Radiance Solar
SOUTHERN SOLAR In just two short years, James Marlow, founder and CEO, has built Radiance Solar in to a company with a three-fold focus: people, planet, and profits.
K&M Shillingford GEOTHERMAL
This Tulsa-based firm is the only one to lease geothermal systems to customers and was the first in the U.S. to use earthcoupled, ground-source heatpumps.
ENERGY LEADERS TODAY
T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY
Winter 2010 $24.95 USD $26.30 CAN
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The Solaray Corp.
INCORPORATED IN 1975
With a Hawaii-based distributor and a California-based manufacturer, this is one of the nation’s oldest solar companies in operation under the same name and ownership.
ENERGY LEADERS TODAY
T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY www.energyleaderstoday.com
Geo-Hydro Supply | 96
DRAWING FROM 20 YEARS OF GEOTHERMAL INSTALLATION EXPERIENCE The experienced employees at Geo-Hydro supply are not only able to provide their customers with necessary materials but also share their expertise to prevent installation mistakes. This high-quality customer service, as well as keeping an entire warehouse fully stocked with geothermal supplies, makes them a beacon for the geothermal industry.
in this issue EDITORIAL
T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY
ENERGY LEADERS TODAY
Editor-in-Chief Todd Weaver Editor Diana Doyle Executive Editor Jonathan Mack Assistant Editor Joseph Orange Creative Director Emily Detoro Art Director Stephanie Hess Director of Advertising Julian Vu Production Coordinator Jason Rone Assistant Production Coordinator Elizabeth Macks Photography Editor Ian Palmer Video Director Susan Maybach Editorial Director Kate Darling Editorial Production Rachel Goldberg Copy Editor William Finch Assistant Copy Editor Amy Roberts Content Directors Brandon McBride (W), Aaron McGaskey (SW), Juan Orellana (Int’l), Steve Peters (Nation), Mike Rodgers (Nation), Juan Stewart (NE) Vendor Relations Director Diana Stephens Vendor Relations Eric Miller, Dov Teta Advertising Sales Coordinator Patricia O’Brien Advertising Sales Director Peter Jostens Advertising Sales Moe Kazemi, David Levi, Steve Stone Publisher Steve Reed oZ WORLD MEDIA 1100 H Street NW, Suite M Washington D.C. 20005 www.energyleaderstoday.com Energy Leaders Today is a quarterly B2B trade journal that services the energy industry in geothermal, hydroelectric, gas, solar, wind, fuel cell and new tecnhologies. ELT has a readership of 100,000 C-Level executives within the energy industry. We do not accept subscription requests from the general public, however an abbreviated version is available on our website.
10 Editor’s Note 13 Staff Editorial 14 Opposing Editorial 16 NewProducts Directory 114 Advertising Index NEWS
26 A Setting Sun for Ethanol? A Purdue University study reveals that the U.S. doesn’t have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels.
28 GVEP Brightens Up Kenya An innovative partnership between GVEP International, Women Enterprise Development Institute and BrazAfrique is accelerating access to solar lanterns for the Central Province of Kenya.
31 Economic Recession and Energy Carey King at the University of Texas, Austin, shares his research on how the root cause of the recession could be linked to energy quality.
32 Modernizing Aluminum Smelting Rio Tinto announces its investment in two Canadian aluminum smelting companies to improve efficiency through modernization and expansion.
34 10 Ways Your Car Has Changed In the past decade the auto industry has ungone tremendous change and this recap highlights those changes and whats ahead for 2011.
36 All New 1.6 EcoBoost from Ford Ford Motor Company introduces its new EcoBoost engine to North America. According to the company, by 2013, 90 percent of Ford’s vehicles in North America will be available with EcoBoost.
SOLAR
40 Industry Forward: Shouting Out For Solar Jonathan Gosberg discusses the economic landscape, the challenges it presents for the solar industry and why the outlook for solar is not all doom and gloom.
6 Winter 2010
42 The Solaray Corporation
82 Europe’s Next Big Wind Venture
Incorporated in 1975, The Solaray Corp. is now one of the nation’s oldest solar companies in continuous operation under the same name and ownership. A well positioned player, TSC does business as Inter-Island Solar Supply, a Hawaii-based distributor, and SunEarth, a California-based solar thermal manufacturer.
New analysis from a Frost & Sullivan overview of the wind power market in central and eastern Europe estimates that the installed base in the region will reach almost 23,000 MW in 2020 to meet the target set by the European Commission for all member states.
48 Sun Farm Network
84 Enhancing Wind Turbine Efficiency Engineers at Syracuse University’s L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science Are teaming up with the University of Minnesota on new intelligent systems and grooved designs that would greatly enhance efficiency of wind turbines.
With extensive experience in business models and finance strategies for new technology, CEO Mark Warner has helped Sun Farm Network become a leader in the Mid-Atlantic solar industry, pioneering new ways for customers to pay for their solar energy use and making solar systems universally affordable.
GEOTHERMAL
56 Sustainable Energy Group
88 Harker Heating & Cooling
Ray Darby has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry and a background in mechanical engineering. Today, his Grass Valley, Calif. company, Sustainable Energy Group, specializes in finding the most cost-effective alternatives to meet a given customer’s needs and budget.
Backed by the local Sheet Metal Workers Union and maintaining one of Wisconsin’s largest working showrooms, Harker Heating & Cooling offers a full line of mechanical contracting services to clients like single-family homes to large mixed-used or commercial projects.
60 Sunlight Solar Energy
92 Air Conditioning Specialists
Founded in 1988 by president, Paul Israel, Sunlight Solar Energy is committed to bringing about the solar revolution and providing highquality, grid-tied solar electric and solar thermal installation throughout the northeast and beyond.
