dependence on foreign oil, in part by establishing national policy that favored domestic sources of energy. Hence, the modern day wind industry was born. These governments provided tax incentives to private individuals that invested in wind energy development. At one point, the majority of wind energy installations in these countries were owned by a collection of individual owners—the precise definition of “community wind.” A high proportion of the wind energy in these countries still comes from community wind today. Community wind (CW) is defined by local ownership and, in some cases, by size. Generally, one or several people local to the community where the wind farm is being built have a significant financial stake in the project. Community wind projects are commercial-scale and can range in size from sub one megawatt (MW) to hundreds of MWs. Following are the primary characteristics of CW projects: • One or more members of the local community—farmers, schools, colleges, tribal governments, municipal utilities, local businesses, and rural electric cooperatives—have a significant financial stake in a wind project; • Designed for bulk power generation and sale to a utility, or large electricity user;

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• The economic benefits that flow to the community are greater than from typical land lease payments, construction and operations jobs, as well as increased local tax base in commercial projects; • The community has a significant amount of control over management of the project, and possibly the voting rights, especially regarding matters of greatest importance to the community; • There are opportunities for members of the community to have a direct financial stake in the project, with an appropriate share of both the risks and rewards; • Project sizes most typically in the range of 5 MW to 50 MW, although they can range both higher and lower; • They may employ a variety of ownership and financing structures, which have features designed to accommodate the goals of the community with respect to financial and management participation; and, • A genuine sense of community involvement.

Benefits of CW relative to conventional, absentee projects: • Ownership is retained in the community and profits are recycled, creating incremental jobs, wages, business income, and tax revenue over absentee projects; • Creates a broader footprint of stakeholders; more involvement = increased support; • Can be a pathway for collaborations between major wind developers and local communities; • Can often use existing grid infrastructure— including local distribution grids—and does not rely on new transmission; • Can strengthen local power distribution grids by putting supply near the load; • Utilities often favor local generation over remote, imported power; • Distributed, CW projects may reach “shovel-ready” sooner; and, • Fills a market niche for smaller projects that can be less attractive to conventional developers. Challenges

Beneﬁts of community wind

CW projects have a greater impact on local economic development, primarily through the creation of more jobs on a per-MW basis, than the current conventional wind energy business models. These benefits derive, specifically, from on-site labor and professional services, turbine production and supply chain impacts, and induced impacts such as household purchases due to the local injection of income. Since their development involves community members on an unprecedented scale, CW farms can be thought of as the “family farm” of the American wind energy business. This serves to diversify the number of people and institutions that participate in and benefit from wind power development while broadening the investor and political base for wind power, as well as increasing community support for siting new wind projects. In addition, CW projects are often more gridfriendly than conventional wind in that they may require little or no new investment in new transmission to connect to the grid. All this may serve to help CW projects reach “shovel-ready” sooner than conventional, absentee wind projects.

Community wind projects are often smaller than the 100 MW to 300 MW wind projects that have been the typical size range for wind energy projects in the last five years. This is changing. There are fewer and fewer places in the US to connect large-scale wind energy facilities to the grid without significant transmission upgrades costs that come along with projects that size. However, the economies of scale associated with these larger facilities are a definite economic challenge facing community wind. Some of this cost disadvantage is mitigated by lower transmission upgrades costs, but not all. As the industry continues to mature, the trend to smaller and mid-sized projects will continue, mitigating this challenge. Conclusion

The future of community wind is bright. The trends to greater community involvement and siting generation closer to the load and on the distribution system will continue. Landowners and local entrepreneurs want a greater stake in the wind project compared to leasing their wind rights to a large, out-of-town developer. Transmission operators are beginning to see the value in spreading wind generation across a wider geographic footprint (distributed generation). OwnEnergy, Inc. | www.ownenergy.net

wind energy

Understanding Cable Protection

in the Wind Industry By George Sims

ind turbines, particularly in offshore installations, are exposed to continuous vibration and the influences of the elements. Since failure of the electrical monitoring system is unacceptable, a high-quality cable protection system that ensures cables are safeguarded against external influences is essential. Specially modified polyamide-based cable protection systems offer a simple, but effective solution. Polyamide possesses many high-quality characteristics: it flexible, but at the same time mechanically stable, resistant to UV, and it does not corrode. It also has a wide operating temperature range, which makes it suitable for many industrial applications. The interest in wind energy and the requirement for systems, components, and service is continually increasing. Today, excellent opportunities exist in the industry for machine building companies. One example is at a wind park 45km off the coast of Borkum (East Friesland). During the development of this M5000 wind energy system, great emphasis was placed on keeping the weight of the rotor and associated parts to a minimum. This made transportation easy and allowed for simple, safe, and fast assembly of each wind turbine as the completed rotor could be lifted in one piece onto the tower. Reliability is the deciding factor for offshore applications. The low rotation speed and minimal number of moving parts reduces the risk of failures in power transmission. Permanent protection of the system technology from the corrosive sea atmosphere is a prerequisite for a long system life. Consequently, the housing and hub of wind energy equipment are hermetically sealed against the surrounding air. An air conditioning system filters the air in such a way under all climatic conditions, so the equipment is internally protected against corrosion due to salt and moisture. However, at sea, there is significantly more wind than on land, which means a wind energy system installation is constantly in motion. Torsion in cables, vibration, and points of abrasion can occur. Cable protection is, therefore, necessary.

Why choose polyamide cable protection products?

Specially modified polyamide conduits where specially developed for external applications exposed to high-mechanical stress. The conduit is extremely flexible, allowing it to be formed around sharp angles and curves. Additionally, metal conduits must be sawn to length; whereas, polyamide conduits can in little time be trimmed to the correct length with a pair of scissors or a pocket knife. It is manufactured from specially modified PA12 raw material supplemented by additives to improve the weathering resistance of the PA12 material. This provides a life expectancy in predominantly static applications, such as in excess of 25 years. This specially modified conduit also has good, low-temperature characteristics, which is significant because the system is exposed to the elements in summer and winter. Polyamide is hygroscopic, absorbing and giving up water to the surrounding air depending upon the humidity. With PA12, this effect is less pronounced ensuring that even with low humidity the material retains good impact resistance. To produce the right product for the right application, it takes intensive research and development, as well as intensive product testing. Cable test methods consist of the following: Reversed Bending Test with Swinging Movements. This standard is based on a cyclic reversed bending test (pivoting) of conduits under various conditions (temperature). The conduits are dynamically loaded and evaluated at the upper and lower application temperature limits. The test is performed based on IEC EN 61386. The minimum requirement corresponds to the specifications of IEC EN 61386. The number of cycles to fracture determines the fatigue strength of the conduit. Reversed Bending Test. This standard describes a cyclic reversed bending test with additional tensile loading (lifting) on flexible conduits under standard ambient conditions (23°C/73°F at 50% relative humidity). The conduit is loaded until fracture. The number of cycles to fracture determines the fatigue strength of the conduit. In addition to the lifting Reversed Bending Test, there is a Rotation or Oval Reversed Bending Test. This standard describes a cyclic bending test (rotation in an oval pattern) on flexible conduits under standard ambient conditions (23°/73°F at 50% relative humidity). The conduit is tested until failure. The number of cycles to fracture determines the fatigue strength of the conduit.

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Peak Load Test. This standard describes the peak load test on conduits under

standard ambient conditions (23°C/73°F at 50% relative humidity). The conduit is deformed by a defined amount between two plates. The restoring force established over a specific time (by relaxation of the conduit) describes the crushing pressure or compression strength. Pull-out Test. This standard defines the system pull-out test on conduits and connectors under standard ambient conditions (23°C/73°F at 50% relative humidity). The conduits are mounted with the appropriate system connectors. The pull-out strength of the system is determined in a tensile test. Impact Test. This standard describes the impact strength test on conduits at various temperatures. The conduit sample is placed on a steel plate, centered under an impact head with a defined profile. The impact head impacts the center of the conduit surface. In contrast to international specifications, deformation behavior (buckling) is determined, rather than fracture behavior. The impact test is considered to be passed if no fracture or cracking can be detected after the impact, as well as no excessive permanent deformation of the conduit in accordance with specifications. Cold Bending Test. This standard describes a bending test on conduits at low temperatures. The conduits are stored in a controlled climate cabinet at the specified test temperature. Loading is achieved by winding the conduit around a test mandrel with a defined diameter. The various products are classified based on the mandrel diameter which can be achieved. Thermal Ageing Test. This standard describes a bending test on thermally aged conduits. The test conduits are stored in a controlled climate oven at the specified test temperature. After removal from the oven, they are cooled to room temperature. Loading is achieved by winding the conduit around a test mandrel with a defined diameter. The various products are classified based on the mandrel diameter, which can be achieved. Self-extinguishing Test. This standard describes a flame test on conduits based on international specifications. The conduit is exposed to a defined flame from a standard burner. The time of ignition, flame propagation behavior, as well as time of extinguishing after removal of the flame source, are significant parameters for evaluating the flame behavior of the products. A failure in the electronic monitoring system of a wind energy plant can have fatal consequences. A simple, but effective component manufactured from specially formulated polyamide—which can be applied in addition to a standard lock nut on the thread of a fitting; thereby, increasing the outlet radius and preventing potential abrasion damage caused by tight bending radii and vibration. The anti-abrasion lock nut is available in a divisible form for retro-fit applications or as a one piece element for applications in new designs from conception onwards. Generally, cable protection can be seen as a dispensable element. If a cable is laid without a conduit around it, it is exposed to the prevailing environmental conditions around it. Cable protection is used to protect the cables from external factors. That means that if through a particularly inauspicious collection of circumstances, or if some extraordinary mechanical stress damage occurs, it is “only” the cable protection that is damaged; the cable function is not affected. Wind turbine systems are a network of devices such as motors, controls, lighting, sensors, and numerous devices located throughout the tower, nacelle, and hub. If any one of these devises fails due to damaged cables, costly repairs and service are inevitable. In wind energy installations, particularly offshore, cable protection is indispensable. As an innovator of cable protection systems, PMA USA manufactures cable protection systems for use in the wind industry, as well for other demanding applications worldwide. PMA USA | www.pma-usa.org

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wind energy

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Wake Up and Smell the Wake Effects

Helping you get the most out of your wind turbine When it comes to wind turbines, Mobil Industrial Lubricants don’t just make them run — they make them ﬂy. How? By helping you get the most out of your machines.

By Naomi Pierce

What are wake effects, why are they important to the wind industry, and how is remote sensing technology helping?

Turbulence, measuring & modeling

It is also important for wind farm stakeholders to understand wake effects because of turbulence, or rapid changes in wind speed and direction. “A turbulent component is introduced in a turbine wake. Turbulence increases the loading on turbines and shortens the lifespan of any components that are affected by it,” Kline says. For several years, the wind industry devoted substantial attention to wake studies. To measure the effects of tur-

bine wakes, Kline explains: “You measure the wind speed upwind, and measure the power outputs. Then you have someone turn off the turbines upwind, and you look at the power outputs. You compare the power outputs of turbines with and without the turbines running upstream when the wind speed is similar.” Ongoing wake effects testing petered out in the 1980s, as wind farm owners became reluctant to turn their turbines off and incur revenue loss. Yet, wind measurement is vital to understanding wake loss effects, because if one cannot define the free-flow wind speed variation properly, one cannot describe the wake loss. Modeling is also used throughout the industry in wind resource assessment studies, including wake studies. Modeling is a method used by meteorologists to predict wind characteristics over a large site based on met tower data gathered in the area.

These lubricants can help reduce unscheduled downtime, lower maintenance costs, even extend oil life. Extensive builder approvals proven ﬁeld performance

In fact, Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 is used to lubricate more than 30,000 wind turbines worldwide and is the initial-ﬁll gear oil of choice for the majority of the world’s top 12 wind turbine builders.

Remote sensing, modeling & wake studies

With their portability, re-deployability, and ability to measure at higher heights, remote sensing systems offer meteorologists new ways to enhance their modeling and study wake effects. Josh Stinogel, project manager at WindLogics, is managing a wake study that combines data from a Second Wind Triton Sonic Wind Profiler (a remote sensing system that uses sodar to measure wind characteristics at higher heights) with meteorological tower measurements. “We’re working on a project partnering with the University of Minnesota to better understand what wakes actually exist within a wind farm,” explains Stinogel. “The goal is to use high-resolution weather modeling to better characterize turbine wakes within an operating array. In order to create and tune those models you want as much data as humanly possible. That includes SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) data from the operating wind farm, met towers, and remote sensing tools. The idea is that you want to be able to make as many measurements upwind and downwind from the turbine as possible and also get SCADA information so you can link that data to the actual machine output.”

In addition to Mobilgear SHC XMP 320, ExxonMobil offers a wide range of lubricants that are formulated to deliver exceptional protection for all parts that make up a wind turbine, including greases to lubricate bearings and hydraulic oils that help pitch rotor blades. Visit mobilindustrial.com for more.

The outlook

“There’s no standard rule that applies to turbine siting now,” says Kline. “It’s all dependent on local terrain conditions, how much land you have, and how big the project is slated to be. You have to balance the total desired installed capacity with the terrain and all the environmental considerations that come into play. To reduce wake losses you want to space turbines as widely as possible within the constraints of a project size.” It is in the wind industry's best interests to develop a greater understanding of wake effects. Second Wind’s Naomi Pierce enjoys writing and sharing interesting facts about wind and how to best measure it. Second Wind Inc. | www.secondwind.com

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Today, Mobil SHC synthetic lubricants are used to power wind turbines around the world.

When siting turbines, it is important to understand not only the characteristics of the wind resource, but also the impact of neighboring turbines. The offshore wind farm at Horns Rev off the coast of Denmark has been famously photographed to show wind turbine wake effects—that is, the effect of wind turbines on the amount and type of wind available to turbines behind them. Meteorologists have been studying wake effects since the 1980s, when larger-scale wind farm development made these effects more apparent. Jack Kline is a consulting meteorologist who has been involved in the wind industry since 1982. His company, RAM Associates, consults on wind resource assessment, site selection, analysis of meteorological (met) tower data, energy estimates, and wind speed modeling. He offers a straightforward explanation of wake effects: “Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from air movement into electrical energy. Wind turbines are taking momentum out of the air, so there’s less momentum after the wind passes through the turbine rotor. That is the turbine wake.” In the early development of the modern wind industry, wake effects were poorly understood simply because there was not enough experience. It is known that wake effects dissipate downstream of the turbine as the wake mixes with the ambient flow of air. Because of this, wind farm developers assumed wake effects were negligible at a certain distance from a turbine, and many wind farms were built with rows of turbines too close together, causing unanticipated, cumulative wake losses. “The understanding back in the early days was that ten rotor diameters downstream (of a turbine), the wake was pretty much dissipated,” says Kline. “Even if that were true, rows of turbines behave differently than single turbines. It just was a disaster overall. These kinds of losses tend to accumulate as wind passes through a wind farm. This depends on terrain and the arrangement of turbines, but the losses can become quite significant.” As researchers studied wake effects more closely, they realized that wakes affected not just turbines on the same farm, but turbines on other farms, as well. “In California there were wake effects from one wind farm to another wind farm downstream. Wind farms were getting hit by losses of 5%, 10%, even 15% in energy output,” says Kline. “When we began to look at the macro wake effects from one wind farm to another, we saw a big hole in the wind, so to speak.”

Designed to excel even in some of the most demanding conditions such as high heat, heavy load, and water contamination — Mobil SHC synthetic lubricants and greases help keep wind turbines operating in top form.

wind energy

Seeking Fair Winds: The small wind industry By Mateo Chaskel

s the energy sector rapidly evolves to accommodate the growing need for renewable energy, small wind turbines have emerged as a serious option for providing local energy. While the small wind industry has shown significant growth lately, which is expected to continue well into the future, there are significant challenges the industry must overcome to achieve its full potential. The ability to affect regulatory change and the continued improvement in economic viability of wind energy, as well as to gain consumer confidence, are the most significant challenges the small wind industry must face to continue growth throughout the decade. Government institutions have been cautious in terms of allowing the installation of small wind turbines in both rural and urban environments. The primary motiva50_Equipment_Express.eps 1 9/2/09 tion for this caution by municipal, city, and 8:29 stateAMlegislatures is to ensure the safety

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of constituents. The approval process generally involves a review of internationally recognized safety certifications, along with evaluation of other important safety characteristics such as noise and vibration levels, as well as manufacturing quality. Aesthetics have also played a significant role in dampening the potential of small wind turbine industry growth. On numerous occasions, neighbors of a potential wind turbine customer have protested and, at times, succeeded in blocking the installation of nearby wind turbines due to a perceived aesthetic displeasure. Turbine manufacturers, particularly in the vertical axis market, have responded by creating innovative turbines, which draw together engineering design with visually appealing elegance. A final factor affecting the approval of wind turbines has been the noise and vibration produced. Although a few manufacturers offer low-RPM turbines with min-

imum vibration levels and noise production, the possibility of disturbing noise has been cause for concern to regulatory institutions in the past. As such, it has become important for manufacturers to hold certifications officially stating the vibration and noise production of their small wind systems. Aside from the regulatory perspective, small wind has also been limited by a lack of proper incentive and rebate programs. Though progress has certainly been made in recent years, solar power continues to have access to numerous exclusive incentives that further reduce the price of solar energy. However, recently the US government instituted a 30% tax credit on the purchase of any small wind turbine, greatly reducing the cost of turbines to customers. Abroad, the UK government has

In addition to the regulatory and economic issues mentioned above, a key aspect that has resulted in significant limitations for the small wind turbine industry has been a lack of consumer confidence. Hampered by manufacturers who, in previous years, promised results their turbines could not live up to, small wind and, in particular, vertical axis turbines have been subject to criticism and mistrust. Due to the magnitude of the investment in a small wind turbine system for a typical homeowner, customer confidence is paramount to the success of the wind industry. Though some manufacturers continue to promote their products with unrealistic power curves, others have taken the lead in having their power curves and energy production charts certified to international standards by third-party agencies. As customers increase their knowledge and begin to request these certifications, it can be expected that the quality of the product will be enhanced, leading to an overall increase in consumer satisfaction. Despite the numerous challenges faced by the small wind industry, it has continued to expand. In the coming years, as the industry continues to grow, further standards and certifications will be sought by manufacturers, and a more educated consumer base will begin to request such standards and certifications when purchasing energy systems. In the US, an independent certification body, the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC), has recently been formed and will begin certifying several different characteristics of small wind turbines. This should streamline the regulatory process and increase the confidence consumers feel toward small wind products, while increasing the number and quality of rebates available to small wind consumers. The result is likely to be more profitable projects, which will further encourage the greatly anticipated and welcome expansion of the small wind industry.

Despite the numerous challenges faced by the small wind industry, it has continued to expand. In the coming years, as the industry continues to grow, further standards and certiďŹ cations will be sought by manufacturersâ&#x20AC;Ś implemented a feed-in tariff, which makes the installation of small wind turbines a much more attractive proposition. State incentives, on the other hand, tend to be more difficult to qualify for. In many states, each individual turbine model must be tested and approved by a regulatory committee prior to its being eligible for state incentives, which include tax rebates, feed-in tariffs, installation rebates, and production incentives. Therefore, new wind turbine manufacturers must go through the arduous process of having their turbines approved by each independent state regulatory branch.

Urban Green Energy | www.urbangreenenergy.com

Technical by nature... QUALIFIED BY EXPERIENCE www.gl-garradhassan.com North American Clean Energy

wind energy

Non-contact transmission technologies

Laminator for producing long composite wind parts

Although wind turbine systems predominantly utilize precious metal sliding contact technology, SCHLEIFRING exclusively offers ondemand, non-contacting transmission technologies for high data rate transmission, including all common bus systems up to Gigabit Ethernet. Along with a contacting slip ring for the transmission of power and signals, hybrid systems are employing non-contacting capacitive systems and/or passive optical rotary joints for signal and data transmission. These non-contacting technologies offer several benefits: wear-resistance, high noise immunity combined with excellent EMC performance, and high data rate transmission.

The Flat Charge Laminator (FCL) from MAG Industrial Automation Systems is ideal for automated, high-production lay-up of composite spars, beams, stringers, and similar parts for wind blade manufacture. The highly repeatable system drastically reduces labor while improving part quality, productivity, and consistency. With four heads dedicated to four different materials, the servo-controlled machine produces constant- or variable-thickness laminates on a segmented vacuum table, compacting the layers with a force of 13.6kg to 136kg (30 to 300 pounds). The FCL handles 0/90 prepreg fabric, +/- 45 prepreg fabric, unidirectional tape and, as an option, foil or film. Maximum material width is 300 mm (12 inches) on rolls up to 635 mm (25 inches) diameter, weighing up to (150 pounds). The machine features four servocontrolled dispensing heads on a placement carriage that moves on rails integrated with the vacuum bed. The servo-powered placement carriage is driven by rack-and-pinion system. A Siemens PLC precisely controls the entire process with speed and position feedback from rotary and linear encoders on dispensing heads and placement carriage.

SCHLEIFRING | www.schleifring.com

MAG | www.mag-ias.com

AZZlocations locations at at allallAZZ

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We Protect More Than Steel.