No project is out of scope for Air Conditioning Specialists’s fully licensed staff. Using the highest-caliber materials and products verified by Harvard professors and LMS Technologies, ACS’s goal is to provide year-round climate comfort to families across southeastern Virginia.
68 Radiance Solar
96 Geo-Hydro Supply
The Atlanta-based turnkey solar company of Radiance Solar is committed to designing, developing and installing solar systems throughout the southeast; and in just two short years, CEO and founder James Marlow, has created a company with a three-fold focus: people, planet, and profits.
With 20 years of experience, president Greg Beach has embraced e-commerce to grow his business to every inch of the U.S. and parts of Canada. By offering continuing education to their employees and to the general public, as well as keeping an entire warehouse fully stocked with geothermal supplies, Geo-Hydro Supply is a beacon for the industry.
WIND
100 AirFlow Systems
78 New Grant Paves the Way for Oregon
Starting out with only five employees, Air Flow Systems, Inc. has grown into a successful, key player in the Virginia geothermal scene completing over 350 projects.
The U.S. Department of Energy finalized a partial loan guarantee for a $1.3 billion loan to finance the Caithness Shepherds Flat project, an 845-megawatt wind generation facility located in eastern Oregon.
80 Study Finds Wind Turbines Help Crops New research suggests that wind turbines in midwestern farm fields may be doing more than churning out electricity. The giant turbine blades that generate renewable energy might also be helping corn and soybean crops stay cooler and dryer, helping them fend off fungal infestations and improve their ability to extract growth-enhancing CO2 from the air and soil.
104 K & M Shillingford Founded in 1986, the Tulsa-based firm of KMS is the only company that leases geothermal systems to customers. They were also the first in the U.S. to use earth-coupled, groundsource heatpumps.
110 Flow Center Products This flowcenter distributor’s offerings run the gamut making it a true one-stop-shop for all geothermal needs. Their flowcenters include built-in flush valves and customizable cabinets.
Energy Leaders Today 7
ENERGY LEADERS TODAY
T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY www.energyleaderstoday.com
Sun Farm Network | 48 FIRST IN FINANCING SOLAR Since 2002, Sun Farm Network CEO Mark Warner has helped Sun Farm Network become a leader in the Mid-Atlantic solar industry and is the first company in New Jersey to offer a financing solution that made solar systems universally affordable. The company has also installed more solar systems on houses of worship and farms that any other solar company in the nation.
editor’s note
TODD WEAVER
With a background in technical writing, Joel excels at translating complex jargon into readable, vivid narratives. Past works include projects with the State Department, DOD, World Bank and many retail giants.
amelia doenlen
for nuclear power in Georgia. With more of these loans to come, the nuclear industry should be able to rebuild itself into a viable energy source for the next decade. In other overlooked energy news, the SEC has announced the possibility of new regulations, as part of the financial reform bill that would require oil and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments. The industry is concerned that strict adherence to the rule would result in confidential proprietary information getting in the hands of foreign oil companies. Industry groups, such as the American Petroleum Institute will continue to lobby against the rule. Although the BP oil spill got an unprecedented amount of airtime, I do want to touch on the newly released White House analysis citing poor management and lax industry standards as the cause. While not all industry professionals agree with the report’s findings, and we may not agree with it completely, it confirms that proper oversight and checks and balances can never be underestimated. Reading this makes me and the Energy Leaders Today staff pleased to know that before selecting content for our magazine, employee and jobsite safety is one of the many determining factors we consider before featuring a firm. Please visit energyleaderstoday.com to take our new poll on 2011 industry trend forecasting.
Amelia earned both a B.S. in journalism and anthropology from the University of Texas. Currently based in London, she writes for a variety of print and online publications both in Europe and the U.S.
Anne’s writing experiences have taken her places that wouldn’t have been possible in other careers. With a B.A in Creative Writing from Tulane University, Anne freelances for a variety of publications.
felecia willis
editor@ozworldmedia.com
Based in Atlanta, Felicia’s extensive background in writing for B2B trades ranges from pulp and paper, medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, energy and architecture.
william coleson
When you look back on 2010 and think of energy, the first thing that comes to mind is BP Oil Spill. The second thing? The demise of the comprehensive climate change legislation, perhaps. But considering all the talk about offshore oil, offshore wind received surprisingly little coverage. With the Obama administration emphasizing decreased dependence on foreign oil, it was nice to see the Interior Department issue permits for Massachusetts’ Cape Wind project—on track to be the country’s first offshore wind project. We are also awaiting the results of the Interior Department’s Request for Interest which will gauge future investments o=in offshore wind development. Unfortunately, China recently announced a restriction on the export quotas of rare-earth metals which happen to be crucial to components in both wind turbines and electric cars. Hopefully, mining company, Molycorp, will stay on course to open a rare-earths mine in California next year. Otherwise, in a way, Obama is only switching our dependence on the Middle East to a dependence on China, as it is China that produces 97 percent of rare-earth metals. Doh! In planning for reliance on renewable energies such as wind and solar in the near future, utility companies found themselves in heated debate over who should pay for the robust, transcontinental power line network that will need to be erected for this whole renewable energies idea to actually come to fruition. Even after lawmakers proposed a variety of cost allocation schemes, it came down to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sort out all the issues related to power line cost allocation and the discussion will continue well into 2011. Another issue sure to carry into 2011 is the $8.3 billion loan issued by the Department of Energy
anne brouilette
Looking back...
joel cornell
CONTRIBUTORS
William graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science. He writes for a variety of trade publications in the U.S. and abroad.
Solar
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LEADING GLASS TECHNOLOGY 12 Winter 2010
STAFF EDITORIAL
America: The Land of Opportunity, Except for its Citizens Since Jimmy Carter’s presidency, a lot has changed: the internet was invented and is now a normal part of the average person’s daily routine; the stock market crashed, recovered, and seemingly crashed again; gas prices have peaked and plummeted; and the value of the dollar has plummeted. There have been five presidents since the Carter administration first placed solar panels on the White House, which have since been removed. Some say that President Reagan removed the panels because big business didn’t want them. Others say that the panels conflicted with the historic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, they are no longer there and were removed with very little valid explanation. However, with the price of oil increasing, the United States finds itself looking to alternative energy as part of the solution to one of the most important economic battles of the past century. The largest oil spill in U.S. history not only eliminated most sea floor life in the Gulf of Mexico, but demonstrated the very reason why the U.S. needs to take alternative energies, including solar, wind and geothermal more seriously. At first glance the current state of the U.S. solar market is quite confusing. In states like California and New Jersey, solar energy is booming, while in other states like Alabama and Mississippi, the industry barely exists. Why is this? It’s simple -- inconsistent governmental support for the industry. In California and New Jersey, the combined federal, state and local incentives drive the industry. One of the main reasons more people do not have solar systems installed in their homes and businesses is that they cannot afford the upfront costs of $25,000 to $40,000. Therefore, New Jersey and California have made it possible for customers to seek financing options such as PPAs (Power Purchasing Agreements) or solar leasing that in most cases, will allow them to pay for the system with little to no money down. Companies like Sun Edison and Solar Nation have made it very easy for customers in certain regions to obtain solar systems. Unfortunately, these options are not available nationwide. For example, Florida, an
important solar market, only permits PPAs to be used when selling to utilities. Whereas California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and New Jersey permit electricity sales under PPAs to utilities, municipals, schools, commercial and business customers and homeowners. These differences highlight a troubling lack of unity on a highly important issue. Determining where the country will get its energy will have significant economic effects in the future. Some argue that this disunity has placed us in the worse economic recession since the Great Depression. I believe that more promotion and incentives for solar energy will not only help turn the economy around, but help save the environment in a way that makes a lot of sense. Solar energy comes from the sun, which shines an average of 6 hours a day. So why aren’t utility companies required to produce 25 percent of their energy from solar resources? Furthermore, an increase in solar installs results in an increase in jobs. With unemployment at just under 10 percent, it would be reasonable to increase solar incentives in solar-friendly states like Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, rather than give money to large, conventional utility companies under the condition that they “go green.” The state of Florida did this, perhaps not realizing that building a green power plant ends up providing little more than factory jobs for recovering drug addicts. That’s what ends up happening when conventional utility companies don’t truly care about creating green jobs -- only about the money they get from the government. It is estimated that the solar industry grew by around 100 percent in 2010; it is very unfortunate that in some states, like Montana and Arizona, much of that growth was by foreign manufacturers who drove the price of solar to a level that is not economical for Americans to get into the business. This practice has also taken jobs away from Americans who were promised governmental backing from the Obama administration. While this proves that America is still the land of opportunity, it’s a shame that those opportunities aren’t given to its citizens.
Juan Stewart Energy Leaders Today Content Director and Certified Solar Installer
A NATIVE OF WASHINGTON D.C., STEWART DEVELOPED HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR ASPIRING MINORITY BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHILE ATTENDING GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. HE HAS A PASSION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND KNOWS THE BENEFITS THAT IT CAN HAVE FOR YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
Energy Leaders Today 13
opposing editorial
Christmas Shouldn’t Come Early for Green Energy Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is doing his best Santa impersonation this year, distributing gifts to certain energy producers - and he’s using your money to do it. Part of his “tax extenders” bill is a massive special-interest subsidy program that includes handouts for various “green” energy industries. At least, he’s trying to imitate Santa. The Senate rejected his bill in a rare weekend vote. But the major point of contention concerned the income levels for tax cuts. A coming vote on a new bill, after a tax-cut compromise between President Obama and congressional Republicans, will likely include similar handouts. Undeterred by an electorate fed up with special-interest politics and wasteful government spending, Baucus’ proposal lavishes special tax treatment on producers of ethanol, biodiesel and biomass. But his generosity doesn’t stop there. He also provides taxpayer dollars and set-asides to renewable energy projects and natural gas vehicles, as well as home energyefficient products and appliances. The ostensible justification for this corporate welfare is to protect the environment, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and stimulate the green energy economy. But the truth is much different. In reality, subsidizing uneconomical energy sources hinders economic growth, rewards mediocrity and needlessly wastes taxpayer dollars when the government should be pinching every penny. An encouragingly diverse coalition, including environmental, hunger, agricultural, developmental and several anti-subsidy groups, sent a letter to House and Senate majority and minority leaders calling for the ethanol tax credit to sunset. More than a dozen prominent Republican and Democratic senators released a letter urging for the policy to expire. Even Al Gore recently called ethanol subsidies a mistake. So why is there any talk of extending the tax credit? Because a much smaller bipartisan coalition of senators from the Corn Belt say it’s important for their states. Why won’t the larger coalition win out? Washington politics. When you lump the ethanol subsidies in with tax cuts for the middle class, it becomes more difficult for a member of Congress to say no. And when the man who introduces the plan, Sen. Baucus, chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee, it becomes even tougher. Skeptical that the ethanol policy is more
about pleasing special interests and less about the environment and reducing foreign oil dependence? Notice the extension of the protectionist 54-cent tariff on imported ethanol. The tariff discourages imports of ethanol, most notably cheaper sugar canebased ethanol from Brazil. Welcome to Washington. It’s all mixed up. All of these handouts, not just the ones for ethanol, concentrate benefits to those industries or technologies that politicians deem worthy - and disperse the costs to the rest of us. Subsidies remove the incentive for industries to become economically competitive and lower costs. They increase the incentive to lobby for handouts and protection. Taxpayers, meanwhile, are left with the tab. The more government becomes involved in decisions the private sector should be making, the more this trend will continue. Politicians face incentives, too, one of the primary ones being to win elections. Catering to home-state special interests is one of the best ways to do that. As Al Gore said: “One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee, and I had a certain fondness for the farmers in the state of Iowa because I was about to run for president.” This may make for good politicking, but it’s definitely bad economics. Subsidizing our way to a carbon-free economy or energy independence or cheap energy isn’t a prudent approach to create a robust and diverse energy market. In fact, it will cause a dependent and stagnant one. When the government selects political winners, it’s usually a good indicator that the technology or energy source is a market loser. After all, if the venture was profitable, it wouldn’t need special treatment from the government. As President Obama noted in a 2008 speech, “When special interests put their thumb on the scale, and distort the free market, the people who compete by the rules come in last.” Energy industries should be freed from all government subsidies. That way, they’d rely on innovation and efficiency, not handouts, to remain competitive. In such a scenario, the businesses that deserve to come in first will do so by means of higher profits. The consumer reaps the benefits by having the cheapest energy available. The American people deserve an energy policy that puts them ahead of special interests.