Direct-drive wind turbine Eocycle Technologies is introducing its 25kW EO-25/12 direct-drive wind turbine to the marketplace. This model has features that make it an ideal choice for power utility customers who wish to avoid exposure to constantly increasing electricity rates. The EO-25/12 is designed to IEC 61400-2 wind class II and UL 1741 standards, and built to generate power reliably for a minimum of 20 years with very little maintenance and downtime exposure. Featuring Eocycle’s permanent magnet generator, this wind turbine also offers quiet operation and superior annual energy production. Eocycle Technologies Inc. | www.eocycle.com

It takes many pieces to complete a project ... INTE G

RITY

ITY

QUAL

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Turbine for low- to medium-wind speed sites Alstom has introduced its 3MW ECO 110 wind turbine, one of the most powerful onshore wind turbines, specifically designed to ensure the highest energy production on low- to medium-wind speed sites. The ECO 110 features a 110m-rotor diameter, one of the largest rotors available today for onshore applications, to capture even greater amounts of wind on a given site and maximize the energy yield of a turbine. The ECO 110 can produce enough energy for 2000 households while avoiding the production of 7000 tons a year of CO2. Its 53 metre-long blades, over half a soccer field long, have been designed to capture more power more effectively— which means fewer turbines and less land space are required to generate the same amount of power. Alstom’s wind turbines are based upon the unique ALSTOM PURE TORQUE rotor support concept, which protects the gearbox and other drive train components from deflection loads. The concept fully separates the gearbox from the supporting structure ensuring that only torque is transmitted through the shaft to the gearbox, and all deflection loads are transmitted directly to the tower. Most conventional rotor support concepts tend to turn gearboxes into consumables; whereas, ALSTOM PURE TORQUE continuously delivers higher gearbox reliability, higher operational availability, and lower maintenance costs. Alstom | www.alstom.com

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wind energy Packaged & modular solutions Trachte Global, a division of Trachte, Inc., has successful solutions for power applications, machinery, and utility power transmission and distribution substations. These heavy duty applications require rugged equipment with high duty ratings. The design and application team at Trachte understands these stringent requirements. All projects are manufactured in a factory registered to ISO 9001:2008 standards. Strict commitment to a quality management system ensures projects get completed per all specifications, as well as all applicable codes and standards. Trachte engineered applications mean less installation time at the job site, and a fully integrated system means less time required for project checkout. All electrical systems are integrated in the factory, providing a complete system that is tested and operational upon installation at the site. Trachte Global | www.trachteglobal.com

From the earth.

Wind blade de-icing With a declared purpose of “unleashing the power of ice to benefit all people,” IceCode, LLC has introduced advanced technology invented in the laboratories of ice physicists to instantly de-ice wind blades and, as an added benefit, also provide lightning protection. IceCode has a simple, effective, and inexpensive means of instantly eliminating and preventing ice build-up on blades, thereby eliminating downtime from icing while maximizing energy generation and wind farm profit. IceCode has partnered with Energy Composites Corporation to bring de-icing for wind blades to market. The IceCode technology is based on a highly disruptive, but elegantly simple discovery called pulse electro-thermal deicing. Through its implementation on wind blades, wind energy systems, which now lose significant amounts of energy production and revenue to icing, will be able to recapture both. IceCode, LLC | www.icecode.com

To the grid. When MSE Power helps bring a renewable project onto the grid, energy isn’t the only thing that gets a boost—over and over again. We come in on time and on budget so you come out ahead financially right from the start. Plus, the quality of our work ensures project reliability—which means less maintenance and downtime, and more revenue over the long haul. Bottom line? Going green is great. Generating green quicker and more consistently is even better. Plug into MSE Power for services up to full EPC. Visit msepower.com or call 877.426.0333.

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North American Clean Energy is published 6 times a year. To subscribe, go to www.nacleanenergy.com

Lidar remote wind sensor NRG Systems and Leosphere have announced the introduction of the WINDCUBE v2, the lightest, most compact lidar remote sensor available. Used in site assessment and wind farm performance monitoring, the WINDCUBE v2 collects actual measurements at heights up to 200 meters, mapping the vertical wind component, wind speed and direction, turbulence, and wind shear. Weighing 45kg and measuring approximately 55cm square, the WINDCUBE v2 features no internal moving parts, multiple communications options (including satellite), low power requirements (45 watts), and an all-weather enclosure. The quiet, ultra-portable 200m wind profiler includes ten programmable measurement heights, providing ready to use data. The WINDCUBE v2 is an active remote sensor that operates by emitting a laser pulse through the atmosphere. Along its path, the laser light is backscattered by aerosols in the air and received by an optical sensor in the lidar unit. These signals capture the shift in atmospheric particles, or the absolute wind speed in the lidar line of sight. Leosphere | www.lidarwindtechnologies.com NRG Systems | www.nrgsystems.com

Carbon brushes

Flexible coupling maintenance CENTA Corporation has introduced the latest innovation of the company’s industry standard CENTAFLEX Series A rubber-in-compression flexible coupling. The newly released “Series AR” Element design incorporates a patented split through one of the axial aluminum inserts, enabling the end-user to quickly install a replacement coupling element without the need to disturb the mounting or alignment of the driver and driven components. The patented design wraps radially around existing hubs and bolts in place with existing coupling hardware. Available in sizes 025 through 600, the new element allows for simple radial exchange of coupling element for any close coupled system, through approximately 2000 HP at 1750 RPM rating—70,800 Lb-in nominal torque. The patented split element further enhances the couplings benefits of increased misalignment capacity, low bearing/shaft reaction forces, vibration and noise damping, easy installation, and quick and easy maintenance. CENTA Corporation | www.centa.info

for wind generators

Submerged arc ﬂux for wind tower welding Recognizing the unique demands faced by wind tower manufacturers, Lincoln Electric has introduced Lincolnweld WTX—a submerged arc flux designed to meet the strict requirements of wind tower welding applications. Created for submerged arc welding on wind tower bases and door frames, Lincolnweld WTX provides a number of features including: excellent twin and multiarc AC and DC operations; low temperature impact properties, making Lincolnweld WTX capable of producing Charpy V-Notch test results exceeding 20 ft-lbf (27J) at -80°F (-62°C); high-end performance when welding circumferential and longitudinal butt and fillet welds; as well as, smooth bead profile, allowing for the achievement of excellent toe angles, tie-in, and bead appearance on interior, and exterior applications alike. For maximum performance, Lincoln Electric recommends Lincolnweld WTX be used with the Lincolnweld L-61 electrode on both longitudinal and circumferential seam welds. The combination of Lincolnweld WTX flux and L-61 wire meets the F7A8-EM12K-H8 AWS classification and allows welds to exceed the demanding mechanical property requirements specified for cold weather wind tower applications.

Maximize lifetime

Minimize downtime

Lincoln Electric | www.lincolnelectric.com

Fall protection for ladder climbing Capital Safety’s Railok 90 vertical rail system offers users optimal fall protection for ladder climbing applications while maximizing freedom of movement. The system does not restrict foot space on ladder rungs, and offers users complete freedom of movement as users climb. The shuttle operates smoothly along the entire length of the rail, and will not snag or resist the climber’s motion. In the event of a fall, the shuttle locks on the rail, arresting the fall while minimizing fall distances and load forces on the user. The shuttle device employs a revolutionary integrated metallic absorber that restricts fall distances and significantly reduces the forces on the user in the event of a fall. The Railok 90 system is made from high-strength extruded stainless steel or aluminium, and is easily installed without special tools. It is available with a wide range of brackets, providing installation options in many different configurations.

With a perfect contact face after a long operating period, our carbon brushes avoid dusting, excessive wear and save you on maintenance and downtime. The result of our extensive R&D program with the major international generator OEM’s and many years of experience in the field.

CARBONE OF AMERICA OEM Supplier Worldwide Manufacturer Engineering Upgrades Performance Optimization R & D

www.carbonebrush.com

1 800 526 0877

Capital Safety | www.capitalsafety.com

North American Clean Energy

wind energy

Pressure transmitters

Wireless power solution for turbines

Controlling the pressure in the critical applications of wind turbines is of great importance as accidents can be fatal. The Danfoss range of compact pressure transmitters offer reliable, accurate measurement at all times, ensuring that even the slightest drop or increase in pressure is immediately detected. The MBS 3000 pressure transmitter series has been developed for use in harsh industrial environments and offers reliable and accurate pressure measurement—even during the most violent storms. In systems with harsh medium influences like cavitation, liquid hammer, or pressure peaks, the transmitter is available with an integrated pulse snubber for protection.

PowerbyProxi Proxi-Ring contactless slip ring provides wireless power and data to pitch control systems in wind turbines. Proxi-Ring solutions make wind turbines more cost-effective by reducing the cost of maintaining and replacing existing mechanical slip rings and their carbon brushes—they also deliver 90% efficiency, which is on par with most hard-wired power transfer solutions. Two solutions exist to provide wireless electricity to wind turbines across rotary joints. The Proxi-Ring 240 and 750 products are completely wireless alternatives to mechanical slip rings for hydraulically controlled systems. Both of these solutions have been designed to make it easy for wind turbine vendors to incorporate in new turbines or for wind farm operators and maintenance service providers to retrofit to existing wind turbines. ProxiRing wireless power solutions eliminate friction or heating between rotating and stationary circuit contacts that can occur with traditional slip rings. And, unlike conventional slip-ring applications, typical contaminants such as oil or brake dust do not affect their operation. The wireless power solutions are highly corrosion-resistant, waterproof, and compatible with existing power supplies and common communication protocols.

Danfoss | www.danfoss.us/ia

TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION • DATA COMMUNICATIONS RENEWABLES • SUBSTATIONS • URBAN & RURAL TELECOM POWER PLOWING & TRENCHING • ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING

We are Aevenia. The way energy moves.

PowerbyProxi | www.powerbyproxi.com

Shaft grounding ring

We are Aevenia, Inc., a premier energy and electrical construction company. We offer a powerful bundle of services and back it up with 40 years in the energy and electrical construction industry. Every day, we show our customers what it’s like to do business where trust, integrity, efficiency and quality are principal values.

Electro Static Technology’s AEGIS WTG wind turbine grounding ring prevents bearing damage that could otherwise cause generator failure, unplanned downtime, costly repairs, and lost revenues. Maintenance-free, effective at any RPM, and available for any size wind turbine generator, the ring is designed for OEM installation or easy up-tower retrofit. Highfrequency currents induced on the shafts of wind turbine generators can reach levels of 60 amps and 1200 volts or greater. If not diverted, these currents will discharge through the generator’s bearings, but the AEGIS WTG effectively channels them away from the bearings and safely to ground. The WTG is engineered to safely divert up to 120 amps of continuous shaft current at frequencies as high as 13.5 MHz and discharge up to 3000 volts (peak). Ideal for use as part of a preventive maintenance program to protect against premature bearing failures, it can be installed whenever bearings are replaced. Electro Static Technology | www.est-aegis.com

www.aevenia.com • 218.284.9500 3030 24th Ave. So. Moorhead, MN 56560

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Small wind resource assessment Meteodynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Urbawind is a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) technology software for wind resource assessment in urban and industrial areas. This 3D software can be used for every kind of buildings and outdoor spaces to assess the urban wind energy potential. Urbawind provides all wind characteristics needed to optimize small wind turbine location and wind production assessment including wind speed-up factor, wind gust, turbulence intensity, and wind pressure. Meteodyn America | www.meteodyn.com

Online conďŹ gurator A new, online configurator from Wieland reduces connector selection time for its revos industrial multipole connectors. In a few simple steps, users can choose from 1,500 individual components to create their own application specific connectors. The software tool guides the user through the selection of male and female inserts, hoods, and housings. This configurator makes incorrect configurations impossible. Filters are based on technical parameters, for example, the configurator filters termination technology, pole configuration, current, voltage, and conductor size. The easy to use software offers detailed views and a bill of material shopping cart. Wielandâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s revos industrial multipole connectors are specifically designed for applications in rough environments. Their powder-coated aluminum housings protect connector inserts against wear, dust, rain, and splashing water. The Wieland revos Basic series is approved to UL 50E, Type 1, 4, and 12, to solve the toughest connector requirements. Wieland Electric | www.wielandinc.com

wind energy Welding cables Electron Beam Technologies, Inc., a worldwide provider of “Fast ‘N Easy” Bulk electrode accessories, is expanding their product line with the addition of NEMA Class K jacketed welding cables. The EB-flex cables are made from bare, bright, stranded copper wires, and jacketed with their proprietary Poly-XL rubber. Poly-XL is specifically engineered for the welding environment, such as in the welding of large wind towers, as well as in hand-held welding or MIG/GMAW welding, and is Electron Beam cross linked, providing superior heat and abrasion resistance. A polyester barrier is supplied for ease of jacket removal and termination. Sizes available, at factory direct pricing, are from 6-gage to 4/0 with temperature ratings of -40°C to +105°C and RoHS compliant. Electron Beam Technologies, Inc. | www.electronbeam.com

Insulated medium voltage cable MV Underground Cable, a provider of high-quality overhead and underground power distribution products, has announced its offering of 34.5 kV TRXLP-insulated medium voltage cable for applications in the wind power industry. Hendrix, a MV Underground Cable business, manufactures all cable in the US, which is made and tested to ICEA/AEIC Standards and is dry-cure, triple-extruded. The 34.5 kV cable is available in both aluminum and copper conductor. Standard conductor sizes ranging from 1/0 through 1250 kcmil in full and reduced concentric neutral configurations. Hendrix can accommodate quantity and length changes just prior to manufacturing to adapt to last-minute changes to farm layouts. Hendrix collaborates with customers to develop a flexible delivery schedule that best meets the client’s project construction schedule. Additionally, the company provides engineering support to assist clients in aligning cable specifications with industry standards to ensure they are specifying the optimal product for their specific application. Hendrix / Kerite – MV Underground Cable | www.hendrix-wc.com

Three-layer co-extrusion technology conduits PMA has announced the next major step in the development of innovative cable protection products with the brand new PMAFLEX Pro series. This series is based upon Advanced Co-Extrusion Technology, allowing the manufacture of three-layer corrugated conduits, combining the best characteristics of different materials on inner, middle, and outer layers to reach previously unattained performance levels. The possibilities of the technology are endless, and features include: advanced multi-layer extrusion technology; a combination of different materials for previously unattained performance levels; excellent resistance to ultra-violet rays and atmospheric corrosion resulting in excellent weathering and fatigue resistance; an ideal conduit for external dynamic applications; excellent compression strength and high-impact resistance; excellent cold temperature performance and a long life cycle; as well as, compatibility with all PMA fittings and accessories. Available in NW17 (1/2") to NW48 (2") sizes in coarse profile. PMA USA | www.pma-usa.org

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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Booth 7067 John Skibinski, jskibinski@aeti.com +1 (412) 478-4792

Turnkey PV Panel to Grid Power Infrastructure Product Solutions, with Full Service & Support Before, During and After Installationâ&#x20AC;Ś Now Available!

PV Solar Collection

End to End PV Power Infrastructure Systems John Skibinski, jskibinski@aeti.com +1 (412) 478-4792

1PV MW Power Inversion Station Solar Collection

1 MW 1100 VDC PV Direct to 13.8 kV Solar Inversion Station and Multi-Bay 15 kV Arc Flash Mitigation Switchgear Substation!

Combiner Box Solutions with String Monitoring & Surveillance, Integrated Tracking Controls, and Equipment Installation & Start-Up

1 MW Power Inversion Station Pre-Configured Systems with Combiner Box Communications, Multiple DC Disconnect Options, Dual Redundant 500 kW Inverters, MV Substation & Switchyard Fanless Liquid Cooled Systems, Utility SCADA Systems Integration, MV Step-Up Transformer, and Station Deployment & Start-Up

MV Substation & Switchyard Custom Enclosed Substations with Arc Flash Mitigation Switchgear, Utility SCADA Systems Integration, HV Step-Up Transformer, and Grid Interconnection Switchyard Start-Up & Commission Bob Thomson, bthomson@aeti.com +1 (303) 912-3399

24 by 7 Solar Farm Engineering Services Services & Support

Bob Thomson, bthomson@aeti.com +1 (303) 912-3399

Engineering Services Short Circuit and Arc Flash Studies Power Factor Studies Testing Harmonic &Field Power QualityServices Analysis Load Flow Studies and Surveys

Field Testing Services HV & MV Substation Testing LV Equipment Testing Partial Discharge & Corona Scan Infrared Thermographic Survey On-Site Switchgear Repairs HV, MV and LV Breaker Testing Oil and SF6 Gas Breaker Testing AC and DC Hi-Potential Testing Relay and Meter Calibration Cable and Fault Locating Control System Testing EMI/EMC Measurement Transformer & Oil Services

Transformer & Oil Services Oil Processing, Testing and Analysis Oil Filtration and Reconditioning Transformer Testing and Repair Oil and SF6 Gas Reclamation SF 6 Gas and Vacuum Filling HV Circuit Breaker Assembly Transformer Assembly

Repair & Refurbish Services

Repair & Refurbish Services Breaker Repair and Retrofit Vacuum Refit of MV Breakers Switchgear & Control Panels Modify Aux Control Schemes

www.aeti.com

Intersolar North America July 13th to 15th, 2010 • Moscone Center, West Hall—San Francisco, California

www.intersolar.us Show in Print Features just some of the companies and technologies attendees will see at this year’s show.

Intersolar North America promotes the development of business opportunities throughout the US solar industry. Co-located with SEMICON West, Intersolar focuses on photovoltaics and solar thermal technology, and has quickly established itself among manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, and service providers as a vital international industry meeting point. About 550 US-based and international exhibitors, plus 20,000 trade visitors, are expected. The conference, taking place at the InterContinental Hotel, features over 30 tracks and 150-plus speakers for the 1,600 expected attendees.

Pluggable SPD

Adhesive & sealant technologies

Ferraz Shawmut’s new Surge-Trap Pluggable Surge Protective Device (SPD) meets requirements for both UL 1449 Third Edition and IEC 61643 standards. The SurgeTrap Pluggable SPD plays a critical role in helping to protect people and equipment from harmful transients. It is especially important within industries such solar power and wind power where overvoltage problems caused by internal and external power disturbances are common. Like its modular predecessor, the pluggable SPD features TPMOV technology and is a “no-fuse” SPD that doesn’t require the use of additional overcurrent protection. It also offers IP-20 grade “finger-safe” protection, and mounts easily on a DIN-rail to safeguard critical electrical system components from the harmful effects of transient overvoltages. The Surge-Trap Pluggable SPD product line further offers plugs with various voltage configurations that are easily replaceable upon failure without touching the base or the hassle of rewiring. The SPD’s features include a visual indicator, easy installation, fail-safe design, mechanical coding, and remote monitoring. Photovoltaic configurations are also available.

With more than 100 years of experience in sealing glass-to-glass substrates, ADCO is an ideal partner for manufacturers of solar panels. They currently hold technology and sales leadership positions in primary and secondary adhesive and sealant technologies proven to perform at a very high level in state-of-the-art PV modules. Based on innovative chemistry, such as polyisobutylene (PIB), ADCO photovoltaic sealants outperform all other commercially available technologies in standardized damp heat testing at 85°C/85% RH, over 1,000 hours and beyond. ADCO also produces more than 50 distinct sealer, adhesive, and primer products with application in solar modules. They’re committed to all of the bonding and sealing technologies that enable the solar industry to produce products in a complex manufacturing environment at “line speeds” that, one day, will rival the modern electronics industry.

Ferraz Shawmut | http://us.ferrazshawmut.com Level 1, Booth 7463

ADCO | www.adcocorp.com Level 2, Booth 8140

Unparalleled in the Solar Energy Industry! Eos-Array: The innovative and expandable solution for turning an underachieving combiner box into an overachieving PV management and control solution Web based monitoring assures diagnostic data 24/7 regardless of your location An economical and compact solution to install in your combiner box

Intersolar Booth 7251 42

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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Fastener locking systems Bryce Fastener, Inc. offers a security fastener called “Key Rex” with up to 16 million key combinations. Each customer receives an Exclusive Security Fastener. The keyway is built right into the screw head and is licensed and private for each user. Millions of exclusive keyways mean lock security, repelling all security bit tips and vice grips. Today’s renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels and wind turbines, require a significant investment. Equally significant security measures need to be taken to protect those investments. Bryce Fastener, Inc. has spent years of research and development to make one of the most secure fastener locking systems available on the market today. Bryce Fastener, Inc. www.brycefastener.com Level 3, Booth 9848

because... it helps put people back to work!

it is so sexy! Elmar Niewerth, CEO, Session Solar

Chuck Rames, Program Director - Renewable Energy Division, Boots on the Roof

smart, clean energy is hotâ&#x20AC;Ś like the sun.

it reminds me of my best friend: Dependable, adaptable, and full of sunshine.

Heather Andrews Bias, PV installer/ PV theory instructor with IBEW #357, Las Vegas

Stephen Lacey, Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com

it is empowering. Yousri Abdou, CEO, Aten Solar Corp.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to feel guilty about making toast in the morning. Tor Valenza aka â&#x20AC;&#x153;Solar Fred,â&#x20AC;? UnThink Solar

when my neighbor gets jealous and one ups me with a bigger system, she does everyone a favor. Ian Karleff, CEO, AS Solar Inc.

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intersolar north america show in print DC power management technology eIQ Energy’s vBoost DC-to-DC converter module increases system energy harvest and enables solar panels to be connected in parallel, rather than in series. This reduces overall system cost and provides benefits for designers, installers, and operators. vBoost’s advanced DC power management technology allows over 100 thin-film panels to be linked on a single cable—a 20-fold improvement over conventional string architecture. With distributed MPPT built in, vBoost-equipped systems can also harvest 5% to 30% more energy than conventional installations. Additionally, the Parallux system collects and reports detailed data on panel performance with no extra wiring, providing excellent operational visibility and reduced risk for system owners as long-term performance of each system component can be monitored and assured. eIQ Energy | www.eiqenergy.com Level 1, Booth 7353

Solar energy measurement

Advanced PV cleaning solutions

To maximize the effectiveness of a solar energy system, it is important to know how it’s performing. The Kipp & Zonen CMP pyranometers accurately measure the solar radiation available to a system in real time. Comparing this with the power generated allows users to calculate the efficiency of the system. A drop in efficiency indicates ageing, a fault, or the need for cleaning, allowing for the scheduling of preventive maintenance and the monitoring of a return on investment. The CMP pyranometers fulfill the requirements of IEC 61215 and IEC 60904-X for the accurate measurement of irradiance for photovoltaic and thermal solar devices. Globally, test laboratories use Kipp & Zonen pyranometers as reference instruments to test and certify PV cells for power plant projects.