Nicolas Loris Heritage Foundation Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies
NICK LORIS FOCUSES ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY ISSUES AS A RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN THE ROE INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC POLICY STUDIES AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
Energy Leaders Today 15
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24 Winter 2010
NEWS & TECHNOLOGY INSIDE: THE FUTURE OF ETHANOL, GVEP BRIGHTENS UP KENYA, STUDY: RECESSION LINKED TO ENERGY QUALITY, MODERNIZING ALUMINUM SMELTING, NEW FORD ECOBOOST ENGINE, A DECADE OF CHANGE FOR YOUR CAR
spotlight | news
26 Winter 2010
news | spotlight
Setting Sun for Ethanol?
Ethanol
Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, and coauthors Frank Dooley, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, and Daniela Viteri, a former Purdue graduate student, used U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency data to determine that the United States is at the “blending wall,” the saturation point for ethanol use. Without new technology or a significant increase in infrastructure, Tyner predicts that the country will not be able to consume more ethanol than is being currently produced. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires an increase of renewable fuel production to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. About 13 billion gallons of renewable fuel was required for 2010, the same amount Tyner predicts is the threshold for U.S. infrastructure and consumption ability. “You can’t get there with ethanol,” said Tyner, whose findings were published in the December issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Tyner said there simply aren’t enough flexfuel vehicles, which use an 85 percent ethanol blend, or E85 stations to distribute more biofuels. According to EPA estimates, flex-fuel vehicles make up 7.3 million of the 240 million vehicles on the nation’s roads. Of those, about 3 million of flex-fuel vehicle owners aren’t even aware they can use E85 fuel. There are only about 2,000 E85 fuel pumps in the United States, and it took more than 20 years to install them.
“Even if you could produce a whole bunch of E85, there is no way to distribute it,” Tyner said. “We would need to install about 2,000 pumps per year through 2022 to do it. You’re not going to go from 100 per year to 2,000 per year overnight. It’s just not going to happen.” And even if the fuel could be distributed, E85 would have to be substantially cheaper than gasoline to entice consumers to use it because E85 gets lower mileage, Tyner said. If gasoline were $3 per gallon, E85 would have to be $2.34 per gallon to break even on mileage. There is talk of increasing the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline for regular vehicles from 10 percent to 15 percent. But Tyner said that even if the EPA does allow it, the blending wall would be reached again in about four years. Tyner said advances in the production of thermo-chemical biofuels, which are created by using heat to chemically alter biomass and create fuels, would be necessary to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard. He said those fuels would be similar enough to gasoline to allow unlimited blending and would increase the amount of biofuel that could be used. “Producing the hydrocarbons directly doesn’t have the infrastructure problems of ethanol, and there is no blend wall because you’re producing gasoline,” Tyner said. “If that comes on and works, then we get there. There is significant potential to produce drop-in hydrocarbons from cellulosic feedstocks.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded Tyner’s research.
The U.s. doesn’t have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and nextgeneration biofuels
Ethanol fuel is an alternative to gasoline. In the U.S., tolerance of ethanol depends on the individual vehicle. In Brazil, ethanol-powered and flex-fuel vehicles are capable of running on hydrated ethanol, an azeotrope of ethanol and water. In addition, flex-fuel vehicles can run on any mixture of hydrated ethanol and gasoline, as long as there is at least 20 percent ethanol. * 2.8 gallons of ethanol, 18 pounds of livestock feed (distillers grains) and 18 pounds of carbon dioxide are produced from each bushel of grain used. * Ethanol production requires approximately 3 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol produced. * Requirements for water and overall energy fell by 26% and 22% respectively, between
2001 and 2006, according to most recent data available from Department of Energy.
Energy Leaders Today 27
spotlight | news
Lighting up Lives An innovative partnership between GVEP International, Women Enterprise Development Institute (WEDI) and Brazafrique is accelerating access to solar lanterns for people living in the Central Province of Kenya. gvepinternational.org
WEDI is a fund manager with a portfolio of 800 women’s savings and credit groups operating in the larger Central Province of Kenya. Their mission is to stimulate self-reliance and initiate development through promoting savings and lending activities among women’s groups. “WEDI runs a project through which member groups are introduced to various technology products and if interested, individual members can borrow and buy from their savings,” explained WEDI’s Director Jamleck Mugo. In early 2010, GVEP International contacted Mr. Jamleck Mugo, to introduce energy prod-
28 Winter 2010
ucts to the 800, and growing, women’s savings groups that he manages. WEDI realised that energy was a key component that affected the lives of the women it serves and this generated interest in offering energy solutions in the form of LED lanterns. As a result, GVEP International introduced Mugo and some of his team members to BrazAfrique, suppliers of the award winning D.Light solar LED lamps, a potential lighting product, for rolling out to the groups. Seeing the benefits of the lighting products to the women and a financial opportunity, WEDI
placed an order soon after the meeting for the first batch of lighting products. To absorb initial risks, a tripartite supplier guarantee arrangement was signed between GVEP International, Women Enterprise Development Institute (WEDI) and BrazAfrique with an agreement that GVEP International will stand as a partial risk guarantor to the supplier through a loan guarantee scheme. More than 90 percent of WEDIs groups are women-only savings group. Each group has 30 members who mobilize group savings and lending amongst themselves. With a mission to stimulate self-reliance and initiate development through promoting savings and lending activities among women’s groups, WEDI was started mainly to gain independence from donor funding and create localized funds for socioeconomic development. Within the tripartite agreement, BrazAfrique supplies the lamps to WEDI, who then distributes them to its member groups. WEDI being the fund manager collects a deposit of 50 percent of the cost of the LED lamp from the customers; the other 50 percent is paid in three equal installments. WEDI manages all the back office work which includes collection of the down payment, delivery of LED lamps to the group members and loan tracking. The first LED orders from WEDI were delivered in mid March 2010. By September, WEDI had already sold over 400 LED solar lanterns as a result of the project intervention. The LED solar lamps not only serve as sustainable energy solutions to the women and their families, but will also save household budgets for lighting fuel spent on kerosene. The most successful product has been the Nova S250 which won an award from Lighting Africa in 2010. The lantern includes a popular phone charging facility. With communications technologies spreading fast in rural East Africa, mobile phone charging is expensive. A product that combines both lighting and phone charging is therefore a sure winner. Payback rates for a household can be as low as 4 to 6 months. With funding support from the United States International Development Agency (USAID), GVEP International has been successfully
news | spotlight
partnering with WEDI throughout 2010. Key to the whole programme has been the various awareness sessions and trainings for WEDI’s 25 loan officers who are key motivators for the project. The success of the scheme also results from the incentive schemes in the supply chain. WEDI who manages the project as a whole receives the LED lamps at a wholesale price and each loan officer who is responsible for the deployment of the lamps receives approximately $1.25 for each lamp sold. The women receive the lamps and can pay in installments through their savings scheme. ‘‘With over 800 member groups and a total membership of 24,000 women, WEDI has great potential to accelerate access to sustainable energy solutions to many beneficiaries in Kenya,’’ says Phyllis Kariuki, GVEP International’s Finance Expert in Nairobi who has been tailoring the scheme to the group’s needs. “We guaranteed a total sum of £6600 to support BrazAfrique, in the event of a missed payment. We have also trained 25 loan officers from WEDI to equip them with knowledge on LED technology, so as to address any minor technological challenges that might arise whilst using these solar lanterns.” In an interview with WEDI’s Director, it emerged that the LED solar lamps have become so popular that the demand for them seems to have exceeded their supply. “There are great opportunities in this type of energy business,” said Mugo. “We hope to con-
solidate our relationship with BrazAfrique and GVEP International, so to ensure an adequate supply of products for our members.” WEDI believes that this partnership can have a real empowering impact on the lives of the women themselves. “Given the demand for affordable, energy-efficient lamps, they can learn to depend on themselves and their business, instead of relying on external livelihood support systems, which are not sustainable.” Because of the lamps, WEDI is receiving many inquiries from women in other localities. For WEDI, this is a positive impact on their core business itself. If new groups can be formed because of the lighting products, business will expand both for the fund and from the energy project itself. In addition, since the funds in the women’s groups are revolving, the groups have been able to earn income as a result of selling LEDs to members of the group. By September, WEDI has traded LEDs from Brazafrique worth about $14,962. For successful partnerships to occur, it is important to combine resources towards the common goal. While WEDI pushes for sales, BrazAfrique is committed to supplying quality products and replacing faulty products if any on time. GVEP International provides the bridging support needed through trainings and regular meetings apart from the loan guarantee itself. One of the key lessons learned by GVEP International in the experience of working with WEDI is that smaller Savings
and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) and Group Fund Managers are able to push the sales of low-end renewable energy products faster than the formal and big financial institutions. WEDI and GVEP International plan to start a portfolio around another energy product, potentially cookstoves.