Foamtec International WCC has developed a range of advanced cleaning solutions that give photovoltaic manufacturers the opportunity to safely remove silicon shards from screens and efficiently clean critical vacuum chambers (LPCVD, APCVD…) in a timely manner. This proven technique is widely used in the micro-electronic industry, and gives PV manufacturers an opportunity to take advantage of improving tool uptime by using a superior PM technique. Successfully remove silicon shards from clogged screens, completely remove deposition to prevent flaking, and reduce out gassing and vacuum chamber recovery. Foamtec International WCC www.foamtecintlwcc.com

Level 2, Booth 8238

Kipp & Zonen USA Inc. www.kippzonen.com Level 3, Booth 9250

Black frame & back sheet crystalline solar modules ET Solar Group Corp. announced it has received approval and listing from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for its new line of black frame and black back sheet crystalline solar modules for the North American markets (including both US and Canada). The product line includes both monocrystalline and multicrystalline modules. The black monocrystalline ET-M572B series modules are made with a black anodized aluminum frame and black triple-layer backsheet. Available in power ratings of 175/180/185 watts with conversion efficiencies of up to 14.5%, they are encapsulated with 72 five-inch, high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells. The black multicrystalline ET-P654B, ET-P660B, and ET-P672B series modules are made with a black anodized frame and black backsheet or white backsheet. They are encapsulated with 54, 60, and 72 six-inch multicrystalline cells, respectively. Their power ratings range from 200/205/210 watt, 220/225/230 watt, and 270/275/280 watt with conversion efficiencies up to 14.4%. The ET-M572B and ET-P660B series are compatible with micro-inverter technology, which is growing in acceptance in the North American markets. The new black modules are targeted at applications where aesthetic appeal is a concern in the system design, particularly in the residential solar market. ET Solar Group Corp. | www.etsolar.com Level 1, Booth 7141 44

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MEDIUM VOLTAGE PLATFORM FOR

MW-SCALE PROJECTS

PV Powered, the innovation leader of grid-tied solar inverters, introduces the PowerVault, a utility-scale 1MW turn-key power conversion solution 1040kW PowerVault with DC inputs on one side and medium voltage outputs on the other. The integrated design is fully engineered and factory assembled, significantly reducing the need for field labor, saving money and accelerating the construction schedule. Inverters are the intelligent interface between distributed photovoltaic systems and the smartgrid. PV Powered is leading the industry in dynamic two-way communication providing utilities with awareness and control, and is setting the bar for inverter reliability and performance, while dramatically lowering the lifetime cost of ownership. And with the industry’s first standard 10-year warranty and optional 20-year warranty, choosing PV Powered is … simple.

75kW

100kW

260kW

541-312-3832 | info@pvpowered.com | www.pvpowered.com

intersolar north america show in print Heat pump water heater The new Accelera 300 reduces hot water costs up to 80%. The new concept Accelera 300 works like an air conditioner but, instead of dumping the heat outdoors, it puts it into the 80-gallon tank of water. The beauty of heat pump water heating technology is that electrical energy needed to create hot water is greatly reduced compared to a conventional electric tank type water heater. The Accelera 300 can extract up to 80% of its energy requirements from the energy in the air around it; plus, its compressor and fan consume only 1kWh of electricity to generate the heat equivalent of 3kWh to 5kWh. The Accelera 300 is Energy Star certified, and there is a 10-year warranty on all Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 heat pump water heaters. Stiebel Eltron | www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com Level 1, Booth 7415

Grid-tied residential PV systems CENTROSOLAR is now expanding its CentroPack line with its new range of 225W and 230W E Series PV modules, engineered with a black anodized frame that is aesthetically more pleasing for residential rooftop installations. CentroPack grid-tied systems provide installers a superior PV packaged option, complete with CENTROSOLAR branded PV panels, best-in-class mounting systems, inverters, and all Balance of System (BOS) electrical or mechanical components. CENTROSOLAR offers many system packages tailored to suit every roof type, designed in accordance with NEC and building code standards, suitable for residential, as well as small commercial applications. CentroPack systems are prepackaged and engineered for superior performance, eliminating second sourcing for long lead and specialty components. Offering one of the most complete systems on the market, the permitfriendly package includes site plan, PV and roof structural drawings, all electrical line drawings, as well as engineering calculations and an installation and ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; manual. This helps new installer partners reduce lead time as they do not have to worry about sourcing or engineering delays. CENTROSOLAR America Inc. www.centrosolaramerica.com Level 1, Booth 7211

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Solar cell coating materials Thin-films deposited by PLANSEE coating materials are highly reflective, very conductive, and are able to significantly increase the effectiveness of solar cells. In addition to sputtering targets made of pure molybdenum and tungsten, PLANSEE also offers molybdenum alloys, chromium, and materials for absorber layers. More than 120 scientists, experienced technicians, and modern facilities make the most out of the thin-film materials. The advantage for the users: long lifetime because of an optimum layer adhesion on the substrate; high deposition rates through maximum density and a homogeneous microstructure; high efficiency due to good electrical conductivity and high purity; and, homogenous deposition rates through an optimized microstructure. PLANSEE has a fully integrated production chain from the processing of raw materials to the final product, including research and development. PLANSEE | www.plansee.com Level 3, Booth 9439

Modular controller for PV installations The renewable energy market is growing worldwide. To satisfy this rising demand for green technologies, Carlo Gavazzi has expanded its energy management portfolio with the addition of the EOS-Array, a unique, modular controller for solar PV installations. The EOS-Array is a combination of modules that perform the complete control of a PV plant. It is also extremely expandable. The core unit is the VMU-M, which performs the local bus management of the measuring units including the VMU-S and the VMU-P, as well as the I/O unitâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the VMU-O. The VMU-M assigns the proper local unit address automatically, and gathers all the local measurements coming from VMU-S and VMU-P. The VMU-M can provide, by means of VMU-O modules, two relay outputs to manage alarms and/or external loads (such as a lighting system, a PV washing system, etc.) and two PV panel temperature inputs. The VMU-S is the DC power measuring unit (generated by PV panel), which features a built-in fuse holder. The VMU-P collects relevant environmental data (through external sensors) such as wind speed, air temperature, and sun irradiation. Carlo Gavazzi www.gavazzionline.com Level 1, Booth 7251

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Solar tracker TITAN TRACKER is a valid solution to be applied in all solar markets requiring dual-axis trackers—not only for conventional PV, but also for concentrating (CPV) and CSP Stirling and Tower. TITAN TRACKER exceeds other solar trackers performance (based on mounted-pole systems) with relevant advantages in terms of: reliability, energy yield, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. As reliable as fixed structure, TITAN TRACKER offers: independence between structure and driving; five support structures; primarily cold-formed profiles; minimum welding parts; no hydraulics; no bending moments; plus, more than 99.5% availability. TITAN TRACKER is a patented technology; claims in terms of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability have been awarded by the rigorous European Patent Office (EPO). TITAN TRACKER | www.titantracker.es Level 1, Booth 7458

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PV vacuum pumps, leak detectors & gauges Alcatel Vacuum Products, Inc. supplies vacuum pumps, helium leak detectors, and gauges to the photovoltaic industry. Their PV products have been developed in conjunction with their semiconductor installed base and experience, and are sold under the Adixen brand name. Helium leak detectors offer a rapid helium response time to ensure accuracy on the first test. The dry pumps meet high pumping capacity challenges with a wide range of packages for large volume load locks and high flow process module. Their Mag Lev turbos provide application solutions with the essential pumping speed requirements combined with high gas throughput. And, Alcatel’s vacuum gauges cover a wide spectrum of PV monitoring needs with prirani, ion, and capacitance gauges. Alcatel Vacuum Products, Inc. www.adixen-usa.com Level 2, Booth 8329

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Operational intelligence & equipment integration software Camstar introduces SolarSuite 4.5, the key to unlocking grid parity. Configured on the Camstar Enterprise Platform, SolarSuite encompasses manufacturing execution, quality management, process planning, operational intelligence, and equipment integration—all in a closed-loop learning process that allows users to bring innovative technology to the market sooner with higher product quality and leaner operations. That means a lower cost per watt for technology and accelerated grid parity. SolarSuite customers have experienced 38% increases in conversion efficiency, a 22% reduction in cost/wp, as well as $2.0 million per site reduction in operating costs. Camstar www.camstar.com/industries/solar.aspx Level 2, Booth 8551

Transportation & logistics provider DB Schenker is a global transportation and logistics provider offering solutions to the solar industry. Their company is known for their expertise in transporting high-value, oversized, and highly sensitive tools and capital equipment to solar wafer or panel fabrication plants, as well as for shipping raw materials and components into the fabs and moving the finished goods to their final destination. Whether it’s silicon, inverters, wafers, glass, finished solar panels, or mounting systems, Schenker has logistics solutions in all regions of the world. Their experience includes warehousing and distribution services of finished panels to re-sellers, installers, job sites, and utility scale project locations, and service is supported by a dedicated team of logistics professionals handling only solar-related material. DB Schenker www.dbschenkerusa.com/ specialservices/solarservices Level 3, Booth 9426

Fabricated screens for solar cell printing

PV Powered announces the upcoming availability of two new commercial inverters rated at 35kW and 50kW. The PVP35kW and PVP50kW are designed for ease of installation and maintenance with features such as front-access service, bottom and side AC/DC cable entry, large cable bending area, a wide range of fusing options, load-break rated AC and DC service disconnects, and fast-change circuit board card cage. The inverters offer an exceptionally robust operating window with the ability to deliver full power at 50º C at 295 VDC input. The new products’ clean and simple design features low component count and the company’s innovative Smart Air Management system, which together provide the foundation for high reliability and long life. The 35kW boasts a 96.6% estimated peak efficiency while the 50kW has a 97.1% estimated peak efficiency. PV Powered offers industry leading lead times of six weeks and all commercial inverters feature a standard 10-year nationwide warranty with an optional 20-year warranty. PV Powered | www.pvpowered.com Level 1, Booth 7265

Sefar Inc. | www.sefar.us Level 1, Booth 7029

Source: juwi AG

Commercial inverters

Sefar Inc. has over 40 years of combined experience and technical expertise for supplying stretched, coated, and exposed customer-specific screens to the photovoltaic industry. Sefar can create repeatable precision stencils according to individual requirements using premium ISO 9001 processes. Sefar is proud to exhibit these certified screen making capabilities, as well as high-resolution artwork generation services that can help expedite and improve the quality of the production processes. In addition, Sefar will be showing the high-performance Stay-Sharp Solar squeegees from Zatec.

Support beam for roof-mounted systems Schletter, Inc. announced they will begin using a new KlickTop support beam, termed FlexConsole, as a standard component on their WindSafe ballasted roof mounting system. The WindSafe is the ballasted or minimally attached commercial flat roof racking system, which includes a rear wind deflector to minimize wind uplift and down pressure loads. This technical advance in design will increase the pre-assembly from a manufacturing standpoint by roughly 80%, without increasing costs and, in addition, will decrease the installation time in the field by almost 50%. The KlickTop component utilized with the FlexConsole is a top-down assembly solution, which only requires an Allen wrench to tighten the module support beam to the cross-rails. Therefore, there are no additional components (nuts, bolts, clamps) required, which eases overall installation time and avoids access issues at all different module tilt angles. Schletter Inc. | www.schletter.us Level 1, Booth 7647 North American Clean Energy

intersolar north america show in print Recycling programs for PV manufacturing pv recycling, llc develops and manages international recycling programs for photovoltaic manufacturing scrap and end-of-life modules. Taking a fully integrated approach, they understand pre-funded financing mechanisms, waste management issues, transport logistics, recycling technologies, and the need for a cradle to cradle approach. As advocacy groups promote manufacturers who are environmentally responsible, consumers are becoming more aware of their purchasing options. Manufacturers are taking notice and understand how having a truly sustainable industry can also increase their market share.

Solar locking collar An accessory for the SOLARLOK brand of solar cable connectors, Tyco Electronics new locking collar, can be applied onto mated connectors to prevent inadvertent or accidental unmating. The collar locks over the mated connection to prevent access to the release mechanism of the mated connectors. The product allows tooled extraction, requiring only a screwdriver to be inserted into a slot in the collar for release. The locking collar will be required in any accessible PV location in the US where mated cable connectors are exposed—including wire-to-wire applications and wire-to-junction box applications where connectorized boxes are used. The locking collars meet the recommendations of the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC), section 609, for positivelocking protection with tooled extraction. The use of a screwdriver eliminates the need for special tools and training. SOLARLOK’s new latch locking collar enhances safety and reliability by allowing connectors to be disconnected only after the collar has been released.

pv recycling, llc | http://pvrecycling.com Level 2, Booth 8958

Tyco Electronics www.tycoelectronics.com/solar Level 1, Booth 7962

«Renewable energy – an excellent idea deserves excellent connections» Solar energy Connect with holistic RADOX® SOLAR connectivity solutions. Use our quality to secure your solar power. Wind energy Fiber optic, copper and wireless solutions for the nacelle and control system, and between towers in the windpark. MASTERLINE pre-terminated fiber optic cable system for safe, quick and easy installation

RADOX® Solar cables, connectors and junction boxes for high performance modules

USA and Canada: Toll free 1866 HUBER SUHNER

(1-866-482-3778) Fax 1 802-878-9880

HUBER+SUHNER AG Tumbelenstrasse 20 8330 Pfäffikon

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Switzerland info@hubersuhner.com

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Azimuth & elevation absolute encoder US Digital’s latest release is the HBA4 absolute, blind hollow bore shaft encoder. HBA4 absolute encoders are used as azimuth and elevation position sensors in two axes tracking systems, commonly used in solar applications. The single turn encoder provides 16-bits of resolution over 360° of shaft rotation, and is available with a 12mm or 0.500" diameter bore size with either a ball bearing or sleeve bushing bearing assembly. The HBA4 slips over a shaft and is locked in place with a nonmarring clamp mount. A flexible anti-rotation tether provides single point mounting for bolt circles ranging from 2.50" up to 5.00" in diameter, and compensates for shaft run out. The HBA4 communicates serially to a host via the industry standard RS485 bus and is sealed to an IP66 rating. US Digital | www.usdigital.com Level 1, Booth 7952

Supply & Return lines for solar thermal water systems OmegaFlex introduces Solar-Trac flexible supply and return lines for solar thermal water systems. This new system provides the highest level of quality for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy. Solar-Trac is available in both insulated and un-insulated versions, adaptable to most solar thermal installation configurations. Solar-Trac Piping benefits include: T316L Stainless Steel; available sizes from 3/8" to 2"; tubing bends by hand; routes easily around obstacles; cuts using standard tubing cutter; special lengths available; Solar Flare fittings benefits include: self-flaring; no special tools; reliable metal-to-metal sealing surface; and, no gaskets or rubber washers. Solar-Trac by OmegaFlex | www.solar-trac.net Level 1, Booth 7815

Solar cell manufacturing Pall Corporation offers products designed to help increase yield and reduce reworking times in solar cell manufacturing. Purification of the process gases utilized in solar cell production has become critical to enhancing yields and conversion efficiency. Pall will feature two new media for its Gaskleen purifier assemblies. The AresKleen HCLP media is highly effective in removing trace moisture down to < 15 parts per billion (ppb) levels from HCl gas used in the formation of trichlorosilane, a key ingredient in the production of polysilicon. Silane, also involved in making polysilicon, as well as amorphous silicon PV cells, frequently contains trace siloxane and moisture. AresKleen SIP medium reduces these detrimental contaminants to sub-ppb levels. All Pall purifiers have integrated, highly efficient particle filters. Pall also offers a fully automatic Water Reclaim System for recovering over 90% of deionized water used during silicon ingot shaping. The system efficiently and economically removes the resultant silicon fines without the need for chemical additives, providing essentially particle-free water for cost-effective recycling. A major supplier of shaping and grinding tools for the solar industry highly recommends this reclaim system. Pall Corporation | www.pall.com Level 2, Booth 8326

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Pluggable DC solar connectors With 100 years of interconnect experience, Wieland manufactures pluggable connector components for the DC side of solar energy systems. Their ETL certified PST 40i1 connector family, rated to 40A DC, provides pluggable connections to most solar PV modules and over extended cable runs. Ingress protection to IP 68 ensures safe operation in harsh environments. Wielandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PST 40i1 connectors meet UL & CSA standards. Their PST 40i1 connector series now features a panel mount version in addition to the field-assembled connectors. All connectors feature mate compatibility with industry standard types. Preassembled, cut-to-length, over-molded cable assemblies, are delivered ready to install. Connector resistance, typically below 1 milliohm, minimizes power losses. NEC code requires a tool to disconnect the PV connection. On the PST 40i1, a safety clip is inserted into the mated connectors to prevent an inadvertent disconnect. To remove the safety clip, a screwdriver is used, eliminating the need for a proprietary tool.

Copper-gallium rotary sputtering target Indium Corporation features its newly developed copper-gallium (Cu/Ga) rotary sputtering target. The targets are made by Indium Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vertically integrated proprietary process utilizing aerospace powder metallurgy technology. The production process output results in a consistently homogeneous alloy, with low contaminate levels and consistent density throughout the target. The targets can be produced in chemistry ranges from 50% to 80% Cu atomic weight, with Ga making up the balance of the alloy. They are produced as a monolithic material, bonded onto the backing tube during Indium Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique hybrid consolidation process. Indium Corporation www.indium.com/solar Level 2, Booth 8451

PV structural solution

Higher efďŹ ciency monocrystalline cells

ISYS Roof Mount is a versatile PV structural solution that requires zero field fabrication. In terms of time and cost efficiency, ISYS Roof Mount offers outstanding value. The ISYS Roof Mount also has 30% fewer parts than competitive systems, ensuring quick set-up with consistent and repeatable installation steps. The configurable design accommodates 0Â° to 30Â° module tilt and enables customers to maximize their projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power production. ISYS Roof Mount utilizes Uniracâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patented I-beam components that demonstrate superior strengthto-weight ratio to withstand the demanding wind. ISYS Roof Mount is backed by Uniracâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Commercial and Utility Group, a support team dedicated to supplying a complete suite of services that ensure every project installs flawlessly. Personalized for each customer, these services include engineering and structural design, onsite installer training, delivery logistics, and field support.

With its latest â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Quad Maxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; technology, Trina Solar developed high-efficiency, square-shaped monocrystalline cells. Built into the modules, Quad Max cells will boost module power output by up to 8%. Leveraging its vertically integrated business model, Trina Solar developed the Quad Max with new, innovative manufacturing processes and a proprietary, state-of-the-art metallization and passivation technique that yields enhanced cell conversion efficiencies of up to 18.8%. The Quad Maxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s square shape allows the cell to harvest more sunlight and avoids the loss of surface area typical of conventional octagonal monocrystalline cells. The five-inch cells are standard in size and a typical 72-cell module will provide power outputs of 200W and above. Trina Solar | www.trinasolar.com Level 2, Booth 8623

Unirac | www.unirac.com Level 1, Booth 7659

Wieland Electric Inc. www.wielandinc.com Level 1, Booth 7635

Intersolar North America July 13-15 2010 | Booth 7151 Moscone Center | San Francisco, CA 800.248.3548 | www.citel.us

Reliability In Surge Protection

Surge Protection Since 1937 A comprehensive approach to the application of lightning and surge protection will help to ensure the maximum life expectancy and efficiency for your solar PV power system. The following illustration details the application points for the surge protectors and the primary protection goal of each device.

Are you protected? 1 AC Distribution Panel DS150E

2 Inverter AC Output 3 Data/Signal Lines DS40S/G

4 Inverter DC Input

M200

5 PV Array Combiner DS60PV DS

DS50PV V

:( 7$.( 3$57 $7 ,17(562/$5 1257+ $0(5,&$ -8/< WK WR -8/< WK 026&21( &(17(5 6$1 ))5$1&,6&2 /HYHO %227+ 12

1 2

3 DLA

Toll Free 1 800.248.3548 | Fax: 954.430.7785

www.citel.us | info@citel.us 52

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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DS50PV

Monocrystalline module for residential or commercial rooftops Fluitecnikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 240 Watt Monocrystalline module is constructed using 10 strings of six monocrystalline cells, and is available in either the standard white back sheet with a silver aluminum frameâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or, for the esthetically conscious customer, available with a black back sheet and black aluminum frame. The black back sheet and black frame combination allows for an integrated look for residential or commercial rooftop projects. All of Fluitecnikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PV modules are UL 1703, IEC 61730, IEC 61215, IEC 61730, and CEC (California) certified. Fluitecnik has applied for and expects to have FSEC (Florida) certification in the coming months. Fluitecnik | www.fluitecnik.com Level 2, Booth 8503

Residential & small commercial PV system design

Turnkey manufacturing & recycling solutions

It is possible to boost sales, saving money and time, with PV*SOL express with Photo Plan. Quickly and accurately design residential and small commercial systems up to 100kW peak. Automatically select inverters, configure strings, determine wire sizes, and analyze basic project financials. Additionally, with a digital photo of the house or building, which showcases the roof, use the integrated Photo Plan tool to determine the roof’s dimensions, obstructions, and the pitch—then design the PV system and overlay the modules back onto the picture. Now, clients can see their future system on their roof. This allows users to focus on sales and design, rather than climb on a roof to create their quote. Valentin Software, Inc. | www.valentin-software.com Level 1, Booth 7426

In the photovoltaic industry, Linde supplies gases, chemicals, and innovative technologies to more than half of the major manufacturers worldwide. Consistently improving on all aspects of the supply chain, providing turnkey solutions for all sizes of fab, Linde is helping to reduce materials consumption, increase throughput and improve the efficiency of solar cells. Their sustainable processes have won industry awards, and they are continuing to develop new processes for recycling and greener manufacturing. Linde Electronics www.linde.com/electronics Level 2, Booth 8129

Project acquisition & ﬁnancing Greenpower Capital has partnerships with several institutional investors that represent a combined $30 billion in funds earmarked for solar and wind renewable energy projects. Their Earlystage Developer Buyout Program can pay a 3% to 6% developer fee upfront, depending on the project economics— the developer can stay in the project or opt out. Project requirements: 1 MW minimum; power purchase agreement executed; site control; and, viable proforma. Approval and closing time is approximately 30 to 60 days. Greenpower Capital’s Equity and Debt Finance Programs can provide a developer with equity investment or debt financing. The Full Project Acquisition Programs are designed to purchase completed projects—the investor will contract for purchase prior or after construction. For pre-construction commitments, 100% of construction funds can be advanced in most cases, with final take-out purchase at COD. Project should be shovel-ready with requirements similar to the Earlystage Buyout, as well as interconnect agreement, system design, EPC contract, and the necessary approvals. Greenpower Capital www.greenpowercap.com Level 3, Booth 9924

CALL 1 (888) 878-8750 TO FIND OUT MORE, OR GO ONLINE Heliodyne, Inc. • 4910 Seaport Avenue • Richmond, CA 94804 T: 1.888.878.8750 or 510.237.9614 • F: 510.237.7018 Information & Support: info@heliodyne.com Sales Inquiries: sales@heliodyne.com www.heliodyne.com

EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN

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Rectangular vacuum valves

Combined PV heat & power

As applications for Rectangular Gate Valves keep getting larger, Kurt J Lesker (KJLC) is meeting the demand for the wider rectangular valve openings commonly used for semiconductor processing, solar panels, LCD/ flat panels, and other vacuum coating applications. Their new valves are rated up to two million cycles. and available with 200mm through 2,000mm openings. These KJLC rectangular valves are proven ideal for vacuum applications that require large valve openings. KJLC valves feature mechanical locking so that at the end of blade travel during valve closure, the valve locks into position. The benefit of this design is that any back pressure on the gate will not affect sealing properties. The company’s sturdy design has a proven track record of having a greater ability to handle back pressure—between 15% to 30% greater than competitor products. Also, upon loss of operating air pressure, these valves remain shut, which is a more reliable design feature compared to those that use check valves in the airsupply line. These KJLC rectangular gate valves are engineered from over 10 years of experience in semiconductor equipment vacuum valve repair.