Energy Leaders Today 29
news | spotlight
Declining Energy Quality Could be Root Cause of Current Recession “An overlooked cause of the economic recession in the U.S. is a decade-long decline in the quality of the nation’s energy supply, often measured as the amount of energy we get out for a given energy input,” says energy expert Carey King of The University of Texas at Austin. Many economists have pointed to a bursting real estate bubble as 5.5. During times of robust economic growth, such as the 1990s, EIR for the initial trigger for the current recession, which in turn caused global gasoline was well over eight. Compare that to some estimates of EROI investments in U.S. real estate to turn sour and drag down the global and EIR for corn ethanol of around one, and it’s clear why corn ethanol economy. King suggests the real estate bubble burst because individuals has been widely criticized as a low quality energy source. were forced to pay a higher and higher percentage of their income for To get the U.S. economy growing again, King says Americans will have energy—including electricity, gasoline and heating oil—leaving less to produce and use energy more efficiently. That’s essentially what the money for their home mortgages. U.S. did after the last energy crisis by raising fuel efficiency standards In economic terms, the quality of the nation’s energy supply is referred for cars, increasing use of natural gas for electric power generation and to as Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROI). For example, if an developing new technologies such as Enhanced Oil Recovery to coax oil company uses a 10th of a barrel of oil to drill, pump, transport and more oil out of the ground. refine one barrel of oil, the EROI for the refined fuel is 10. “If we aren’t fundamentally changing the way we produce or consume “Many economists don’t think of energy as being a limiting factor to energy now, don’t expect the economy to grow as much as the past economic growth,” says King, a research associate in the university’s two decades,” he said. Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy. “They think continual improvements in technology and efficiency have completely decoupled the two factors. My research is part of a growing body of evidence that says that’s just not true. Energy still plays a big role.” In a paper published this November in the journal Environmental Research Letters, King introduced a new way to measure energy quality, the Energy Intensity Ratio (EIR), that is easier to calculate, highly correlated to EROI and in some ways more powerful than EROI. EIR measures how much profit is obtained by energy consumers relative to energy producers. The higher the EIR, the more economic value consumers, including businesses, governments and people, get from their energy. When King plots EIR for various fuels every year since World War II, the graphs indicate two large declines, one before the recessions of the mid-1970s and early 1980s and the other during the 2000s, leading up to the current economic recession. There have been other recessions in the U.S. since World War II, but the longest and deepest were preceded by sustained declines in EIR for all fossil fuels. EIR is proportional to EROI, meaning they rise and fall together, but the basic data behind the EIR calculations come out annually as opposed to every Energy Quality and Economic Recessions Graph: five years for EROI. EIR also gives insight into different The worst recessions of the last 65 years were preceded by declines in energy quality for oil, natural parts of the supply chain such as at the refinery or at gas, and coal. Energy quality is plotted using the energy intensity ratio (EIR) for each fuel. Recessions the gas pump, which are harder to study with EROI. are indicated by gray bars. In layman's terms, EIR measures how much profit is obtained by energy King’s analysis suggests if EIR falls below a certain consumers relative to energy producers.The higher the EIR, the more economic value consumers threshold, the economy stops growing. For example, (including businesses, governments and people) get from their energy. in 1972, EIR for gasoline was 5.9 and in 2008 it was Energy Leaders Today 31
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Modernization and Expansion of Canadian Aluminum Smelters Rio Tinto’s billion dollar plan for cleaner energy Rio Tinto, a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, announced in early December that it is to invest in its Canadian aluminum smelters to improve efficiency through modernization and expansion. The bulk of this new investment - $758 million- will be spent on completing the first phase of the AP60 plant in SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Rio Tinto will also invest an additional $300 million for further construction in preparation for the $2.5 billion modernization of the Kitimat smelter in British Columbia. AP technology was first developed by Rio Tinto’s research and development facilities in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. It is designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce the costs of aluminum production. AP60 is the next step in Rio Tinto’s suite of industry benchmark smelting technologies and it is the latest generation of the bespoke technology and metal output per pot at the plant. It will be 40 percent higher than at existing smelters. When Phase 1 of the plant becomes operational, the Arvida Research and Development Centre in Jon-
quière, Quebec will lead ongoing activities towards commercializing AP60 technology. It will also be supported by research and development teams in Voreppe and SaintJean-de-Maurienne, France. The Kitimat modernization project will increase the smelter’s current production capacity by more than 48 percent to approximately 420,000 tonnes per year. The modernized Kitimat smelter will be powered exclusively by hydroelectricity and use Rio Tinto Alcan’s proprietary AP technology to reduce its emissions intensity by more than 50 percent per year. “The first phase of the AP60 plant, which will become the platform for future generations of our AP series, underlines Rio Tinto Alcan’s position as the world leader in aluminum smelting technologies,” said Jacynthe Côté, CEO. “This proprietary technology has already evolved from AP50 to AP60 since this project was first announced. It is the industry benchmark - the most cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentallyfriendly smelting technology commercially available.
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“The modernization of our Kitimat smelter is truly a transformational project, in line with our strategic objective to grow via long-life, large-scale, low-cost assets. Once completed, Kitimat will be one of the lowestcost smelters in the world.” The first phase of the AP60 plant will have 38 pots and an annual production capacity of 60,000 tonnes of aluminum by 2013. This initial step will also include the infrastructure required for the subsequent phases, which would bring the total production capacity to 460,000 tonnes, powered by clean, renewable hydroelectricity. Rio Tinto is expected to have spent approximately $371 million on the AP60 project by the end of the year. Rio Tinto is also expected to have spent approximately $350 million on the Kitimat modernization project, for which final approval is expected in 2011. Rio Tinto’s continued investment in these projects is consistent with the modernization strategy that was set out following the acquisition of Alcan and is in keeping with the group’s 2007 commitments to the governments of Canada and Quebec.