The WIOSUN PV-Therm CHP (Combined Heat and Power) represents a leap forward in the evolution of solar energy. This new solar module captures and uses more of the sun’s energy than a basic solar electric panel. Solarzentrum’s WIOSUN PV-Therm CHP unites the advantage of a conventional solar PV panel and a solar thermal collector in one single component. The thermal water/fluid circulation on the back side of the solar cells ensures maximum photovoltaic current yields by counteracting the sharp fall of voltage and the significant loss of power when crystalline PV panels faced with high solar cell temperatures. In addition to producing electricity, the module will not only provide hot water (one of the biggest energy usages in most homes and businesses), but it also will heat a pool, spa, and home. As a result, the WIOSUN PV-Therm CHP can satisfy all hot water and energy needs and, regardless of what happens to future energy prices, the cost of energy generated by this system remains stable.

KJLC | www.lesker.com Level 2, Booth 8139

Utility scale PV power harvesting & management Satcon Technology Corporation recently announced the first commercial deployment of their Solstice, the industry’s first complete power harvesting and management solution for utility class solar PV power plants. The 425 kW rooftop installation will supply power to Alpha Grainger Manufacturing’s Franklin, Massachusetts facility, and was developed by Broadway Electrical. Introduced in late 2009, Satcon Solstice delivers fine-grained power harvesting and control with advanced utility ready grid interconnection. With peak efficiencies above 98% and a proprietary two-stage DC architecture, its unique design boosts total power production by 5% to 12% over designs using standard inverters, while simultaneously reducing overall system material costs by 20% to 25%. Satcon Solstice is now available worldwide.

Solar light converter Geosis Corporation presents its latest innovation in solar lighting technology, the Yosemite Series Solar Light Converter. The unique Yosemite fixture can convert an existing lamp post into a reliable and efficient solar light. The fixture can be mounted onto any 3" diameter post with minimal assembly and still retain its original fixture. The 15W solar panel can be adjusted to different angles for maximum sunlight exposure. This fixture comes with a 3W Sunmia LED bulb and the newest technology Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) rechargeable battery with longer lifecycles and faster recharge times. Designed and assembled in the US, the Yosemite Solar Light is trusted for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Geosis Corporation www.sunmia.com Level 1, Booth 7150

Satcon Technology Corporation www.satcon.com/pv_inverters/solstice.html Level 1, Booth 7147

Solarzentrum North America, Inc. www.szna-usa.com Level 1, Booth 7822

Fully integrated solar carport Baja Construction introduces a new concept in PV systems for the commercial market—a fully integrated solar carport that utilizes Baja’s Solar Support System to carry PV modules, producing clean energy to power America’s businesses and the emerging electric vehicle market. Baja’s solar carport is a specifically engineered shade structure built right on a customer’s parking lot. It can be used as the sole PV solution or as a supplement to a rooftop PV solution. It differentiates itself from rooftop solar installations in that it has the secondary benefit of shaded parking, which may be a recognizable revenue source. Baja Construction www.bajacarports.com Level 1, Booth 7863 54

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Bavarian cluster energy technology Almost 4 GWp of Germany’s 9 GWp PV capacities have been realized in Bavaria, most of it by Bavarian companies. The Bavarian solar industry possesses excellent expertise concerning the planning and constructing of solar power plants. In Bavaria, classical rooftop systems, Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), and large-scale open-space systems equally abound. The necessary substructures have been developed over recent years and excel by fast installation, high-quality, and functional safety. Substructures for open-space systems can bear module sizes of more than five-square meters and are installed quickly and safely using construction robots. Apart from electricity production, BIPV also has to offer supplementary functions such as rain protection, privacy shield, sound, as well as thermal insulation. Active cooling systems for PV modules contribute to increased efficiency. The Cluster Energy Technology collaborates with solar companies along the value chain, as well as scientific institutes to drive innovations and bring them fast to the market. Bayern Innovativ GmbH/Cluster Energietechnik | www.bayern-innovativ.de Level 1, Booth 7635

PV backing ﬁlms, solar simulators & cell testers Christopher Associates introduces photovoltaic backing films from Jolywood (Suzhou) Solar Materials Technology Co. Ltd. Jolywood’s new range of FFC/ PET/FFC films offers high-performance at a lower long-term cost than most materials available on the market today. The company also announces solar simulators (DLSK-SOL5A), cell testers (DLSK-FXJ5) and AAA module test systems from Beijing Precision. Additionally, rail and frame bonding sealants, PV tabbing and stringing ribbons, PV metallization pastes, junction boxes used in PV applications, and new module lamination technologies are available. Christopher Associates www.christopherweb.com Level 3, Booth 9247

PV application testing The new SOLAR I-V is ideal for PV system installers and O&M contractors alike. Whether the PV testing application requires I-V curve trace validation on a single module or entire string (to 1000 VDC / 10A), verification of inverter efficiency, or general AC power quality monitoring, the SOLAR I-V fulfils multiple testing rolls within a single field portable package. Supplied standard with a dual-channel mono/ploy PV reference cell, the SOLAR I-V convolves the resistive loaded module/string voltage and current data against the STC normalized reference cell irradiance data to the manufacturer’s published module specifications to determine module/ string I-V curve performance. As an AC power quality analyzer, the SOLAR I-V is cable of measuring AC TRMS voltage and current, line frequency, AC active power, and more. The included TopView software package makes data retrieval and report generation a snap.

More Power. Less Space. Our most powerful cell technology to date, the Quad Max TSM – DA80 is ideal for residential systems. The square-shaped, monocrystalline cells have conversions efficiencies of up to 18.8%. Sleek and compact, the Quad Max makes the most of limited space. Once again, Trina Solar gives you the best $/kWh. For more information, visit www.trinasolar.com.

TSM – DA80

HuksefluxUSA, Inc. | www.huksefluxusa.com Level 1, Booth 7153 North American Clean Energy

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PV product design & manufacturing

Aluminum & ceramic for solar capabilities

Powerway Mounting Solution, a division of Wellkey Solar Technology Ltd., offers one-stop solutions to the photovoltaic market. They apply the TQM (Total Quality Management) concept in all design and manufacturing of products. Powerway Mounting Solution is ISO9001 certified and practices the principle of lean manufacturing of TS16949— with well set-up procedure of APQP, FMEA, MSA, SPC in their production. They supply customers with reliable and consistent quality products and understand that a good PV mounting system must be able to sustain challenges of all climatic changes. Therefore, from materials selection to design, simulation, testing, manufacturing, and installation, Powerway ensures customers product quality and product investment safety.

Morgan Technical Ceramics (MTC), a manufacturer of innovative ceramic, glass, precious metal, piezoelectric, and dielectric materials, will showcase its line of fused silica rollers, PBN crucibles, and machined Alumina capabilities, which are ideal for a wide variety of solar market applications. Traditionally used for handling sheet glass for automobiles, appliances, and architectural applications, MTC’s high-quality, fused silica rollers are now being used in the manufacturing of solar cells. The outstanding mechanical properties and special surface quality of the fused silica rollers make them ideal for use as transport rollers for tempering flat glass, as well as in diffusion and thin-film processing of solar panels. In addition, MTC offers Performance Pyrolytic Boron Nitride (PBN) material for use in manufacturing the photo absorption layer in thin-film PV (TFPV) cells. Performance PBN is an excellent material for crucibles and evaporation boats used in producing the TFPV cells, as well as for coating graphite heating elements used for material vaporization.

Powerway Mounting Solution | www.pvpowerway.com Level 3, Booth 9623

Solar thermal engineering & design Free Hot Water specializes in commercial solar thermal engineering and design services, as well as manufacturing and distribution. Products include solar thermal panels, custom mounting systems, storage tanks, heat exchangers, circulation pumps, controllers and stations, insulated stainless steel flex piping, roof penetration systems, solar charging stations, tools, sealants, adhesives, and cleaners.

Solar thermal collectors & absorbers KIOTO Clear Energy provides rapid and pragmatic solutions for customerspecific requirements and, as an OEM partner, a dependable long-term approach based on co-operation. As such, they offer customers adequate production capacity of world-class standard and the widest range of solar thermal collectors and absorbers adapted to the needs of regional markets. With the latest and only laser welding machine on the continent, they are able to provide customers copper/copper or aluminum/ copper full surface absorbers up to 4 X 10 feet. KIOTO Clear Energy S.A. de C.V. www.kioto.com Level 1, Booth 7517

Morgan Technical Ceramics www.morgantechnicalceramics.com Level 2, Booth 8440

Free Hot Water | www.freehotwater.com Level 1, Booth 7519

Micro-abrasive blasting applications

Site evaluation just got easier.

The new SunEye 210.

One-handed operation makes your shade measurements a snap. Preview mode shows the sun path overlay adjusted to the device’s orientation. Pitch and azimuth measurements are built-in.

Expert Tools. Better Solar. Watch an introductory video at www.solmetric.com

Solar farm arc ﬂash mitigation solutions American Electric Technologies, Inc. (AETI), supplier of end-to-end power generation to the grid electrical infrastructure solutions, introduces 17.5 kV Arc Flash Mitigation Switchgear for solar farms. The cost for medical treatment of an arc flash incident can reach $1.5 million with the costs of litigation reaching $10 million. AETI proposes their Solar Substation Switchgear as an answer to the arc flash issues arising from today’s arc resistant switchgear. AETI’s proven light-sensing technology detects an arc flash and commands the circuit breaker to open and isolate the arc fault within five milliseconds. This keeps arc flash energy well under the threshold of becoming explosive and injurious. AETI’s Arc Flash Mitigation Switchgear operates up to 17.5 kV at 3000A continuous duty with a 40 kA interruption rating. American Electric Technologies, Inc. www.aeti.com Level 1, Booth 7067

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Comco Inc. is a manufacturer of microabrasive blasters and creator of the award-winning MicroBlaster. Microabrasive blasting is a technology that uses micro-sized particles of high-grade abrasives propelled out of a small nozzle tip at high velocity to clean, cut, deburr, texture, and remove material on a variety of surfaces. For edge deletion applications, alumina is commonly used. It quickly cuts through all of the thinfilm layers down to the glass substrate without creating micro-fractures. Fast and consistent results can be obtained with manual or semi-automated microabrasive blasting solutions. Comco’s Applications Lab welcomes sample parts for testing to determine the most efficient method. Comco Inc. | www.comcoinc.com Level 3, Booth 9261

Online solar database

Solar inverters Delta offers a new brand of solar inverters, SOLIVIA, which stands for “solar inverters for versatile and intelligent applications.” SOLIVIA solar inverters produced for the North American market are available in four models—SOLIVIA 2.5, 3.3, 4.4, and 5.0 NA G3—with a nominal output power ranging from 2.5kW to 5.0kW. The SOLVIA inverters feature high-frequency galvanic isolation topology, are suitable for all commonly used solar modules (with either positive or negative DC grounding), and operate within a wide temperature range up to 50° C, along with full power output (without de-rating). This complements Delta’s available European solar inverter product line. Production will begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.

PV Contractor Inc. offers a one-stop shop for solar needs. With their extensive online database and advanced search options, all contactors can find the exact products they need to build the perfect solar installation. Moreover, as a partner, customers become a part of the company’s initiative to bring “Power to the People” in furthering the solar revolution. Those involved will receive ongoing technical support, optional training seminars, and more.

Delta Products Corporation, Inc. | Delta Energy Systems | www.solar-inverter.com Level 1, Booth 7240

PV Contractor Inc. www.pv-contractor.com Level 1, Booth 7031

We are Hydro...

Framing the power of the sun

Solar power conversion & grid interconnection technology American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) produces a broad scope of proven solutions for the power grid and renewable energy markets. The company’s proprietary D-VAR solution is a Smart Grid device that provides a cost-effective way of stabilizing voltage levels by injecting dynamic reactive power (VARs) precisely where voltage problems can occur. AMSC’s D-VAR solution has become the de facto standard for connecting wind farms to power grids worldwide. These solutions are now deployed at more than 70 wind farms in seven countries to meet local grid interconnection requirements. Combined, these wind farms are capable of producing more than 5,000 MW of combined zero-emission electricity. AMSC is now also offering grid interconnection solutions for utility scale solar power plants. Based on the D-VAR, this solution enables developers to meet local grid interconnection requirements and includes AMSC’s integrated controls and SCADA systems. These solutions augment the overall performance solar power plants and enable developers to meet local grid interconnection requirements. American Superconductor www.amsc.com Level 1, Booth 7053

Aluminum extrusion components for support structures, frames, and mounting systems for solar energy installations ydro is the leading supplier of custom extruded aluminum structural components for commercial PV and utility-scale CSP installations. A team dedicated to solar energy with the full support and resources of Hydro’s global aluminum network 300 MW of installed CSP experience Large-scale roof top and ground-mount PV experience Proven partner with full project management and logistics support Precise manufacturing of components using remelt billet (which contains more than 70% recycled content) Kitting, JIT delivery, and on-site assembly training

H •

• • • • •

Contact us and we’ll help you frame the power of the sun! Hydro Solar Solutions 249 S. 51st Avenue • Phoenix, AZ 85043 V: (602) 427-1434 • F: (602) 427-1334 www.hydro.com/northamerica/solar

Booth #7960, 2010 Intersolar North America North American Clean Energy

intersolar north america show in print

Monocrystalline cell technology MAGE POWERTEC PLUS modules utilize a moncrystalline cell technology with an electrical efficiency of up to 17.3%. With allowable tolerances of up to +5 watts, maximum power is guaranteed without any compromise and nominal power is obtained or even exceeded. MAGE SOLARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitive 10-year product warranty far surpasses legal requirements and the added guarantee of 90% nominal power for 12 years and 80% for 30 years, provides customers with three full decades of reassurance. Due to their engineered hollow section frame and 3.22mm special solar glass, MAGE POWERTEC Plus models meet maximum demands with regards to stability and corrosion resistance. The high-quality EVA foil allows ideal embedding of the solar cells, while the weatherproof foil backing of the modules protects against humidity. In addition, these robust modules resist a maximum pressure of 5,400 Pa/113 psf. MAGE SOLAR Projects, Inc. | www.magesolar.com Level 1, Booth 7435

Surge protection for grid-tie solar power systems CITEL, Inc. has expanded its surge protector line to include models DS60PV and DS50PV, two wire and ground DC power surge protectors for applications up to 1000 Vdc. Designed for the most severe applications, DS60PV is a Heavy Duty DC surge protector, rated to withstand a direct lightning strike (10/350us waveform) as defined by ANSI/IEEE C62.41-2002 and IEC 61643-11. It is typically installed at the DC input to the inverter of a solar power system. For more general duty applications, DS50PV is surge rated at 40kA 8/20us, and engineered to protect against indirect lightning, ac utility grid surges, and internally generated switching transients and faults. These din rail mount devices can be integrated into a PV combiner box or standalone enclosure. CITEL is also pleased to announce model DS50PV as the first UL recognized DC Surge Protector with replaceable modules. CITEL, Inc. | www.citel.us Level 1, Booth 7151

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Custom solar crimp set For 30 years Rennsteig has been manufacturing tools in Germany and the US to the highest standards. Their precision cutting, stripping, and crimping tools are specifically engineered for the wires and terminals specific to the solar industry. They have the knowledge, skill, and capacity to meet any customer specifications, and they specialize in meeting customer requirements. Rennsteig’s “Custom Solar Crimp Set,” gives customers the opportunity to create their own set. With a top-quality solar system crimp tool, crimp dies, and locators of any choice, up to five different combinations are possible. Rennsteig also offers tools for popular industry manufacturers. Rennsteig Tools, Inc. | www.rennsteig.us Level 1, Booth 7859

Extruded aluminum structural components Hydro supplies extruded aluminum structural components for commercial PV and utility scale CSP installations. With a dedicated solar energy team and the resources and support of Hydro’s global aluminum network, Hydro provides a full range of products and services—technical and design assistance at the start of the project through JIT delivery of finished components. For both roofand ground-mount PV solar installations, Hydro has collaborated with energy companies, distributors, and installers to develop and manufacture lightweight custom frame and mounting components, as well as extruded profiles to be used for stock shape programs. In a recently formed partnership, to help support both the east and west coast operations of a global manufacturer of fixed PV racking systems, they supply extruded components from their Belton, SC and Phoenix, AZ facilities. By extruding components near project locations, shipping costs are reduced and larger production volumes can be more easily accommodated.

L1, Booth 7765

Dedicated to providing innovative, environmentally friendly

PV MOUNTING SOLUTIONS

to lower the lifetime system cost of PV around the world.

Hydro Solar Solutions www.hydro.com/northamerica/solar Level 1, Booth 7960

Solar test & measurement equipment Solmetric Corporation delivers innovative, accurate, and easy to use solar test and measurement equipment, which includes the popular SunEye 210 shade analysis tool and the PV Designer software. Also featured: the PVA-600 Performance Analyzer, an electrical measurement solution to verify performance of a PV module or string. It measures IV characteristics and compares measured results to expected results based on a built-in system performance model. Solmetric Corporation www.solmetric.com Level 1, Booth 7227

PanelClaw® offers three highly flexible and efficient ballasted mounting solutions

3. Panda Bear GM for residential to utility scale ground mount

sales@panelclaw.com Tel: 978.688.4900 Fax: 978.688.5100 1600 Osgood Street Bldg 20 Ste 2-23, North Andover, MA 01845

www.panelclaw.com North American Clean Energy

intersolar north america show in print Drive units for solar sun-tracker systems Solar power plants require robust drive systems with high accuracy, efficiency, and virtually maintenance-free long-term operation showing a high degree of reliability. Only components specially designed for outdoor use can meet the requirements. Worm gear units are ideally suited for the azimuth adjustment of a tracker, since they can be used for virtually backlash-free transmission ratios and very slow movements. By target-oriented selection of defined materials, required parameters such as perfect wear behavior, high fatigue strength, and long-term corrosion protection are achieved and implemented. GFC AntriebsSysteme GmbH | www.gfc-antriebe.de Level 1, Booth 7423

Solar power shipping solutions anywhere under the sun.

DB Schenker provides customer specific logistics and transportation solutions for solar equipment, with a unique expertise in handling high-value, oversized, highly sensitive machines. We understand how to transport your high-value and high-sensitivity capital equipment and tools. We have teams of dedicated professionals handling only Solar related logistics and transportation with company offices in most Solar manufacturing locations. We are among the world’s largest providers of air and ocean freight. We can be your end-to-end logistics solutions company from bringing in your component material supplies to your production facilities to shipping finished goods to your customers. We offer world-class customer service and we have many industry references to share with you.

Come talk to us at Booth #9426, Level 3 or visit our website at www.dbschenkerusa.com/ specialservices/solarservices.

Higher efﬁciency monocrystalline cells

Greenpower Capital offers early-stage buyout, equity, project finance, and acquisition with 100% construction advance. We have experience in project development, so we understand how to help a developer achieve its goals.

Following the trends in the PV industry, which always tend to propose higher power output, Upsolar is now extending its power range for their monocrystalline series. Standard 72 cells (UP-MM series) are available from 165Wp to 195Wp, thanks to the production of larger ingots (diameter 165mm). Usolar’s Black Series will also increase its output range from 160Wp to 190Wp. As a result of the company’s new Research Center, Upsolar is now conducting a series of tests to select the best components—several of the leading brands of junction boxes, TPT, EVA, glass, silicone, and frames are assembled and tested at their Shanghai laboratory. According to the results of these tests (in climatic chambers, outdoors, in the water etc.), Upsolar is able to choose the best for their clients. At the same time, cells are thoroughly checked at the production platforms to optimize the output of the products.

We can move quickly to approve and fund your project. Call or e-mail us today to find out how we can assist you.

Upsolar Co., Ltd. www.upsolar.com Level 2, Booth 8411

Project Acquisition & Finance

GREENPOWER CAPITAL

(818) 623-4200

www.greenpowercap.com • info@greenpowercap.com

proudly introduces Solar-Trac® Please visit us during InterSolar North America at booth #7815

Flexible supply and return lines for solar heated water systems.

Solar-Trac Piping Beneﬁts: • T316L Stainless Steel • Available sizes from 3/8” thru 2” • Tubing bends by hand • Routes easily around obstacles • Cuts using standard tubing cutter • Special lengths available

Solar-Flare Fitting Beneﬁts: • Self-ﬂaring • No special tools • Reliable metal-to-metal sealing surface • No gaskets or rubber washers Highest level of quality for tomorrow’s energy

Omega Flex, Inc. 451 Creamery Way • Exton, PA 19341 ISO 9001 Registered Company 800.355.1039

www.omegaﬂex.com SLT-006 Rev 6/10

JULY/AUGUST 2010

nacleanenergy.com

Rooftop PV attachment kit In the solar industry, the challenge has been in how to attach PV modules to standing seam roof systems without jeopardizing roof material and warranties. S-5! has created a solution that fits the majority of solar panels and metal roofs on the market, including exposed-fastened and corrugated profiles. With a cost of as little as $0.06 a watt, the S-5-PV Kit stands alone in the industry. It is currently the only method of penetration-free attachment of PV modules to metal roof systems through DirectAttached methods—with quick and accurate installation also available for rail mounted systems. The S-5-PV Kit is one of the newest products in the line of S-5! clamps and attachment solutions, which have been installed on over a million roofs around the globe. S-5! | www.S-5.com Level 1, Booth 7465

Tooling for wafer manufacturing & coating With the high cost of running a hot zone for forming either mono- or multi-crystalline silicon, it is more important than ever to extend the lifetime of all hot zone tooling. This is where Schunk can help—from susceptors to heaters, heat shields, connectors, and insulation, their high-purity products will help maximize lifetime and efficiency; thereby, reducing costs. When the wafer has been cut and needs to be coated, once again Schunk can assist. They produce carriers for transporting wafers through the various coating processes of the major coating system OEM’s. These carriers can be made of carbon composites or graphite, depending on the system being used. Lifetime, efficiency and cost reduction are the company’s goals in their support. Schunk Kohlenstoftechnik | Schunk Graphite Technology | www.schunk-group.com Level 1, Booth 7822

Sun tracker

Certified solar enclosures The ARCA JIC enclosure family, from Fibox, has been tested and certified by SGS FIMKO to comply with the European Community’s Low Voltage Directive and permits use of the CE Mark. The CE Mark is recognized worldwide and CE Conformity is required for importation of electrical equipment into the European Community. ARCA enclosures were evaluated against EN 60529 and EN 62262, achieving ingress ratings of IP66 / IP67 and an impact rating of IK09. ARCA enclosures were also evaluated for mechanical strength (EN 60439-4) and conformity to Low Voltage Switchgear requirements (EN 62208). In addition, ARCA enclosures are UL Listed and NEMA rated Type 4, 4X, 12, and 13. The ARCA enclosure line consists of 10 standard JIC enclosure sizes ranging from 6 x 6 x 4" D to 18 x 16 x 10" D, and is available in over 100 configurations of opaque or transparent screw cover or hinged latched cover versions. This size range targets OEM instrumentation, controls, and automation applications, and accommodates larger components and high-power applications. Fibox | www.fiboxusa.com Level 1, Booth 7958

GFC Slewing gear units keep the sun in focus. ica North Amer e Intersolar Visit us at th 10 20 15, sco July 13 – 1, in San Franci t Hall, Level es W , er nt Moscone Ce Block 7423

Where others run on empty, our targets still perform. PLANSEE rotary and planar sputtering targets: - Best target utilization through optimized geometries - Full density and high purity - Homogenous microstructure

Visit us at the Intersolar San Francisco July 13-15

Solar tracking in high winds DEGERenergie launches its new DEGERtraker 9000NT. The new system features improved performance capabilities and greater stability in areas of strong winds. The physical construction was developed by DEGERenergie’s engineers on the basis of the 5000HD heavy duty model, which is designed to handle high wind loads. The 9000NT can withstand increased wind loads even with a large module surface. This allows the use of large-scale tracking systems even in places where wind exposure has previously limited the available module surface. The new twin-axle model is designed to handle a module surface of up to 70 sqm. Depending on module type, the yield for systems using the DEGERtraker 9000NT lies between 9 kWp and 12 kWp. The maximum wind load is rated at 300 kilometers per hour. The DEGERtraker 9000NT is available from June 2010. DEGERenergie is global market leader for solar tracking systems. DEGERenergie | www.degerenergie.com Level 1, Booth 7559

PLANSEE USA LLC., Franklin, MA 02038, USA Tel.: 508 553-3800, Fax: 508 553-3823 usa@plansee.com, www.plansee.com

GFC AntriebsSysteme GmbH Grenzstraße 5 / D-01640 Coswig phone +49 (0) 3523 94 60 fax +49 (0) 3523 74 142 gfc-antriebe@gfc-antriebe.de www.gfc-antriebe.de

North American Clean Energy

investing in clean energy

Economic Curtailment of Renewable Energy By Brian Harms; Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP

n May 6th, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held a stakeholder meeting to discuss the economic curtailment of renewable energy. The meeting was called to address Southern California Edison’s (“Edison”) amendment to its 2010 pro forma PPA. That amendment expressly allowed Edison to economically dispatch a renewable energy resource, and open the resource to curtailment without payment. The possibility of such curtailment, however, undermines the certainty the resource will be delivered, as and when available, making the revenue from such resource less certain. Many stakeholders, including the California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) and the Large-scale Solar Association, argued that such a provision makes a project “un-financeable” and that some sort of mitigation must be included in these renewable energy PPAs. The stakeholder meeting highlighted the tension in independent system operator (ISO) markets between dispatching resources economically, using locational marginal pricing (LMP) or other price signals, and meeting state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements by purchasing higher cost-bundled renewable energy products (i.e. energy plus renewable energy certificates, or RECs).

The best choice for mitigating economic curtailment issues is for counterparties to know the issue and expressly allocate the risk through bilateral negotiation… Tension: ISO markets vs. RPS requirements

Generally, ISO markets are designed so that LMP price signals will cause the least cost, or most efficient resources to be dispatched where needed on the electric grid. The LMP signal includes an energy price and transmission cost, such as congestion and losses, but does not include a renewable energy premium for the dispatch of renewable energy. If a scheduling entity* bids the bundled price for renewable energy, then this failure to take into account the “environmental attribute” value (not just RECs but, perhaps, greenhouse gas emissions allowances as well) exacerbates the price difference between a gas-fired resource, especially with low natural gas prices and a renewable energy resource. However, utilities buying renewable energy and wanting to ensure they receive the RECs for RPS compliance can self-schedule or otherwise schedule a renewable resource (and bid at a low price, or even a negative price) to ensure delivery of the energy and RECs. Often, utilities will agree to such scheduling in their renewable PPAs. But if there is no express agreement between the parties, and the utility is the scheduling entity, then there is a risk the scheduling entity’s bid price will cause the resource not to be dispatched—even if the renewable resource is capable of being dispatched. That risk may be a greater risk if the utility has already met its RPS obligations for the year. Setting of terms: Who should control?

The above discussion illustrates a key issue raised at the stakeholder meeting: should economic curtailment be an issue left to bilateral negotiation, or should the state public utilities commission overseeing the RPS program or the ISO play a role? Most attendees agreed that bilateral negotiation would be best, but CalWEA argued that pro forma contracts should not be published with non-financeable terms (i.e. permitting economic curtailment). A different path suggested by attendees was to have the CPUC set a specific term for economic curtailment, such as setting a cap on the number of hours of economic curtailment permitted in any year or providing for no economic curtailment. Of course, differences among the various renewable energy sources means there is no “one size fits 62

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all” solution. For instance, solar resources dispatch when the sun is shining and peak demand is occurring; wind resources dispatch at lower demand times. Taking into account the differing dispatch conditions, wind resources will likely be more prone to economic curtailment than solar resources (i.e. too much generation at a low demand time). Depending on the amount of intermittent renewable resources interconnected to the grid that may not always be the case. Non-ISO markets: Allocation of risk

In non-ISO markets, counterparties usually agree that a renewable energy PPA is a take or pay contract, so that if a renewable energy resource is capable of producing energy and/or delivers energy, the seller will be paid. The risk allocation results in the buyer accepting the risk because the ability to curtail energy production without damages is not only detrimental to revenues, but could also be detrimental to government incentives based on production of energy (such as production tax credits). Aside from simply requiring take or pay for renewable energy, some PPAs will allow for a limited number of curtailment hours (or MWhs) while others will allow unlimited curtailment, but with payment for the energy curtailed at the PPA price. Either method would provide a negotiated allocation of risk. Mitigation alternatives

The obvious mitigation for ISO market PPAs is to include provisions in PPAs that limit or eliminate the risk of economic curtailment. During the CPUC stakeholder meeting there was discussion of the fact that Pacific Gas & Electric provides for payment at the PPA price of energy that it economically curtails. This can be achieved through bilateral negotiation, but the question remains: should something more “systemic” be used, such as the public utilities commission in a state (as the RPS overseers) overriding ISO economic principles, when dealing with RPS resources? A third alternative could be an ISO LMP signal fix that combines the economic dispatch of energy with recognition of the premium placed on renewable energy. Granted, ISOs allow their scheduling entities to bid whatever price is appropriate, and this bidding can be set by bilateral negotiation, which could mean bidding at a price that pulls out the REC premium—and, essentially, is a bid solely of the energy price. Additionally, adding new components to LMP pricing would be complex, potentially difficult to administer, and possibly not cost-effective. For argument’s sake, if a day-ahead/real-time REC emission allowance pricing component could be added to LMP pricing, then that could create a better comparison between traditional resources and bundled renewable energy resources being dispatched for RPS purposes and would, potentially, marry the RPS goals of public utility commissions with the economic dispatch goals of ISOs. Conclusion

The best choice for mitigating economic curtailment issues is for counterparties to know the issue and expressly allocate the risk through bilateral negotiation; with specific scheduling requirements or limitations placed on the scheduling entities. However, as ISO markets and RPS goals evolve and move forward, the tension between economic dispatch and the desire for renewable generation may require a macro-level, systemic solution. If technology and information availability allow a marriage of ISO and RPS goals in pricing signals or other means then, perhaps, that becomes a potential solution. * Note: a scheduling entity is the entity that interfaces with the ISO to schedule the generation of energy from a resource. Scheduling requirements are different in each ISO. Troutman Sanders LLP www.troutmansanders.com | www.renewableinsights.com

Financing for Small- to Medium-sized Commercial Solar Projects By Jakob Laggner

Financing of commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) projects has always been a challenge in the American market. A Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) is a popular way to bypass the large capital investment required to get a project off the ground. Essentially, a SPPA is a financial agreement in which a third-party owns, operates, and maintains the solar array. The host customer agrees to purchase the power generated from the system for a pre-arranged period of time; usually 15 to 25 years. This agreement allows the host customer to receive a known and stable electricity rate (which in many cases is lower than the existing rate) while avoiding up front capital costs and responsibility for system maintenance. The SPPA provider receives all the tax incentives, as well as the income generated off the PV system. A system installed under this agreement can be cash flow positive from day one. SPPA providers have traditionally only been interested in projects above $1 million. What they have not found attractive is the arguably larger market of mediumsized PV projects, ranging from 75kW to 200kW. Recently, some forward-looking investors have seen the opportunity to gain momentum in this niche market, opening a new wave of project development in the medium-sized commercial PV arena. In a recent study, the Gartner Group predicted that by 2013, 2.3 GW of PV installations will be financed using the SPPA model. Small- to medium-sized PV projects carry added benefits such as quicker turnaround times, simpler permitting process, and reduced risk of product shortage. Once a host is identified, the integrator looks to match or even lower existing kWh cost the host pays the utility. A projected cost table is then established based on such factors as local incentives and existing kWh costs. The business owner now has a guaranteed table of electricity expenses for 20 to 25 years, without the concern of sudden rate increases. The host can also advertise as a green business. In a competitive marketplace, businesses are looking for differentiation, which can be achieved by demonstrating a commitment to the environment with an investment in renewable energy. The small- to medium-sized SPPA not only benefits commercial business owners. Non-profit and government organizations generally have to incur a higher expense when adding PV to their facilities. As a non-taxpaying entity, non-profits cannot draw from the lucrative tax benefits, which can lower the overall cost of PV by 60% or more. In the third-party ownership model, the SPPA provider can still use the tax benefits, allowing them to offer PPA services to non-profit and government organizations. The current market conditions are an ideal environment for SPPA’s. The need for strong business and non-taxpaying entities to cut costs while becoming greener has made

SPPA’s extremely attractive. In addition, the drop in price of siliconebased modules has allowed SPPA providers to be competitive with utility pricing, making the model more attractive to host customers. It allows companies to work with clients that may have veered away from PV projects due to cash-flow issues. SPPA’s still require the host customer to have a strong balance sheet and a minimum system size of 75kW. Even with these requirements, an extremely large and previously untapped market segment is opened up to solar developers.

Jakob Laggner is the project developer for Session Solar. As a project developer, Session Solar partners with SPPA providers in the US market to provide small to medium sized SPPA’s. Session Solar | www.sessionsolar.com

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2010 & 2011 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDE A highlight of various regions or institutions looking to expand and develop clean energy, promote companies and organizations in the industry, and bring economic growth to their city, state/province, and/or country.

Pocatello, Chubbuck, Bannock County, & the State of Idaho Pocatello, located in Eastern Idaho, is quickly becoming a place for industries and businesses to expand. Leading the charge is Bannock Development Corporation (BDC), a non-proﬁt economic development organization focused on helping businesses create jobs through retention, expansion, and recruitment. BDC’s key focus in recruiting include alternative energy and advanced manufacturing. A local manufacturer of polysilicon for the solar industry recently completed equipment testing, and is now in limited commercial polysilicon production. Another local supplier of high-performance, energy efﬁcient, silicon solutions for green electronics, recently announced an $11 million-plus expansion at its Pocatello facility, solidifying its continued commitment to the community over the next few years. Additionally, there is approximately 400 MW of wind farms across the southeastern part of the state with another 200 MW+ in advanced planning stages. A 124 MW wind farm, which could power 37,000 average American homes, is currently under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2010. Bannock Development Corporation can help with site selection to the point of relocation. All of this is accomplished thanks to strong partnerships with the cities of Pocatello, Chubbuck, Bannock County, the State of Idaho, and community support. www.bannockdevelopment.org

Nebraska Public Power District

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

Pittsburgh Region

Wind is one of North American’s fastest-growing power technologies, and Nebraska’s centralized location is uniquely suited to give renewable equipment manufacturers a profitable choice when locating new facilities. Proximity to future development in America’s wind corridor makes Nebraska a critical hub for timely delivery. Shipped by truck or rail, equipment can be delivered within hours, if not days, saving manufacturers and operators millions of dollars. Equally as significant, Nebraska gives manufacturers a profitable advantage by providing quality labor and low-cost energy. Due the state’s unique public power structure, industrial electrical rates are among lowest in the nation. The low cost of doing business is one of the reasons why Nebraska offers an inviting business climate. The Nebraska Advantage package rewards businesses that invest in the state and add jobs. The Nebraska Public Power District’s (NPPD) professional economic development team can assist renewable equipment manufactures in finding productive and profitable locations in Nebraska. By gathering community proposals, identifying informational and financial resources, and facilitating negotiations at the local level, NPPD works with state and local entities to ensure the best fit between companies and communities. http://sites.nppd.com

Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario, Canada, is a growing global sustainable energy centre and a logical choice for sustainable energy production and R&D as significant investment is taking place. When the First Solar/Enbridge Sarnia solar farm brings the balance of its 80 MW of power on stream by the end of 2010, Sarnia-Lambton will be home to the world’s largest PV solar power generation facility. In addition, 500 MW of wind power has been announced for the area. Already a major petrochemical and refining centre, Sarnia-Lambton offers manufacturers and energy providers an established industrial infrastructure, including a comprehensive energy system. Located at the heart of the Great Lakes industrial corridor, transportation routes include highway, rail, and deep water St. Lawrence Seaway port. Zoned manufacturing sites are available just minutes from the Ontario/Michigan Blue Water Bridge commercial border crossing. The University of Western Ontario’s Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus, works with business to help bring innovative new projects to the marketplace. The Park is also the location of Canada’s Bioindustrial Innovation Centre. Lambton College’s three-year Alternative Energy Engineering Technology program provides graduates trained in current and emerging energy technologies. www.sarnialambton.on.ca

The Pittsburgh region is poised to build a 21st-century economy on the foundation of the traditional and renewable energy industry. Already in the region, there is a critical mass of 700-plus companies in the global energy supply chain, as well as innovation assets, spanning government, and academic and corporate research and development. Unlike other regions in the country, Pittsburgh is rich in natural energy resources—coal and natural gas, including the Marcellus Shale natural gas play. The Marcellus Shale is the world’s largest unconventional natural gas deposit, and Pittsburgh sits directly atop it. The region boasts an exceptionally skilled workforce that is innovating, problem solving, and manufacturing to meet global supply chain demands for both traditional energy sources and renewables. Pittsburgh is a supply chain leader for companies seeking parabolic solar mirrors, electrical efficiency systems, and convertors and generators for offshore and other wind farms, coatings for windmill towers and fiberglass for windmill blades, and intelligent power grid software and services. www.pittsburghregion.org

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Cedar Valley Regional Partnership—Northeast Iowa The Cedar Valley Region is located along the new federal highway system, Interstate 218/380, connecting Minneapolis/St. Paul to St. Louis. Population totals 211,370 with a labor force draw of 248,248. An independent study projects the installation of 1,690 MW per year of new wind generation with a 600-mile radius of Iowa, from 2007 through 2013. This means a wind industry market of $5.7 billion-plus per year within a day’s drive. Further, expanding companies can beneﬁt from the IAWIND—Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development to assist with training and education. This ﬁve-community college and three-state university consortium focuses on wind energy manufacturing, as well as operations and maintenance programs. Half-a-billion dollars in new investment has occurred by expanding industry and distribution companies in the Cedar Valley Region. www.cedarvalleyregion.com

London, Canada Located in the heart of Southwestern Ontario, midway between three US borders (Niagara Falls, Detroit, and Port Huron), London’s growing clean energy industry is being noticed. London is home to the first bio-gas urban production facility in Ontario, and another is in development. Industry is working closely with the University of Western Ontario (Western) who are working on solar cell materials, hydrogen storage, polymers for batteries, and biofuel production. Fanshawe College’s has created The Centre for Sustainable Energy & Environments, which addresses optimization, adoption, integration, and commercialization of renewable energy and recycling technologies. Both Western and Fanshawe are training the skills needed to move the sector forward into the future. Opening in 2011, Western is building the world’s first WindEEE Dome to investigate all aspects of wind energy, wind engineering, and the environment including the optimization of wind and solar farms, as well as testing and the design of wind turbines. It will focus on the interaction of winds, up to hurricane and tornado forces, and natural/ constructed environments. London, Canada has the green space, the people, the research, and the cost advantage to support the growth of the clean energy sector. www.ledc.com

It’s easy being green in

NEW JERSEY Mars Snackfood U.S. • Petra Solar Campbell Soup Company • Roche Johnson & Johnson • Novo Nordisk

The company we keep, k e e p s g e t t i n g b e t t e r. COSCO Americas, Inc. • Prudential Absolutely Energized Solar Princeton Power Sy s tems • IDT Wherever your company is positioned across the energy supply chain—end-user, systems or product manufacturer, or new technology developer—New Jersey has significant advantages. Here’s why...

Economic Development Winnipeg The Energy and Environment sectors in Winnipeg encompass an extremely diverse range of industries, which include electrical power generation, transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, and alternative energy development. Several engineering and environmental firms are located in Winnipeg and carryout activities as part of their portfolio services. These firms are well-established, having world-class expertise in high-voltage direct current transmission, waste management, waste water remediation, water and wastewater treatment, environmental impact assessment, environmental consulting services, and clean energy. One of Canada’s largest wind farms, located in St. Leon 150 kilometers outside of Winnipeg, is now in full operation. Manitoba Hydro is pursuing new wind projects totaling 300 MW, or enough to power 100,000 homes. Manitoba’s strategy to harvest 1,000 MW of wind power will attract $2 billion in investment and generate $100 million in wind rights payments to landowners. There is opportunity to increase energy produced from these sources, as well as other sources such as bio-fuels and biomass. At Economic Development Winnipeg, the team of dedicated professionals works closely with these sectors and others to increase local industry competitiveness and stimulate growth though collaboration. www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com

New Jersey ranks

first in solar installations per square mile in the nation.1

The state ranks first on the East Coast in terms of installed solar capacity.2

New Jersey is fully committed to reducing the state’s carbon footprint through clean and renewable energy. We demonstrate this commitment by offering special financial incentives and grants to drive both the supply and demand in the clean and renewable energy marketplaces. The result: Over 5,800 renewable energy projects have been supported by the state, generating more than 197 MW and representing over $345 million in rebates.3 In addition, the state offers other aggressive incentives and tax credit programs for companies locating in targeted areas, creating new jobs, and more. This comprehensive approach, along with our strategic location and highly-educated workforce, make New Jersey the ideal choice for locating your business. Call 866-534-7789 to learn more about programs that can help solar and other renewable and energy-efficient equipment manufacturers, developers and end-users flourish in New Jersey.