The modernization of our Kitimat smelter is truly a transformational project, in line with our strategic objective to grow via long-life, largescale, low-cost assets. Once completed, Kitimat will be one of the lowestcost smelters in the world. Jacynthe Côté CEO, Rio Tinto Alcan Photo left Copyright © 2010 Rio Tinto
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Energy Leaders Today 33
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A Decade of Change
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he past decade has been revolutionary for several parts of our society, but few sectors have seen as much change since 2000 as the auto industry. Ten short years ago, automakers were touting the number of cupholders in the cabin and the increased off-road capabilities of family haulers. Today, these same companies are racing to offer increasingly hands-free mobile communication, eye-popping fuel economy and technologies aimed at helping drivers avoid accidents. Many of the changes in automobiles were driven by the ever-evolving ways people use mobile devices and the Internet to consume information, communicate with others and even engage in commerce. According to the UN, about five billion people use cell phones while weekly Internet usage is up 560 percent. This trend has exploded in the past decade, redefining the way we use our cars. As the calendar flips to 2011, and automakers kick off a new chapter of innovation at the North American International Auto Show, here are our Top 10 ways the industry has changed since 2000: Infotainment: Vehicle options 10 years ago, such as in-dash compact disc players and speed control systems, are now standard features. Consumers’ desire to have constant access to information helped spawn technologies such as voice-activated controls, real-time traffic and Wi-Fi mobile hot spots. Entertainment: The days of packing a clumsy library of CDs or VHS movie tapes are gone. Today consumers have a wide variety of compact ways to be entertained while behind the wheel. A decade ago, for instance, satellite radio was not available in cars. Today, more than half of new passenger cars are equipped with the service, according to Ward’s Auto. Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC can stream Internet radio like Pandora or can play music from USB plugged-in digital music players or memory sticks. 34 Winter 2010
Taking out the guesswork: Today’s vehicles are equipped with new technologies that make driving easier, including self-parallel parking, rear back-up cameras and rain-sensing wipers. Terrain management lets the driver select the type of terrain the vehicle is driving through, such as sand, snow or pavement, and the vehicle then adjusts wheel spin, throttle inputs and other inputs accordingly. Accident avoidance: Automotive safety has also advanced dramatically. In 2000, the average car had at least two airbags. Today, most vehicles have at least four, with some models equipped with up to 10 airbags. The biggest change, however, is in the area of accident avoidance. For example, Ford’s new Curve Control, available on the 2011 Explorer, monitors a driver’s speed entering fast, sharp corners then corrects the vehicle. Other examples include collision
warning systems that detect moving vehicles ahead; blind spot systems that alert the driver when approaching vehicles enter the system’s defined blind spot zone; and cross-traffic alerts to sense oncoming traffic when the driver is backing out of a parking spot. Fuel economy: In the early 2000s, bigger was better. Vehicles were large and powerful and boasted off-road capability rarely used by the average consumer who purchased them. Consumers wanted cars that could transport large amounts of cargo and lots of passengers. Cars and the engines that power them are shrinking and have become more fuel efficient. According to Edmunds Best-Selling Vehicles, the most popular models in 2000 were trucks. That same report from 2009 shows small passenger cars topping the list. According to the EPA, average fuel economy
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between 2000 and 2010 improved for the industry from 19.8 mpg to 22.5 mpg – a 14 percent improvement. Increasing numbers of consumers are also choosing smaller, fuel-sipping four-cylinders. The percentage of fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines increased from 31.7 percent to 48.4 percent between 2000 and 2010. Built-in navigation: TripTik gave way to MapQuest, which soon led to the first commercially available automotive navigation system in the late 1990s. According to Berg Insight Research, there are an estimated 150 million in-dash, aftermarket, compact personal and navigation-enabled mobile guidance devices used globally. Today, navigation systems are integrated into vehicles and are much more comprehensive. Creature comforts: Consumers today enjoy a more comfortable ride. Better interior materials, sleeker interior designs, heated and cooled seats that automatically adjust driver position, remote start and more storage capacity all offer more comfort and convenience. Customization: Responded to the trend of an increased desire for personalization, customers can now add features like ambient lighting colors that can be changed to fit the driver’s mood, driver’s seats with customizable settings that adjust automatically with the push of a button. Security: Keyless remotes, alarms and warning systems and anti-theft systems have come a long way toward making life on the go safer for many. For example, Ford and Lincoln vehicles come with technologies such as SYNC’s 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report, or MyKey, which allows parents to restrict vehicle speeds when a teen driver is behind the wheel. Intelligent Access with push-button start allows Ford or Lincoln drivers to start the engine by simply carrying the key fob as they approach and enter the vehicle. Paint colors: Brighter, more vibrant paint colors are edging their way into consumers’ hearts. Black and silver still top the list, but colors like lime green and bright yellow are making a rise. New paints mixed with glass or metal flecks have also changed the way cars look.
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he next decade will bring more revolutionary change for both the auto industry and American consumers. Look for higher gas prices, better lithium-ion batteries, alternative fuels, more advanced safety technologies and more connectivity such as vehicle-tovehicle systems that will allow vehicles to “talk” to each other via wireless communications embedded into the car.
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Ford C-Max Introduces 1.6-Liter EcoBoost Engine Delivering class-leading power and fuel economy while providing owners with the fun-to-drive quality “Driving enthusiasts have families, too, and C-MAX with EcoBoost is aimed squarely at meeting their needs,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president of Ford Global Product Programs. “It’s going to introduce a new type of customer to the joys of EcoBoost, and we’re confident the torque, flexibility and fuel economy mean C-MAX will set a high bar in this untapped North American market.” Technologies and results: A global Ford design, the lightweight, all-aluminum, 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine combines three technologies– high-pressure direct injection, lowinertia turbocharging and Ti-VCT– to create an advanced combustion system that brings new levels of performance and fuel efficiency to small four-cylinder engines. The success of Ford’s EcoBoost system lies in a combination of advanced hardware and a complex control system using hundreds of thousands of lines of computer code and related parameters. Through extensive research and testing, engineers have developed these proprietary software strategies integrating the engine, transmission and fuel management systems for dynamic driving. The turbocharger increases airflow in the engine to boost power, while centrally mounted direct injection helps enable more efficient fuel burn for better fuel economy. As with all EcoBoost engines, the 1.6-liter I-4 will produce maximum torque at relatively low engine speeds and maintain it across a broad range – estimated from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm, according to preliminary Ford data. “One of the key characteristics of an EcoBoost engine is its ability to produce peak torque across a very wide engine speed range,” said Andrew Brumley, chief program engineer. “Accelerating away from a stoplight and passing maneuvers require just a light press
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on the throttle to get the job done – the engine doesn’t have to spin to high rpm to generate the necessary power.” Working with the direct gasoline injection system, a state-of-theart turbocharger ensures virtually lag-free operation at all engine speeds. In service, the turbo spins at up to 200,000 rpm and is designed for a life cycle of 150,000 miles or 10 years. Turbocharger “whoosh” is mitigated by electronically controlled antisurge valves that proactively relieve the boost in the intake, which can range up to 17 psi. Careful software calibrations manage the pressures in the intake manifold, and an air-to-air intercooler lowers air temperature before it reaches the engine, resulting in a denser, cooler intake charge. The combustion system has been completely redesigned and reengineered to take advantage of the EcoBoost system’s increased performance. The cam-driven high-pressure mechanical fuel pump operates at up to 2,220 psi – more than 50 times the norm seen in a conventional I-4 engine. As demands on the turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine are increased, the control system responds to maintain optimal combustion, timing and injection duration. On each stroke, six individual jets on each fuel injector spray fuel directly into the combustion chamber, mixing with the incoming air. By bringing the fuel injector right into the combustion chamber, there’s no delay from the time the fuel is injected to when it’s used by the engine. The 1.6-liter engine uses centrally mounted fuel injectors located beside the spark plug at the top of the combustion chamber. When the fuel is injected into the cylinder, it evaporates and cools the air that’s been inducted into the cylinder. The centrally mounted injector also helps ensure optimum fuel mixing for peak power and lower emissions.