1. “New Jersey Outshines Most Others in Solar Energy,” http://www.cnbc.com/id/33233060 2. “New Jersey Outshines 48 of Its Peers in Solar Power,” http://online.wsj.com/article/ SB124900300175395743.html 3. New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program Project Activity Reports, April 2010.

www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov • 866-534-7789 NAC/0710

North American Clean Energy

Idaho Department of Commerce Idaho has a history of looking to renewables for its energy sources. The state is ranked seventh by the US Energy Agency for its renewable energy generating capacity. These days, the renewable energy industry is looking to Idaho for research, investment, and manufacturing. In recent years, the state has attracted new ventures in wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. The state’s universities and colleges have followed suit by implementing supportive programs in these areas, creating a synergistic environment where these industries can ﬂourish. Idaho’s stable tax climate and low business costs are attractive lures for companies looking to locate or expand. The state is ranked as having the second lowest overall cost of doing business in the Western US (www.economy.com). Importantly, Idaho ranks second in the nation for low energy costs (Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council), and also has some of the lowest premiums in the country for workers’ compensation insurance. Large manufacturers have found Idaho a good place to set up shop, and small start-ups ﬁnd it easy to launch operations. www.renewable.idaho.gov

Mississippi

Charlotte Regional Partnership

Pampa Economic Development Corporation

Due to its workforce and business climate, availability of high-quality workforce training and educational programs, and the support of state and local leaders, Mississippi is an ideal location for renewable energy. Recently, Twin Creeks Technologies announced the company’s plans to locate its new solar panel manufacturing facility in Senatobia, Mississippi. The facility will produce photovoltaic solar panels using the company’s proprietary technology and will create more than 500 jobs in the area. The company is the first to take advantage of the recently enacted Mississippi Clean Energy Initiative, which provides tax incentives for businesses that manufacture systems or components used to generate clean, renewable or alternative energy to locate or expand in the state. www.mississippi.org

In Charlotte USA, the energy sector has proven to be one of the most dynamic. More than 200 companies in the region are directly tied to the energy sector and collectively employ over 20,000 people, with an average of 1,000 new energy jobs created each year. They focus on everything from engineering, energy generation and storage, and electric and natural gas vehicles, to energy efficiency product manufacturing and nuclear energy services. In just ten months during 2009, 11 energy related companies either opened or expanded, creating more than 700 jobs in five Charlotte counties—one of which attracted $49 million in stimulus money and visits from US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and President Barack Obama. To meet the demands of the various renewable energy companies in the area, UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production Infrastructure Center (EPIC) is providing education and research to train electrical and civil engineers for careers in the energy field. Additionally, the Electric Power Research Institute’s R&D headquarters, one of five facilities in the US, is in Charlotte. www.charlotteusa.com

The Texas Panhandle is well-known for its class 4 to 4+ winds. One of Pampa’s slogans, “Where the wheat grows, the oil flows, and the wind blows,” provides a great description of the area. Located in the Eastern Texas Panhandle, Pampa is a community of approximately 18,000 people with a diverse economy including agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and retail. The community is excited about their great future in the wind energy industry, as well. The existing workforce is versatile and now has the opportunity to be trained in wind energy technology through Clarendon College – Pampa Center, with equipment funded by the Pampa Economic Development Corporation. One more exciting development in wind energy for Pampa includes a new transmission service provider, which has opened an office after having been chosen to build the new substations and transmission lines in the region. Pampa also offers easy access to the rest of the wind energy corridor and beyond, advantageously located at the intersection of highways 60 and 70, and 20 minutes from I-40. They are also fortunate to be on BNSF’s main line between Chicago and Los Angeles. www.pampaedc.com

Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley The Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley has DOE’s largest science and energy lab, Y12 National Prototype Center, the University of Tennessee, National Transportation Research Center, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is even an incubator building with space available on the Oak Ridge National lab campus—the only one on a national lab campus. The Tennessee Solar Institute is providing grants for installing solar assets and innovation grants to help companies commercialize new technology. ORNL’s Center for Advanced Thin Film Science is a new asset available to companies for collaboration and research. ORNL won a pilot plant that will produce 25 tons of low-cost carbon fiber that can revolutionize the use of carbon fiber in more applications. Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley is ranked as one of the top ten Mid-markets of the Decade, Southern Business and Development 2010. www.knoxvilleoakridge.com

Building the Future of Energy? Move to a better bottom line Discover why Idaho is a natural choice for solar, wind and geothermal manufacturers: renewable.idaho.gov

commerce.idaho.gov

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The Pennsylvania State University At Penn State University, more than 500 researchers combine strengths in materials, engineering, and the environmental sciences to address the nation’s energy research needs. Core strength areas include biomass production and utilization, engines and alternative fuels, high-performance buildings, solar, wind, and nuclear. Penn State is a well-known research institution with $765 million of annual research expenditures, including $103 million in industry sponsored research. Penn State is the top academic institution for materials research based on expenditures, and has been ranked first among universities worldwide for leadership in multidisciplinary alternative energy research by the Elsevier Press. Resources are available for companies to connect with Penn State researchers. The Industrial Research Office is available to help companies identify faculty members with the expertise to meet their needs. This team of experienced professionals will arrange meetings with faculty members, and take them step-by-step through the process of sponsoring research. www.iro.psu.edu

Ann Arbor SPARK Ann Arbor SPARK is a public-private partnership whose mission is to advance innovation-based economic development in the greater Ann Arbor region. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners. SPARK helps area businesses, meeting their business needs at every stage, from innovative start-ups to the firmly established. They also offer businesses resources including: state and local incentives for business and talent expansion and attraction; funding assistance for start-ups and second stage companies; research and development support through the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and the University Research Corridor; site location such as identification, tours, and introductions; company investment and loans through Michigan Pre-Seed Capital and Microloan Funds; Regional Incubator Network—business and wet lab; start-up business consulting, training, and education; talent recruitment and placement; as well as, business critical introductions. www.annarborusa.org

Cheyenne LEADS Wyoming has been considered one of America’s greatest energy producing states as oil, natural gas, methane, coal, and uranium are abundant. Wyoming is rarely thought of for clean energy, but Wyoming is blessed with almost all types of energy and is poised to participate in the green energy movement. The dry, clear skies can provide the most efficient solar power available. Some of the nation’s best wind corridors are in Wyoming. The most notable aspect of Wyoming’s clean energy is its unique ability to invest in its own creation of new, clean energy. Wyoming invests heavily in carboncapture techniques that provide an excellent bridge from conventional burning of hydro-carbons to greener sources. Wyoming and General Electric are advancing forms of coal gasification to remove the majority of carbon prior to combustion. Wyoming also provides transmission lines to move electricity generated from wind turbines. The University of Wyoming and National Center for Atmospheric Research are investing in scientific research on climate and new energy options. The wealth provided to the state from conventional energy is wisely being invested into the next generation of power production, helping ensure that the nation still receives power from one of its most prolific power-producing states—Wyoming. www.cheyenneleads.org

Kansas Kansas is committed to alternative energy, thanks to a Renewable Energy Standard requiring that 20% of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020. International clean energy companies have found Kansas to be an ideal location from which to serve the US market. The state’s comprehensive energy plan includes net metering and energy efficiency initiatives. It also offers a property tax exemption for projects generating electricity from renewable sources, and new wind and solar incentives can provide up to $5 million in bond financing for eligible projects. Centrally located in the heart of the North American wind corridor, Kansas offers excellent access to the key regions for wind farm development and an exceptional operating environment for wind turbine component manufacturing. The state is ranked No. 2 nationally for wind potential and has over 1,000 megawatts in installed wind generation, with plenty of room for more. Kansas is also a forerunner in renewable fuels and bioenergy. Kansas ranks fourth in total biomass production, with companies benefiting from economical access to feedstock and feedlots. www.thinkbigks.com

Rhode Island Economic Development

North Carolina

Rhode Island stands to gain significant benefits from increasing activity in the green energy and green technology sectors. By investing in renewable energy, Rhode Island is not only creating jobs and spurring economic development, but also developing new and innovative technology, reducing dependence on foreign oil, and addressing environmental concerns to provide energy security for the state. Rhode Island has an opportunity to more fully leverage its coastal location—natural resources such as wind, water, and sun, as well as all other renewable sources are abundant, along with their green-tech talent to create high-wage jobs in the sector. The two proposed Deepwater Wind offshore wind farms, which are on target to be among the first such wind farms in the nation, represent just one way Rhode Island is focusing on the nation’s clean-energy revolution. The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), through its management of the Renewable Energy Fund and other initiatives, is further focusing on the green industry by supporting both large and small businesses with innovative, green-tech ventures. The RIEDC is guided by a strategic roadmap, available online, and developed in 2010 to create a clear strategy for the growth and advancement of Rhode Island’s green economy. www.riedc.com

Blessed with an array of solar, wind, and biomass energy resources, and boasting forward-thinking, business-friendly policies, North Carolina is the new frontier for growth in the green energy sector. The state is moving to grow clean energy businesses, attract industry leading firms from around the world, and provide an expanding market for their green products. The state’s tax credits are among the most generous in the nation, and its Green Business Fund provides grants to help emerging small businesses build their capabilities and deploy their products and services. North Carolina also has the only mandatory Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard in the southeastern US, requiring its utilities to obtain 12.5% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2021. North Carolina is also the home to four nationally recognized university based energy centers and has a special set-aside in its REPS that has elevated the state to the ranks of the Top Ten States Using Solar Energy. www.thrivenc.com/energy

Wind Energy TechnoCentre The Wind Energy TechnoCentre is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to contribute to the development of an industrial wind energy network in Québec. They are able to compete on North American and world stages while valorizing the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands as being central to the emerging niche of Québec’s economy. Surrounded by highelevation wind farms, the Wind Energy TechnoCentre is dedicated to research and development, and to the transfer of technology. Its location makes the research centre a unique natural laboratory to study the impact of the northern environment on the extraction of wind energy. The Wind Energy TechnoCentre is a member of the NSERC Wind Energy Strategic Network (WESNet), which brings together researchers from 16 Canadian universities and from industrial partners. Moreover, it is recognized as a college centre for technology transfer (CCTT). www.eolien.qc.ca

Village of Schaumburg Schaumburg’s nearly 5,000 businesses provide the community with valuable jobs, services, and resources. Schaumburg businesses have continued to support 75,000 residents, 80,000 employees, and the northwest suburban area by offering first-rate services and goods that keep Schaumburg the premier suburban business location in Illinois. Schaumburg is dedicated to environmental sustainability. In 2008, the village created a Comprehensive Green Action Plan, which sets forth multiple goals to reduce the impact of climate change on a local level. Schaumburg is excited about these environmental initiatives and hopes to lead the way for area communities to do the same. Employees at the village are more than willing to work with residents and businesses to help them learn how they can do their part to reduce their carbon footprint. Schaumburg’s great location at the intersection of two interstate highways provides convenience and visibility to residents, businesses, employees, and visitors. Schaumburg has committed to providing quality public transportation to reduce the total greenhouse gas emitted by residents and visitors. The Metra Station, PACE Bus routes, Woodfield Trolley, and Schaumburg Airport offer a variety of “green” transit options for residents and visitors alike. www.ci.schaumburg.il.us North American Clean Energy

hydro and marine energy

States Take Steps to Expedite Hydrokinetic Project Reviews By Daron Threet (left) & Larry Eisenstat (right)

n April 28th, 2010, the federal government approved the Cape Wind project after nine years of regulatory review. The significance of the Cape Wind approval cannot be overstated, as the project is now poised to become the first large-scale offshore renewable energy project operating in the United States (www.capewind.org). But, from a project planning, permitting, and development perspective, the exceedingly drawn-out, almost decade-long review of Cape Wind was simply too long, too uncertain, and too costly for most developers and investors to endure. Simply put: unless meaningful steps are taken to streamline review processes of offshore renewable projects, the regulatory risk going forward may be too high to support widespread growth in the industry. This regulatory risk is perhaps even more evident for hydrokinetic projects (e.g., wave and tidal), which trail behind offshore wind from a technology perspective. Unlike offshore wind, the hydrokinetic industry does not have arrays of utility scale facilities like those found in Europe and elsewhere to provide, at the very least, a foundational understanding of the operational, environmental, and other impacts of these technologies to support the regulatory review and approval of new projects.

The potential beneﬁts can be leveraged in many ways, saving time and capital throughout the permitting process Recognizing the need to adopt policies to promote hydrokinetic project development, several states including Oregon, Washington, Maine and, most recently, California have entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the lead federal agency responsible for hydrokinetic permitting, to coordinate and expedite project reviews. Specifically, the MOUs seek to set up predictable, expedited review processes by outlining procedures to coordinate and consolidate federal and state project reviews. Coordinated federal and state project review can be pivotal in facilitating an efficient and timely process given the complexity inherent in permitting any offshore energy project, which potentially involves dozens of federal and state agencies operating with differing and sometimes conflicting authorities, goals, missions, and timelines. For instance, on the federal side, numerous permits and approvals are required for hydrokinetic projects including the main project permit issued by FERC, as well as permits and approvals issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and many others. In addition to federal approvals, states also have significant permitting authority over projects under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, the Clean Water Act, and possibly under state and local regulations. Most importantly, under the MOUs, the states have agreed to coordinate the environmental reviews of projects with FERC. Under federal law, FERC must conduct an extensive environmental review of each project under the National

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Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), typically resulting in a comprehensive, many thousand-page, Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which, in most cases, is used by all federal agencies to support issuance of required permits and approvals. The EIS preparation process serves as a common platform for interagency comments, analysis, and an initial determination of mitigation measures imposed on a project. In short, it is the lens through which the federal government examines a project. Though most offshore projects are subject to federal NEPA reviews, many states also have their own state-level NEPA equivalents, commonly referred to as “mini-NEPAs,” which require states to prepare similar analysis and reports to issue approvals. This review process can go in parallel with the federal process but, if it is not coordinated, can result in a significant duplication of efforts, delay, and potential jurisdictional disputes between state and federal agencies. Under the MOUs, the states agreed to utilize FERC’s EIS to support issuance of all federal and state permits in lieu of preparing their own state-level environmental documents. Coordinating and consolidating environmental reviews into a single process, culminating in a single environmental document, can significantly speed up permitting time, and can help ease burdens for developers in dealing with separate federal and state review processes including satisfying hosts of agency data requests, formulating common mitigation requirements, and other measures. In addition to coordinating reviews, the states and FERC agreed under the MOUs to establish set schedules for project reviews, and to encourage all agencies to adhere to them. Although a set review schedule might seem routine, it is not uncommon for energy projects to enter into multi-year, multiagency review processes without one. The lack of a schedule to push the myriad federal and state agencies toward the finish line can significantly frustrate project review, leading to added time, and often added costs for the developer. A good example illustrating the benefits of a set review schedule are federal and state reviews of offshore liquefied natural gas projects under the Deepwater Port Act (DWPA). Under the DWPA, each project review is required to be completed in 356 days. While slippage is common in meeting this accelerated review schedule, several projects have been approved in under 18 months, demonstrating that project reviews and, in particular, NEPA reviews under short timeframes are indeed possible. Though the MOUs represent a significant step that will bring additional predictability to the hydrokinetic review process, not all states have such agreements with FERC. In the absence of a MOU, developers should consider requesting coordinated state and federal reviews as part of a project’s overall permitting strategy. In many cases, this should be “step one” in a developer’s play book for projects located in non-MOU states. The potential benefits can be leveraged in many ways, saving time and capital throughout the permitting process, as well as while implementing post-permitting requirements such as mitigation measures. Daron Threet is counsel in Dickstein Shapiro LLP’s Energy Practice, and Larry Eisenstat is a partner at Dickstein Shapiro LLP and head of its Energy Practice. Dickstein Shapiro LLP | www.dicksteinshapiro.com

Aquamarine Power Unveils Oyster 2 Design Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power recently unveiled the design of its Oyster 2 wave energy convertor, which will be built in Scotland this summer. The new 800kW device will measure 26 metres by 16 metres and will deliver 250% more power than the original Oyster 1, which was successfully deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney last summer. The new device incorporates design improvements on Oyster 1, enabling it to produce more energy, be simpler to install, and easier to maintain. The company will begin deployment of three Oyster 2s at EMEC in summer 2011. All three devices will be linked to a single onshore 2.4 MW hydro-electric turbine. A small farm of 20 Oyster 2 devices would provide enough energy for more than 12,000 homes. “The design concept remains exactly the same, but we have improved every element of that design, from the size and shape of the Oyster flap, to the hydraulic power take off and pipeline system,” says company CEO Martin McAdam. “Oyster 2 has very few moving parts and the hydraulic elements are modular, meaning they can be swapped in and out as maintenance is required.” McAdams adds: “We are grateful to the UK Government for supporting the development of Oyster 2 through funding from the Marine Renewables Proving Fund (MRPF), which is managed by the Carbon Trust. Continued government support is required to enable companies such as Aquamarine Power to capitalize on their technology.” Aquamarine Power | www.aquamarinepower.com/technologies

First-of-its-kind jobs study for the hydropower industry Following up on its 2009 analysis, independent Navigant Consulting Inc. finds that hydropower can support 1.4 million new cumulative jobs by 2025 with strong federal policy support. Both Western states with project development potential, and manufacturing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio, stand to gain tens-of-thousands of jobs if a strong national RES is implemented by 2025. To learn more, including a state-by-state comparison of job growth under a weak versus strong national RES, visit the National Hydropower website. National Hydropower Assocation | www.hydro.org

Development potential: Adding hydropower to non-hydro dams Many hydropower developers are eyeing non-powered dams as an option for adding generation. In the United States, only a small percentage of dams are used to generate electricity, leaving much potential in adding hydro generation to existing non-hydro dams. The number of proposals to build new hydropower capacity in the US is up about 30% from two years ago, federal regulatory officials reported. Many of such proposals are at existing federal dams. It has been estimated that, of the 82,000 US dams, only 3% are used to generate electricity. Currently, it takes about five years to obtain a license to install hydro capacity at existing non-powered dams. The National Hydropower Association has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to cut the licensing process down to two years by establishing a more efficient system. National Hydropower Association | www.hydro.org

Self-lubricating bearings & bushings Vesconite Hilube is ideal for water lubricated hydro power applications. The benefits of Vesconite Hilube include: reduced maintenance costs; reduce environmental risk; dimensional stability; as well as a product that is readily available. Vesconite Hilube does not swell in water or delaminate. It has also been successfully fitted in the following hydro applications: wicket gate bushings; link arm bushings; main turbine shaft bushings; valves; penstocks; and, trash rakes. Visit the company site and use their online Design-a-Bearing calculators to assess the required application and design a Vesconite Hilube bushing. Vesconite | www.vesconite.com

North American Clean Energy

HydroVision International July 27th to 30th, 2010 • Charlotte Convention Center—Charlotte, North Carolina Show in Print Features just some of the companies and technologies attendees will see at this year’s show.

www.hydroevent.com Join more than 2,500 attendees and over 250 exhibiting companies from around the world for a week of informative hydropower-focused meetings, workshops, tours, as well as an extensive program and exhibition. HydroVision International will highlight perspectives on the role of hydropower, explore issues affecting hydro resources, and help participants develop a vision to meet challenges and ensure the future sustainability of hydro.

Heat exchangers for power industry

Controllers, SCADA & networking

Applied Cooling Technology Group (ACT Group) is a manufacturer of heat exchangers for the power industry using their own patented finned tube construction, which offers high performance and long life for generator air coolers, as well as traditional shell & tube oil coolers. ACT offers a design facility for new heat exchangers alongside the repair and replacement of existing heat exchangers. Materials commonly used include copper nickel, stainless steel, and titanium. Information on lead and fibre packing rings & ferrules, tube plate ‘Façade’ repair systems, and non-destructive tube plugs is available online.

SoftPLC Corporation provides embedded systems, open architecture controllers and I/O (PLC's/PAC's), PC-based SCADA/HMI, network security products, and communication gateways (protocol converters). Thousands of companies utilize SoftPLC Corporation’s products in applications ranging from simple machines to complete distributed plant-wide process control. These products provide lower cost options, but more performance. SoftPLC controllers are used in generation of over 20% of hydropower in the US, as well as many other hydro/fish applications. SoftPLC Corporation | http://softplc.com

Applied Cooling Technology Group www.appliedcool.com http://tinyurl.com/hydropdf

Silicone fouling combatant FUJIFILM Smart Surfaces’ advanced silicone Duplex Fouling Release Coating System technology combats fouling by indigenous or invasive aquatic organisms such as barnacles, zebra mussels, and quagga mussels. Combating takes place without the use of toxins, poisons, or heavy metals. Additionally, hydro generating plant owners and operators will experience enhanced performance and operating efficiencies from immersed equipment and structures due to the superior hydrodynamic properties of the silicone topcoat. Hydro generation owners or operators that are plagued with biofouling conditions and that desire improved and enhanced efficiencies from equipment and operations, as well as reduced costs and downtime will benefit from investigating FUJIFILM Smart Surfaces’ advanced silicone Duplex Fouling Release Coating System. FujiFilm Smart Surfaces, LLC www.fujifilmsmartsurfaces.com

Hydro power generation products & service repairs

Dam monitoring instrumentation

Energy dissipation & anti-cavitation solutions

Horner Industrial Services provides complete service repair, equipment replacement packages, and products to the hydro power generation industry. Horner offers turnkey project management services including engineering services, generator rewinds and upgrades with VPI, large machine shop and mechanical repair capabilities, metal fabrication, licensed electrical contractor services, and control systems repair and replacement. They are distributors for Toshiba, ABB, G.E., and US/ Emerson, just to name a few.

Geokon Incorporated, designer and manufacturer of high-quality geotechnical monitoring instrumentation, has developed a line of vibrating wire sensors renowned for their stability and long-term performance over a wide range of operating environments. Products include piezometers, extensometers, strain gages, crackmeters, jointmeters, settlements sensors, load cells, pressure cells, inclinometers, dataloggers, and many other custom items made to order. Geokon serves the hydropower industry on a worldwide basis through a network of agencies.

Ross Valve has been designing and manufacturing water control solutions at their factories since 1879. They use considerable engineering experience to develop valves that offer superior performance in demanding conditions, and effectively suppress vibration, pressure fluctuations, cavitation, and noise. Ross Valve’s product line includes a variety of solutions that can be customized to deal with specific challenges, whether they include high-pressure drops, high velocities, pressure surging, cavitation, or other demanding conditions.

Horner Industrial Services | www.heapg.com

Geokon, Inc. | www.geokon.com

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Ross Valve | www.rossvalve.com

Bolting solutions Only hand/air tools are required to install or remove any size Multi-Jackbolt Tensioner (MJT)—the use of expensive and high-powered tooling is no longer needed. Retrofit or replace existing hex nuts and bolts with MJT tensioners and experience safer, faster, and more economical bolting. Application case studies are available online. Superbolt | www.superbolt.com

Hydropower technical & engineering solutions Hydro Tech Inc.(HTI) is a specialized provider of technical services and engineering solutions to the hydropower industry. HTI provides re-babbitting and repair of existing turbines, while also specializing in the design and supply of PTFE (PolyTetraFluoro-Ethylene) thrust bearing conversions for babbitt thrust bearings globally. HTI’s PTFE bearing conversions provide: increased load capacity (unit plus hydraulic thrust) of at least 100%; lowered friction and running temperatures; as well as increased durability of units. They also provide complete overhauls and upgrades of generator turbine components and auxiliary equipment. HTI assures quick and accurate vertical alignments, completing most rotational alignments within one to two days including installation and removal of measuring equipment. Their electronic equipment measures to 0.000029 inches per foot off plumb (verticality), ensuring accurate alignment. HTI’s metrology services utilize the latest portable Class II laser technology to measure parts or complex 3D surfaces for inspections, alignments, new set-ups, and reverse engineering. Hydro Tech Inc. | www.hydrotech-inc.ca

Generator protection Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) showcases their newly released SEL-700G Generator Protection Relay. The SEL-700G provides complete generator protection and a synchronizing solution for synchronous generators. The SEL-700G includes IEEE C37.118 synchrophasors for load modeling, islanding detection, disturbance recording, improved situational awareness, and real-time control. Numerous communications options are available including Ethernet, IEC 61850, DNP3, and Modbus. SEL serves the power industry worldwide through the design, manufacture, supply, and support of products and services for power system protection, monitoring, control, automation, and metering. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) | www.selinc.com

We Know Renewable Energy Troutman Sanders LLP is one of the world’s leading energy law firms. We have represented clients in energy matters since the 1920s, and our climate change practice has been active for nearly two decades. From this foundation of experience, we have developed a dynamic renewable energy practice that advises clients worldwide at every stage, from investment and tax structuring to development, construction and operation. As your plans for solar, wind and renewable energy projects emerge, put the energy of our lawyers to work for you. For more information, contact:

Flange facers for on-site machining Climax Portable Machine Tools introduces rugged portable flange facers designed for on-site machining of flange surfaces on valves, pump housings, and piping systems. The machines enable customers to attain the highest level of power and precision, so machining jobs get done faster and more efficiently. Flange facer models include Climax FF6200 (facing range 20 to 50 inches | 508 to 1270 mm); Climax FF7200 (facing range 30 to 72 inches | 762 to 1829 mm); and, Climax FF8200 (facing range 45 to 120 iches |1143 to 3048 mm). The flange facers have a patented safety feature that lets an operator remotely adjust the feed-rate while the machine is still running, and achieves infinitely variable feed rates from 0.002 to 0.035-inch/rev (0.0508 to 0.889 mm/rev). Construction-grade bearings provide powerful, rigid performance throughout the entire machining range. Turning arm and tool head rotates 360° and generates phonographic finishes. Modular design simplifies machine set-up and tear down.

Craig Kline - 212.704.6150

Phil Spector - 212.704.6004

craig.kline@troutmansanders.com

phil.spector@troutmansanders.com

Brian Harms - 404.885.3682

Todd Coles - 202.274.2810

brian.harms@troutmansanders.com

todd.coles@troutmansanders.com

Lara Skidmore - 503.535.0645 lara.skidmore@troutmansanders.com

650 lawyers | 50 practice areas | troutmansanders.com/renewable_energy

Climax Portable Machine Tools | www.cpmt.com North American Clean Energy

hydrovision international show in print

Hydro generation technicians

Bushings & bearings

Australian Winders USA has been formed to meet the growing demand for skilled rewinding technicians in the US market, and they provide professional service and project management. Specializing in hydro generation in the US, they have a team of experienced winders ready to respond to outage needs. These skilled technicians can take on any part of a generation project from a simple repair or testing to an entire restack and rewind. Australian Winders USA is a US subsidiary of their Australia-based parent company. Though based in New York, Australian Winders USA and Australian Winders can travel globally to meet customer needs.

Oiles Bushings are manufactured using Oiles 500SP SL4. Oiles Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s material is a high-strength bronze alloy impregnated with PTFE solid lubricant. The solid lubricant material is distributed in a specific pattern depending on the motion. The design can meet the most demanding applications, which include small oscillations +/- 1 degree. Oiles bearings are designed for high-load, long service life, and maintenance-free operation. Oiles 500AB SL4 is a nickel aluminum bronze for sea water and other corrosive environments. Oiles products are designed to run in the most demanding environments such as pumped storage units. Oiles is known for its exceptional quality with zero failures.

Australian Winders USA | http://australianwindersusa.com

Oiles America Corporation | www.oiles.com

Engineering consultants Ayres Associates is a national engineering consultant providing a range of services for hydroelectric facility owners. Whether a dam is a source for hydropower or a means for regulating water supply, enhancing recreation, or preserving wildlife habitat, Ayres Associates can assist with client needs in dam design and rehabilitation; physical inspections and evaluations; emergency action plans; operation and maintenance assistance; regulatory compliance (including assistance with FERC licensing applications, US Army Corps of Engineers permits, and state and local government permits); and, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses. Ayres Associates has a history of finding innovative solutions to meet clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs, including developing the floating bulkhead to significantly reduce the cost of dewatering structures for repairs and maintenance, and developing a vertical-lift two-leaf gate to replace stoplogs. They can also provide divers to perform underwater inspections, qualified surveyors to perform land and hydrographic surveys and stream gaging, as well as certified construction observers. Ayres Associates | www.ayresassociates.com

Hydro debris removal

Custom self-lubricating bearings

Manufactured in Northern Wisconsin, the Ashland Industries Hydro Trash Rake is quickly becoming popular in the hydro electric industry. A knuckle-style boom device, it has an articulating rake and opposing thumb attachment at the end of the boom, and sweeps the rack bars of any debris on its upward strokeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all while a facility remains under full generation. Both models, the TR 3500 and TR 5000, are capable of reaching depths of 35 feet and 50 feet, respectively. Operators that purchase and install Ashland Trash Rakes are able to economically solve a recurring debris problem for facilities that require removal of debris from either an intake or flood control facility. From factory to facility, Ashland Industries consistently remains on schedule, ensuring owners have their debris removal needs met or exceeded.

Columbia Industrial Products (CIP) manufactures CIP Composites that are selflubricating, composite bearing, and wear materials. Specific to the hydropower industry is CIP Hydro Composites, which are being utilized as sleeve/flange bearings, wear pads, and thrust washers. CIP Hydro is a long-lasting, wear-resistant bearing material that can aid in eliminating complex lubrication systems while reducing the frequency of undesired replacements. As a composite material, CIP Hydro has high-load, high-impact capabilities while remaining lightweight and corrosionresistant. CIP Hydro composites offer low co-efficient of friction, negligible moisture absorption, and great dimensional stability in wet and dry environments. It is a 100% bearing material with high-edge load and shock load capabilities. CIP Hydro is custom-designed to specifications, and can be utilized as wicket gate bearings, pump bearings, main operating ring wear pads, and more.

Ashland Industries | www.hydrotrashrakes.com

Columbia Industrial Products | www.ciphydro.com

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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geothermal energy

The Other Type of Geothermal Power:

GeoExchange By Simon Duck

eothermal can be split into two main categories: one using â&#x20AC;&#x153;hot rock,â&#x20AC;? the other â&#x20AC;&#x153;warm soilâ&#x20AC;? technology. Far more common, or commonly referred to, is the former. Hot rock technology is popular, but expensive to construct and restricted to suitable rock formations. But what about the other type? Warm soil technology uses a shallow bore hole a few hundred feet deep and can be installed in almost any type of ground. The temperature of the soil is more stable than the air throughout the seasons, making it ideal for heating and cooling buildings. Ten meters (33 feet) down the temperature is generally about 13Â°C (55Â°F), but can range from 5Â°C (40Â°F) in very cold regions to 20Â°C (70Â°F) in extremely hot climates. This With the new generation of track stability can be used with geoexchange heat mounted drill rigs, bores can be installed pumps to transfer heat out of the ground in in very small back yards with very little winter to heat buildings, and can be reversed disturbance to the landscaping. This to cool buildings in summer. Geoexchange is small geoexchange drill rig is only 1.2m a common term for this type of energy use. The energy source for geoexchange is mainly solar. Relatively shallow 45m to 200m (150 ft to 660 ft) bore holes collect this energy from the ground via high density polyethylene pipes. These can be laid out horizontally in trenches, or sunk vertically into bore holes. The vertical bores holes offer greater efficiency and take up less ground area. The installation process allows them to be installed into existing properties without massive disruption to the landscaping. A geoexchange heat pump system using warm soil is split into three main parts: 1. The heat collection system buried underground; 2. The heat pump; and 3. The delivery system throughout the building. There are several heat collection methods including vertical drilled bores (the most popular) with loop pipes inside them; horizontal pipes laid one to two meters (three to six feet) under the surface; and, even pipes underwater in large ponds or lakes. When the system is cooling a building it works just like a typical air conditioning unit with one small differenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the geoexchange unit dumps heat from the building into the ground not into the outside air. The ground is cooler than the hot air outside so the heat pump does not have to work so hard and uses less energy to cool the building. When the system is reversed on a cold day, stored heat can be pumped out of the ground and used to warm the building. The heat is not generated by burning a fossil fuel but, rather, it is simply moved from the ground into the building, which is why it is so efficient and clean. However, the system needs to be designed correctly or the heat energy will cause the ground temperature to slowly match the temperature of the loop, reducing its efficiency. Once the correct calculations have been made, vertical bore holes about 13cm to 15cm (five to six inches) in diameter are drilled into the ground. A 50m (164 feet) geothermal loop can produce about one ton of cooling (18,000 Btu/hr), depending on geological conditions. An average home would need a three- to fourton (36,000 Btu/hr to 48,000 Btu/hr) heat pump system and 150m to 200m (490 ft to 660 ft) of geothermal bore hole. A single bore, or several shorter ones, can be drilled to provide the needed heat transfer. The bores each have a loop of pipe inserted all the way to the bottom. The loops are then connected together, insulated

near the surface, and plumbed into the heat pump. The loops are commonly filled with water and are brought into close contact with refrigerant pipes inside the heat pump. This is where the heat is exchanged by the heat pump. Once the heat pump has collected the heat, it can be pumped into the building for heating. A blower can be used to force warm air into rooms or pipes under the floor, and it is possible to have heated water pumped pipes to create under floor heating. To cool a building, air from inside the building is forced over the chilled refrigerant pipes and blown into the rooms where it is needed. In the United States in 2009, there was a 40% growth in geoexchange installations. A geothermal heat pump using warm soil technology is the most efficient form of heating and cooling that has ever been discovered. It provides low-cost heat without directly burning a fossil fuel into a home. The cost-savings when using this system for heating can be as much as 70% when compared to burning a fossil fuel, or a 50% energy saving when cooling. The energy from the sun is absorbed by the earth every day; why not make use of this free energy? Techno Drill LLC | www.technodrillusa.com

Field Proven. QuikDrill â&#x2013; Ă&#x160; *Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;iĂ&#x20AC;i`Ă&#x160;LĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x160;>Ă&#x160;`iVÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x160;iÂ&#x2DC;}Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x160; Ă&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160;*/"Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;ÂŤĂ&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;>Ă&#x203A;>Â&#x2C6;Â?>LÂ?i â&#x2013; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;/Â&#x153;ÂŤÂ&#x2026;i>`Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;>LÂ?iĂ&#x160;`Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x203A;iĂ&#x160; â&#x2013; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;LĂ&#x160;LÂ&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160;ÂŁĂ¤]Ă¤Ă¤Ă¤Â&#x2021;Â?LÂ°Ă&#x160;Ă&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;VÂ&#x2026;Ă&#x160; â&#x2013; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;-Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Â?iÂ&#x2021;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;`Ă&#x160;Â?Â&#x153;>`iĂ&#x20AC;]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;`Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;ÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x20AC; â&#x2013; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;ÂŤÂ?iĂ&#x160;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x2022;`Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;ÂŤĂ&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;

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North American Clean Energy

geothermal energy

Canadian Geothermal Energy

Project Database By Nicole Robson

he Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) recently released the CanGEA Member Projects Database. The report, which outlines more than 70 different projects under development around the world, is a major step for the Canadian geothermal energy industry and the first of its kind for Canada. According to the report, CanGEA members are currently working on developing more than 1,400 MW of new geothermal power, in addition to nearly 2,000 MW of currently installed geothermal capacity. The projects listed span four continents and 11 countries, giving CanGEA members a global reach in their operations. Although there is currently no geothermal power production in Canada, there are a number of projects under development that may soon come online to supply Canada’s first few megawatts of geothermal power. “Canada occupies an interesting position as a nation with vast geothermal potential, extensive knowledge and expertise in geothermal development, and strong interest from financial markets, yet has no geothermal power production,” said David Gowland, policy director for CanGEA. Oddly enough, Canada has a long history of geothermal development for direct-use applications such as hot springs. In fact, the first such developments date back to the days of Canada’s first cross-country railroad when the Banff Hot Springs were discovered and, subsequently, developed into a world-renowned tourist attraction. Similar developments throughout Canada’s western provinces followed such as the Radium and Terrace hot springs, which date back more than 100 years. The next frontier for Canadian geothermal development is to expand these geothermal resources for power production. The CanGEA Member Projects Database confirms that Canadian geothermal developers have both the knowledge and experience to bring Canada’s vast geothermal potential to fruition. As Gowland notes, “Establishing a framework to classify geothermal project development is an essential first step in bringing geothermal power online in Canada. This type of clarity and transparency in reporting and categorization will enable greater investment and confidence for industry going forward.” Typically projects have been categorized in terms of resource development. The CanGEA Member Projects Database instead recognizes three levels of “Geothermal Resources” and two levels of “Geothermal Reserves.” With increasing geological knowledge and confidence a 74

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Geothermal Resource progresses from Inferred, to Indicated, to Measured. Similarly, with consideration of energy recovery and conversion, economic, marketing, environmental, social, legal, and regulatory factors (all Modifying Factors), the resource may be labeled a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Probableâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Proved Geothermal Reserve.â&#x20AC;? The Database utilizes the Canadian Geothermal Code for Public Reporting to provide a framework for comparison among industry players. Included in the Database is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Geothermal Progress Checklist,â&#x20AC;? which lays out the framework to categorize projects under development based on geological knowledge and modifying factors such as economic and legal factors. The checklist highlights the necessary steps in the development of a geothermal resource from exploration to production. Applying this framework allows for universal comparison among projects under development, and also provides the cursory framework to adhere to the Canadian Geothermal Code for Public Reporting. Already the Code has seen widespread adoption from industry and investors. For many, the advent of the Code ushered in a more effective means of comparing geothermal developers and their projects by providing a basis for transparency, consistency, and confidence in public reporting of geothermal information. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done in providing education and awareness for the Code, and in terms of how it will impact the industry. In response, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association has begun hosting training seminars while adding to their roster of Qualified Persons for geothermal exploration assessment and verification. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At this early stage in the development of the Canadian geothermal energy industry, CanGEA, on behalf of its members, is working hard to facilitate the development and adoption of geothermal power for Canadian and export marketsâ&#x20AC;? says Gowland. CanGEA is eager to have their members turn their attention inward to develop domestic geothermal resources, but notes that further government support is also needed. The CanGEA Member Projects Database is intended to raise awareness of Canadian geothermal developers and attract attention and policy reform to the industry. As Canada strives to have 90% of its electricity provided by non-emitting sources, geothermal power is sure to play an increasingly

important role in Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy supply. With any luck, the next iteration of the Database will include Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first geothermal power productionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;effectively ending Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-standing absence from the list of geothermal power producing nations.

CanGEA is a national industry association that believes they can provide competitively priced, emissions-free, renewable, base-load energy to Canadians and to US export markets. Visit their site for a copy of the CanGEA Member Projects Database. Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CANGEA) www.cangea.ca

Atlas Copco Gas and Process Solutions

Unlock the Vast Potential of Renewable Energy

For several decades, Atlas Copco Gas and Process has helped customers around the world to unlock the vast potential of renewable energy sources. Our technical experts have contributed to groundbreaking projects in the geothermal industry and have invaluable experience in all types of energy recovery processes.

Customer beneďŹ ts:

Expander generator for geothermal applications

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Find out more at www.atlascopco-gap.com/geothermal.

See us at the Geothermal Energy Expo in Sacramento Booth 517 North American Clean Energy

geothermal energy

Legislation spurs geothermal exploration Ormat Technologies, Inc. announced it will accelerate geothermal exploration work this summer on Mount Spurr following Alaska Governor Sean Parnell’s signing of Senate Bill 243. Originally, the annual royalty rate paid from geothermal production on state lands was a minimum of 10% of gross revenues. This bill significantly reduces that rate to the same level paid on Federal land. “Alaskans want to live and work where they have access to reliable and affordable energy,” said the bill’s sponsor Senator Lesil McGuire. “By reducing the royalty rate on geothermal power, we acknowledge the unusually high costs of geothermal development in Alaska but still protect the State’s interests. This bill will ultimately lower the cost of clean, reliable power to the ratepayers.”

“SB 243 provides the initial regulatory framework that is critical to attracting private sector investment capital necessary to develop Alaska's vast and very promising geothermal resources,” said Rep. Mike Hawker. “The geothermal resource in south-central Alaska has the potential to replace nearly one-third of our region’s electrical generation that is currently dependent upon a nearly depleted supply of natural gas from Cook Inlet. Geothermal resource development is one of the routes to our future energy security and SB 243 is the first step down that road.” In October 2008, Ormat Technologies leased approximately 36,000 acres of state land through a competitive bid process, and has since conducted early exploration work at the site. Ormat plans to begin drilling core holes this year as part of exploration and

early field development, which is expected to take three years. Construction is forecasted to last another three years. Ormat hopes to be the first Independent Power Provider selling geothermal power to utilities in Alaska. Geothermal energy is a well-proven form of reliable, affordable, base-load renewable energy. “Geothermal energy equals green energy,” said Rep. Charisse Millett. “Geothermal electrical production has been used for decades all over the world and, with the passage of Senate Bill 243, Alaska is taking a big step to utilize this proven and secure energy resource.” Ormat Technologies, Inc. | www.ormat.com

DON’T FORGET... to mark your calendar OCTOB

24 25 ER 201 0 26 27

22 23

29 30

Geothermal split system air handlers

Geothermal Resources Council 34th Annual Meeting & GEA Trade Show October 24-27, 2010 Sacramento Convention Center Sacramento, California You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn of new and ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¡ ǰȱ ǰȱ ȱ £ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ Ƿȱ

visit our website at www.geothermal.org

ClimateMaster has introduced the new Tranquility (TAH) Air Handler Series with sizes in the 26, 38, 49, and 64 MBH range. Tranquility air handlers are specifically designed and matched for use with the Tranquility indoor and outdoor geothermal split systems, making them an ideal choice for hi-efficiency retrofits. When paired with a split unit, the TAH has the highest energy efficiency ratings of any system on the market today and uses the environmentally friendly refrigerant, Earthpure HFC0410A. It also exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 and Energy Star 3.0 efficiencies, and meets federal requirements for the 30% tax credit on installation costs. TAH units are fully convertible upflow, downflow, horizontal, as well as right and left downflow, making them ideal for remote applications such as a crawl spaces or attics. Other features include condensate over-flow protection, 230v-115v compatibility, bi-directional thermal expansion valve, control transformer with circuit breaker protection, large removable access panels, and dehumidification mode for high latent cooling. Options include electronic thermostat and auto-changeover thermostat with 3-stage heat, 2-stage cool, indicator LEDs, and a 10-year limited labor allowance. ClimateMaster | www.climatemaster.com

VOLUME 4

ISSUE 4

Community C i Wind Power Excelling in the US Building-integrated PV Going beyond the rooftop

Expediting Hydrokinetic Project Reviews

– Celebrating 50 Years of Clean, Renewable Power – 76

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PLUS The annual Regional Development Guide & Show in Print features: • Intersolar North America • HydroVision International

North American Clean Energy is published 6 times a year. To subscribe, go to www.nacleanenergy.com

biopower

Converting Carbon Dioxide Gas into a Clean Combination of Algae & Oxygen By Bill Weaver

re-li-able 1: suitable or fit to be relied on 2: giving the same result on successful trials

ecognized as a pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency, carbon dioxide (CO2) and its capture has become a major focal point with energy companies, refineries, and other large industries. Capturing carbon dioxide emissions from various industrial processes keeps it from entering the atmosphere, helping to maintain a cleaner environment and reducing the potential for global warming. However, one company is going beyond simply sequestering harmful carbon dioxide emissions by recycling the CO2 as food for algae with its unique, patent-pending photobioreactor system. Instead of dealing with emissions by burying them underground or at the bottom of the ocean, these patent-pending processes allow carbon emissions to serve as the catalyst for the growth of algae. The algal biomass grown then becomes the raw material feedstock for a wide range of other beneficial products such as biofuels (i.e. bio-diesel, bio-jet fuel, bio-gasoline), nutraceuticals (including vitamins), specialty chemical products, vegetable oils, and animal feed, just to name a few.

Because of this, the pipe must be extremely durable and perform well on a daily basis. Handling and installation were also important considerations when choosing piping for the photobioreactor development. Using an extremely lightweight pipe made it easy to handle and install. Additionally, the pipe within the BioBlade units was joined via solventwelded joining techniques, resulting in quick, strong, leaktight seals. Furthermore, proper pipe design and construction is critical in the building of photobioreactors used for algae production. One of the most important factors that control cell growth in a photobioreactor is light availability—the ideal pipe will provide optimal light transmission and allowance. The following baseline test was conducted to determine the PVC pipe most suited for the construction of their patentpending photobioreactor. Three different pipes were tested, including two different types of competing four-inch clear PVC pipe with UV protection, and one constructed from a two-inch clear PVC pipe.

The photobioreactor system

Testing

Created to recycle carbon dioxide into useful products, the photobioreactor is constructed of steel framing, specialty clear pipe, and pumps in which carbon dioxide is mixed with other nutrients to feed algae. To facilitate algae growth, the photobioreactor needed a PVC piping that not only prevented harmful ultraviolet wavelengths from damaging the PVC, but also allowed light wavelengths that are beneficial to algae growth to pass through. In addition to its UV-resistant properties and sunlight transmission characteristics, the piping system (EnviroKingUV) was used and selected due to its corrosion-resistance and pressure-bearing capability. The inner workings of its photobioreactor—the algae and their growing environment—are contained in smaller BioBlade units, open metal frames containing stacks of interconnected horizontal runs of EnviroKingUV pipe that circulate the algae. Each BioBlade slides into the photobioreactor structure in a fashion similar to a computer server “blade” sliding into a chassis. The photobioreactor system uses more than 700 gallons of treated water per BioBlade unit, and each BioBlade has its own 250-gallon water tank and pump. If one BioBlade experiences mechanical problems, its isolation from the other reactors means that the rest of the photobioreactor system will not be affected. Each BioBlade unit operates independently from the entire photobioreactor while supporting the entire system, as well.

To conduct this test, three closed-loop photobioreactors were constructed for the purposes of recycling an industrial grade of CO2. The intent was to grow algae in each photobioreactor in direct sunlight and observe the results relating to both pipe life and algae growth and maintenance. Gravity circulated water was used in the photobioreactors to which fresh medium was continuously added while culture liquid was removed to keep the culture volume constant and provide for testing. And, three species of algae were used with a similar mix of nutrients for each. The overriding goal was to determine the stability and growth potential of each pipe format.

Handling, installation, and design

Ternion Bio Industries | www.ternionbio.com Harvel | www.harvel.com

Results

Pipe testing yielded three sets of subject data: pipe life in direct sunlight, pipe thermal absorption properties, and algae growth ability. The pipe that provided the best overall growth medium in all tested conditions was the EnviroKing UV ThinWall four-inch Clear PVC pipe, providing an additional 11% better growth environment than the other pipes tested. The development of this patent-pending photobioreactor provides an innovative method to capture and recycle carbon emissions, which can then be converted them into an array of beneficial products while minimizing impact on our environment. Bill Weaver is the director of Technical Services at Harvel Plastics, Inc.

MANUFACTURED IN THE USA

Focus on your research – not on finding funds to replace your chamber. Percival Scientific plant growth chambers are your reliable choice for chambers that will support your research projects for years to come! Let us customize a chamber to meet your exacting research needs! Contact us 1-800695-2743 or sales@ percival-scientific.com

Percival Scientific, Inc. 505 Research Drive | Perry, Iowa 50220 800.695.2743 or 515.465.9363

The PVC piping system provides the backbone of both each BioBlade unit and each photobioreactor unit as a whole.

percival-scientific.com North American Clean Energy

biopower

Case Study: Floating Wastewater Geomembrane Cover Improving anaerobic bioreactor biogas collection By Jim McMahon

t’s all about processing corn products. At least for Casco, Inc.—one of Canada’s oldest manufacturers of corn-refined ingredients such as sweeteners, starches, oil, and animal feed. Its products are used in over 60 industries from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals and animal nutrition. However, with processing corn products, comes waste. The company recently upgraded its four million-gallon wastewater anaerobic digester at its Cardinal plant to include a floating and insulated geomembrane cover, effectively streamlining biogas collection, improving odor control, and optimizing bioreactor heat retention. The plant processes 70 million pounds of corn monthly. Along with this is its need to process a continuing effluent of organic waste. A total average volume of 792,000 gallons (106,000 cubic feet) of wastewater per day enters its treatment facility. Eighty percent of this effluent is first processed through its anaerobic digester. Wastewater generation

Casco’s BVF (bulk volume fermenter) was designed and built in 1988. It is limited to receiving 641,000 gallons (85,000 cubic feet) of wastewater per day, as specified by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the agency responsible for setting wastewater standards in Ontario, Canada. This effluent is generated from several areas of the plant through a process referred to as wet milling, where various components from the exterior and interior of the kernel are mechanically and chemically separated. Essentially, the protein (gluten meal or corn meal) is separated from the starch, which is then either refined into sugar or turned into a food-grade or industrial-grade starch. Various surfactants (surface active agents) are used to effect chemical modifications to the physical properties of the granules to manufacture different grades of starch. This process creates wastewater effluent going into the BVF.

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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During the conversion process, when changing the starch to sugar, ion exchange resins are used that require hydrochloric acid and caustic for regeneration. The initial regeneration flow along, and sugar that is rinsed out with the resins goes out as wastewater to the BVF. Subsequent rinses with a COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) of less than 1,000 ppm are diverted to the plant’s aerobic basin. The sugar refinery is the biggest supplier of wastewater to the system, accounting for 70% of the plant’s total effluent. Floating geomembrane cover

Anaerobic digestion is a process where micro-organisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen, which is used widely to treat wastewater sludges and organic waste because it provides volume and mass reduction of the input material. At Casco, raw solids are added directly to the BVF bioreactor, where they are digested, minimizing waste sludge handling. Comparatively long retention times (typically greater than seven days) and the large physical size of the bioreactor (in excess of four million gallons with a high volume of biomass in it), work together to provide the system with inherent stability against shock conditions such as by organics and solids loading, as well as temperature and pH fluctuations. The biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen primarily gives off methane, but also carbon dioxide and some traces of hydrogen sulfide, which are labeled biogas. Although biogas-derived methane and carbon dioxide come from an organic source with a short carbon cycle, they still contribute to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. This is diminished, however, when biogas is combusted. The energy release allows biogas to be used as a fuel to run any type of heat engine, or to generate either mechanical or electrical power. In essence, anaerobic digestion is a renewable energy source that converts wastewater to a methane and carbon dioxide-rich biogas suitable for energy production, replacing fossil fuels. The Casco Cardinal plant has used a geomembrane cover on its BVF bioreactor since it became operational. However, the company has upgraded to an improved floating design, insulated geomembrane cover with a streamlined capability to collect biogas. The cover captures and reclaims all of the biogas from the treatment process going on inside the anaerobic tank. Without a cover, the biogas would be released into the atmosphere. The geomembrane cover is collecting an average of 236,000 cubic feet of biogas per day from the bioreactor at a 65% methane concentration. The new, floating and insulated geomembrane cover is made up of a one-inch layer of polyethylene foam laminated to polyethylene sheeting on the bottom (wastewater facing) side. The top layer is a non-laminated sheet of 40 mil specialty PVC (Ethylene Interpolymer Alloy) that acts as a gastight barrier to keep the biogas from passing through. It also incorporates a highly specialized weave design that provides maximum strength-toweight ratios. Since this top-sheet is exposed to the sun, it is equipped with advanced UV inhibitors. The cover’s polyethylene sheeting and insulation are not meant to be gastight, but are perforated to allow biogas to pass through and become trapped by the top lay-

er. This design has exceptional seam strength, extreme puncture and tear resistance, low thermal expansion and contraction properties, a wide range of chemical resistance, high flexibility, and dimensional stability under high loads and temperature fluctuations—making it ideal for anaerobic bioreactor floating cover applications. The geomembrane cover lays on the surface of the bioreactor, which provides buoyancy for the cover system. It works under a vacuum, using a blower system that keeps the gases withdrawn and suctioned underneath the cover. The system incorporates a novel floating-beam design, which not only assists in initial deployment of the cover panels over large bioreactors, but also creates a tent-like effect giving extra migration paths for the biogas to follow. The beams themselves are hollow molded plastic, but they are also biogas-tight. Aluminum angles are bolted down to all panel sides of the cover to make a gastight seal, and a very strong connection so the panels maintain a constant vacuum. Once the biogas is collected, several options are available to the plant including disposal of the gas in a flare, or use as a fuel to provide process heat or to generate electricity. The Casco plant is currently flaring the gas, and is examining options for utilizing the biogas within the plant. Improving BVF heat retention

The efficiency of the BVF bioreactor—its ability to maintain digestion of the continuously incoming influent and its commensurate production of biogas—is critically dependent upon keeping the temperature of the BFV reactor at 25° to 32°C. This is particularly important in cooler, northern climates. Heat loss in large volumes of wastewater translates to energy loss, and this lost heat must then be compensated for by adding heat. Casco has supplemented its BVF reactor with heat generated from its refinery wastewater, which has been intentionally heated to maintain the bioreactor’s temperature. Its new geomembrane cover design provides a heightened level of insulation material to better hold heat within the reactor, and its snug fit reduces heat loss to a greater extent than the previous cover. Additionally, elimination of water evaporation and increased prevention of sunlight penetration improve maintenance of appropriate water temperatures. Minimizing heat loss, as well as preventing potential ice build-up in the BVF, has decreased the company’s energy consumption and reduced its operating costs. Geomembrane Technologies Inc. (GTI) www.gticovers.com Casco, Inc., Division of Corn Products International www.casco.ca

Whole tree chipper

Progressive cavity pump

Drum chipper

Morbark, Inc. has added the compact 25/36 Whole Tree Chipper to its line-up of heavy duty whole tree chippers. The Morbark 25/36 uses the proven design and technologies of its big brothers, the Morbark 30/36 and 40/36 models, but with a more compact profile. Aimed at the in-woods chipping market, the Morbark 25/36 Whole Tree Chipper is an ideal unit for those processing moderate volumes. Equipped with a 25" x 22" in-feed opening and horsepower options ranging from 325 HP to 400 HP, this chipper is compact but is still highly efficient and productive. The 25/36 will allow operators to enter the biomass fuel market with a smaller capital investment.

The Larox progress cavity pump is designed for the most demanding industrial slurry and paste pumping applications. Due to its unique features and patented design, high efficiency and high pressure are achieved with a shorter construction. It also requires less energy, is easy to install, and requires less maintenance resulting in very low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). With many innovative and patented features the new pump efficiency is significantly higher compared to conventional progress cavity pumps. It is also easy to install, saves power and maintenance time, offers longer servicing intervals with better pumping availability over a wide temperature and pressure range. The precise Evenwall 3D-technology with two-lobe rotor geometry allows for a rigid and tighter pumping unit compared to conventional progressive cavity pumps. All Larox progressive cavity pumps have a smaller interference between the rotor and stator reducing friction, with much lower starting torque and significantly higher pumping efficiency.

The 4310 drum chipper is the latest in a long line of chipping and grinding machines produced by Peterson. The 4310 drum chipper is suited for high-volume biomass producers who have a wide variety of feed material, from logs up to 26 inches (66 cm) in diameter, to brush and small feed stock. The 4310 is powered by a 765 HP (570 kW) C18 Caterpillar engine. At 52,000 lbs (23,586 kg), the 4310 was designed for operations requiring high production and tracks for frequent moves between jobs. The chipper utilizes a 36-inch (914 mm) diameter by 40-inch (102 mm) wide drum. Other key features include a sloped feed deck for ease-of-feeding the chipper and wear resistant AR 400 wear surfaces on the drum pockets and shell. Optional material sizing grates minimize oversize twigs and branches in the chips, and an optional chip accelerator helps with loading. Traditional babbit type knife systems are standard equipment. Chip length can be changed from 1/2-inch (13 mm) to one-inch (25.4 mm) by adjusting knife extension and feed speed. A top loading or an end loading spout is available depending on the application. The 4310’s new generation of controls includes Peterson’s high-production Adaptive Control System, which provides self-diagnosis for faulty sensors and open circuits. Fault indicators make troubleshooting easy. The 4310 control panel features an LCD display that provides the operator the complete engine and system parameters to simplify set-up and efficiently operate the machine.

Morbark, Inc. | www.morbark.com

Larox Flowsys Inc. | www.larox.fi/flowsys

Peterson Paciﬁc Corporation | www.petersoncorp.com

Mechanical briquetting presses

Waste heat power generation

Briquettes and fuel pucks are the intelligent alternative to pellets: less capital intensive, lower operational costs, and higher densification of the biomass. Di Più Srl offers 30 years of experience in the design and manufacture of heavy duty mechanical briquetting presses, and provides full support to design, supply, install, service and parts in North and Central America. Highly dependable, these presses reach pressures up to 36,000 psi. Briquettes and fuel pucks can be made from wood, as well as wood waste, paper, cardboard, agricultural and energy fibers, nuts and grain shells, MSW, RDF, water treatment plants solids, coffee grinds, and much more. Briquetting, or compressing into pucks, make these materials ready for the energy markets.

Calnetix Power Solutions (Calnetix) announced a new revenue stream for organizations whose machinery and industrial processes generate lowtemperature waste heat. Calnetix estimates that two-thirds of the fuel burned to generate power is lost as heat. Its new range of Waste Heat Power Generation machines can turn heat generated by small-scale reciprocating engines (such as landfill gas engines), biomass boilers, turbines, and industrial processes (including incinerators and processing plants) into electricity, which can then either be re-used or sold back to the grid. This is a proven technology that adds additional revenue streams with few variable costs to all kinds of manufacturers, agricultural waste sites, mills, landfill sites, and any other industrial process that generates waste heat at temperatures higher than 121ºC.

Sunomi LLC | www.sunomi-llc.com

Calnetix Power Solutions | www.calnetixps.com

Solutions Sustainable Design-Build

When you need a quality building fast, ClearSpan™ is the only choice. Buildings available up to 250' wide. Low in cost per square foot. Natural daytime lighting. Easy to relocate. Expandable.

Call one of our ClearSpan™ Specialists at 1.866.643.1010 or visit us at www.ClearSpan.com. Please mention code CST1044. North American Clean Energy

biopower Mid-sized horizontal grinder DuraTech’s versatile, new 5064 Horizontal Grinder is built to meet all grinding needs. The 5064 Horizontal Grinder is a more compact version of the massive 9564 Horizontal Grinder, and can be used in a variety of environments and applications. Not only is it available on either a track or trailer, but users can also choose from three different levels of CAT Tier III horsepower, ranging from 475 hp (354 kw) to 630 hp (470 kw). The large feed opening and 64-inch hammermill maximize grinding capacity and minimize job time. This mid-sized grinder increases efficiency and maximizes investment. The 5064 Horizontal Grinder will be available this fall and can be ordered at local dealerships. DuraTech Industries | www.duratechindustries.net

New biomass guidelines protect trees & northeast forests

Canadian Wind Energy Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition November 1–3, 2010 Montreal, Quebec CanWEA’s 2010 Annual Conference and Exhibition will bring together over 2,500 delegates and 250 exhibiting companies from around the world to discuss emerging opportunities in Canada’s rapidly growing wind energy industry. The event will provide an exclusive opportunity to network with industry leaders and generate new business.

Join us at Canada’s largest wind energy conference.

www.canwea2010.ca

EXHIBIT Promote your products and services and network with global industry professionals

SPONSOR Enhance your corporate visibility and position your company as a leader in this rapidly growing industry

The Forest Guild’s new, groundbreaking work, “Biomass Retention and Harvesting Guidelines for the Northeast,” is co-authored by Forest Guild Northeast regional director Bob Perschel and Forest Guild research director Dr. Zander Evans. It offers the first regional targets for sustaining the ecological health and value of forests by preventing the removal of too much forest biomass— whole trees or harvest residues (tree tops or limbs)—when harvesting forests for renewable fuels. It also marks the first time the concept of sustainability in harvesting guidelines includes managing forest carbon to mitigate climate change. Rapidly increasing interest in biomass harvesting threatens wildlife and biodiversity, water quality, long-term soil health, and forest growth. Although, there are state-based guidelines to protect water quality, few states have guidelines in place to protect essential ecological values when harvesting for biomass. “Not all forest biomass is created equal.” explains co-author Perschel. “It can be damaging or supportive of ecological values; it can be beneficial to climate change mitigation or make things worse. The new Forest Guild sciencebased guidelines identify measurable and verifiable targets for trees, limbs, and woody material that must be left in the forest to assure forest health.” Moreover, the facilities that use forest biomass for energy often procure their supply from several states. The Forest Guild guidelines offer a consistent approach across state boundaries by covering the major forest types for New England and New York and have applicability to other states, as well. The new guidelines are available online. Forest Guild | www.forestguild.org

JULY/AUGUST 2010

nacleanenergy.com

AWEA’s Fall 2010 Events AWEA Wind Resource & Project Energy Assessment Workshop September 14 – 15, 2010 4 Oklahoma City, OK www.awea.org/events

AWEA North American Offshore Wind Conference & Exhibition October 5 – 7, 2010 4 Atlantic City, NJ www.offshorewindexpo.org

AWEA U.S. Wind Energy Investment Workshop October 19 – 20, 2010 4 London, UK www.awea.org/events

AWEA Wind Power Health & Safety Workshop October 26 – 27, 2010 4 Austin, TX www.awea.org/events

AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium November 17 – 19, 2010 4 Phoenix, AZ www.aweafallsymposium.org

AWEA Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition December 7 – 9, 2010 4 Portland, OR www.smallandcommunitywindexpo.org

eventscalendar

advertisers’websitedirectory Company

Website

SEPTEMBER 2010

Page 67

25th EU PVSEC and WCPEC-

www.photovoltaic-conference.com

6-10

25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition Valencia, Spain—Feria Valencia, Convention & Exhibition Centre www.photovoltaic-conference.com

Advanced Power Products

www.advancedpowerproducts.com

Aevenia

www.aevenia.com

American Electric Technologies

www.aeti.com

Atlas Copco

www.atlascopco-gap.com/geothermal

ZeroEmissions Rome Rome, Italy—Rome Fair Centre; www.zeroemissionrome.eu/en/index_zer.asp

Atlas Material Testing Solutions

www.solardurability.com

AWEA

www.windpowerexpo.com

7-10 13-15 16

3rd Annual Utility Scale Solar Summit San Diego, California—Marriott Del Mar; www.infocastinc.com Clean Energy Conference San Diego, California—San Diego Convention Center; www.sustainableenergyweek.org

21-23

22-24

25-30 28-30 29-30 28-01

GridWise Global Forum Washington, DC—Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center www.gridwise.org International Groundwater Symposium + Mass & Heat Transfer in Geothermal Systems Valencia, Spain— Universidad Politecnica de Valencia; http://iahr2010.upv.es/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=57 World Renewable Energy Congress 2010 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; www.wrenuk.co.uk 4th Annual Algal Biomass Organization Phoenix, Arizona—JW Marriott Desert Ridge; http://algalbiomass.org/events EnergyOcean Paciﬁc 2010 Portland, Oregon—Doubletree Hotel; www.energyoceanpaciﬁc.com solarpeq 2010 Dusseldorf, Germany—Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre; www.solarpeq.com

AZZ Galvanizing Services

www.azzgalvanizing.com

Baja Construction

www.bajacarports.com

Bayern Innovativ

www.cluster-energietechnik.de

Bibb Engineers Architects & Constructors

www.bibb-eac.com

Campbell Scientific

www.campbellsci.com/renewables

CanWEA 2010

www.canwea2010.ca

Carbone of America

www.carbonebrush.com

Carlo Gavazzi

www.gavazzionline.com/Solar

Citel

www.citel.us

Clear Span Structures

www.clearspan.com

Cooper Power

www.cooperbline.com/solar

Day4 Energy

www.day4energy.com

DB Schenker

www.dbschenkerusa.com/specialservices/solarservices

IBC

DEGERenergie Tracking Systems

www.DEGERenergie.com

Ecology and Environment, Inc.

www.ene.com

Equipment Express Inc

www.equipmentexpress.com

ET Solar

www.etsolar.com

Fagen Inc

www.fageninc.com

GEFCO

www.gefco.com

Geothermal Energy Association

www.geothermalenergy2010.com

Geothermal Resources Council

www.geothermal.org

GFC AntriebsSysteme GmbH

www.gfc-antriebe.de

GL Garrad Hassan

www.gl-garradhassan.com

Greenpower Energy

www.greenpowercap.com

Heliodyne

www.heliodyne.com

Hub City

www.hubcityinc.com

OCTOBER 2010

Huber + Suhner

www.hubersuhner.com

5-7

HuksefluxUSA Inc

www.huksefluxusa.com

Hydro Solar Solutions

www.hydro.com/northamerica/solar

Hytorc

www.hytorc.com/wind3

Idaho Dept of Commerce

renewable.idaho.gov

Kaco New Energy Inc

www.kaco-newenergy.com

K-Flex USA

www.kflexusa.com

Lincoln Electric

www.lincolnelectric.com

Mage Solar

www.magesolar.com

Solar Power International Los Angeles, California — Los Angeles Convention Center www.solarpowerinternational.com

Mattracks

www.mattracks.com

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLC

www.milbank.com

MK Battery

www.mkbattery.com

Mobil Industrial Lubricants

www.mobilindustrial.com

Biogas USA San Francisco, California — Hotel Whitcomb; www2.greenpowerconferences.co.uk

Mobil Industrial Lubricants

www.mobilindustrial.com

Mortenson

www.mortenson.com/wind

MSE

www.msepower.com

New Jersey Economic Development

www.newjerseybusiness.gov

Next Generation Energy

www.ngeus.com

NRG Systems Inc

how.nrgsystems.com

Omega Flex Inc

www.omegaflex.com

Ormazabal

www.ormazabal.com

Panel Claw

www.panelclaw.com

Percival Scientific Inc

www.percival-scientific.com

Pivot Point

www.pivotpins.com

Plansee USA LLC

www.plansee.com

AWEA’s North American Offshore Wind Conference & Exhibition Atlantic City, New Jersey—www.offshorewindexpo.org

6-8

2nd Annual Global Renewable Energy Expo Networking Summit Jersey City, New Jersey—Westin Hotel; www.greensummitxpo.com

12-14 12-14

13-14 18-21 24-27 27-30

Advanced Energy Storage San Diego, California—Catamaran Hotel; www.fullpowerinc.com/AES2010/AESHome.html

GridWeek 2010 Washington, DC—Walter E. Washington Convention Center; www.gridweek.com/2010 GEA Geothermal Energy Expo & GRC Annual Meeting Sacramento Convention Center—Sacramento, CA; www.geo-energy.org 2010 New Orleans Investment Conference New Orleans, Louisiana—Hilton New Orleans Riverside www.neworleansconference.com

OBC

NOVEMBER 2010 10

Advanced Biofuels Market San Francisco, California—Stanford Court Hotel www2.greenpowerconferences.co.uk

17-19

AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium Phoenix, Arizona; www.aweafallsymposium.org

DECEMBER 2010 1-2

7-9

Conference: PV Power Plants 2010 Las Vegas, Nevada www.solarpraxis.de/en/conferencias/pv-power-plants-2010-usa Small & Community Wind Conference & Exhibition Portland, Oregon—www.smallandcommunitywindexpo.org

Send us your clean energy show and event listings. Email information to the Editor at mfroese@nacleanenergy.com

JULY/AUGUST 2010

IFC

nacleanenergy.com

Polaris America LLC

www.polarisamerica.com

Premium Solar

www.ezinc.com.tr

PV Powered

www.pvpowered.com

Rennsteig Tools Inc

www.rennsteig.us

Resol

www.resol.com

Satcon

www.satcon.com/solstice

Schaefer + Peters Gmbh

www.schaefer-peters.com

Schletter Inc

www.schletter.us

Schunk Graphite Technology LLC

www.schunkgraphite.com

Session Solar

www.sessionsolar.com

Skyfuel

www.skyfuel.com

Solar Power International 2010

www.solarpowerinternational.com/CLE8

Solar Skies

www.solarskies.com

Solectria Renewables LLC.

www.solren.com

Solmetric

www.solmetric.com

SSB Service Inc

www.ssb-group.com

Trina Solar

www.trinasolar.com

Troutman Sanders

www.troutmansanders.com/renewable_energy

TTI Solar

www.ttisolar.com

Unirac Inc

www.unirac.com

Upsolar

www.upsolar.com

US Digital

www.usdigital.com/solar

West Salem Machinery

www.westsalem.com

White Construction

www.whiteconstruction.com

Wieland Electric Inc

www.wielandinc.com

Tracker efﬁciency should always be measured by the yield Up to 45 % more energy gained using the DEGERconecter Intelligence designed by Nature. Solar tracking systems from DEGERenergie exactly align each individual solar module to the most intense light source – whether the sun is shining or it‘s heavily overcast. An impressive energy gain of up to 45 percent.

BENEFIT FROM THE KNOW-HOW OF THE MARKET LEADER Patented control system: The DEGERconecter identiﬁes the strongest light source at any time of day.

DEGERtraker: The single and dual axis fastening system ideally aligns the photovoltaic modules.

▶ Best price-performance ratio – therefore a fast payoff ▶ 30,000 DEGERtrakers on the grid ▶ Lowest transport costs ▶ Most clever control unit ▶ TÜV tested and certified, UL/CSA tested and certified

www.DEGERenergie.com

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