Driving enthusiasts have families, too, and C-MAX with EcoBoost is aimed squarely at meeting their needs. It’s going to introduce a new type of customer to the joys of EcoBoost, and we’re confident the torque, flexibility and fuel economy mean C-MAX will set a high bar in this untapped North American market.
Barb Samardzich Vice President, Ford Global Product Programs
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“Direct injection, particularly with a centrally mounted injector, allows for greater charge density,” explains Brumley. “The fuel doesn’t displace intake air as it does on a port injection engine, and we get improved fuel mixing. Technical terms aside, the result is more efficient combustion that the customer enjoys in the form of improved fuel economy.” Also aiding engine breathing is Ford’s advanced Ti-VCT techonology. This technology allows precise, variable timing control of both the intake and exhaust camshafts, which control the valve opening and closing events. Another benefit of Ti-VCT technology is a broadened torque curve. Because the Ti-VCT strategy allows the intake valve to be advanced, instant power is delivered on demand at low speeds. At higher speeds, the intake cam is retarded and higher airflows are available, which results in approximately a 10 percent power improvement versus non-VCT engines. The ability to vary the overlap between the intake and exhaust valves also leads to better fuel economy- about a three to four percent improvement from this strategy alone compared with non-VCT engines. Fuel economy also is aided by minimizing weight throughout the engine. The block, cylinder head and oil pan – traditionally
the heaviest engine components – are aluminum castings. To increase rigidity, these elements are ribbed for additional strength and durability. Pistons also are cast aluminum, helping to reduce reciprocating mass and adding to fuel efficiency. Composite material is used to keep intake manifold weight to an absolute minimum while allowing for induction routing to increase thermal efficiency and improve low-end torque. Global EcoBoost strategy: Since being introduced in 2009 on four vehicles – Ford Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS full-size sedans, Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT crossovers – EcoBoost engines have been specified by a growing proportion of customers. In addition, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine arrives in F-150 pickups in March. The addition of I-4 EcoBoost engines to the Ford lineup is a strong answer to consumer demand for engines of this size, which began in 2008. Approximately one-third of Ford’s U.S. engine volume is I-4, as customers want more fuel economy and lower emissions. EcoBoost engines help deliver performance on both fronts, reducing CO2 emissions compared to larger-displacement engines with similar power. Energy Leaders Today 37
SOL AR
INSIDE: THE SOLARAY CORPORATION, SUN FARM NETWORK, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GROUP, SUNLIGHT SOLAR ENERGY, RADIANCE SOLAR
EDITORIAL | SOLAR FORWARD
Shouting Out For Solar THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN SOLAR ENERGY
Jonathan Gosberg Principal, Gosberg Public Relations
PRIOR TO STARTING GOSBERG PUBLIC RELATIONS, JONATHAN WORKED IN PORTER NOVELLI’S NEW YORK OFFICE AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATE GROUP. GOSBERG’S BACKGROUND ALSO INCLUDES PUBLIC AFFAIRS, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, B2B, HEALTHCARE AND MEDIA RELATIONS
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As the global economy continues along the road to recovery, the current landscape has been challenging for the solar energy industry. Existing federal subsidies for solar power installation projects are due to expire at the end of the year, removing a key incentive for end-users to make an initial investment in sustainable energy. In addition, competition from China – fair and otherwise – has led many U.S. manufacturers to make drastic cuts to their manufacturing capabilities. That said, the future outlook for solar power is not all doom and gloom. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recently issued a report highlighting specific recommendations to meet growing U.S. energy needs. The report calls for changes that will increase economic competitiveness and environmental stewardship. More importantly, the report calls for a $10 billion increase in federal investment in research and development for innovative, energy-efficient technologies, as well as a review of existing subsidies and incentives. This is certainly good news, but this alone will not be enough to truly spur an industry. While no one can deny the growing global demand for energy, as well as the leaps and bounds being made in PV technologies, potential adopters of sustainable energies are still feeling the effects of the ongoing global economic crisis. In short – during challenging economic times, no one wants to take a perceived gamble. In order to change this perception and make gains on fossil fuels, the solar industry is going to have to proactively turn up the volume on promoting the latest innovations in high-performance, cost-effective technologies. Manufacturers of PV modules and module components are on the forefront of new and emerging technologies. As such, they are going to need to take immediate action to differentiate themselves from their peers and competitors in order to successfully bring their products to market. To drive business, these companies need to 1) create industry awareness surrounding their technology, and 2) make the business case. Sounds simple enough, right? Creating industry awareness PV module and component manufacturers
need to first create awareness, or “buzz” that will attract interest in their new technologies and their various applications. Whether that means thin-film module components or integrated solar shingle technology, one way to do this is to link the technology directly or indirectly to an over-arching issue that is important to an industry, as a whole. For example, environmental stewardship has become the industrial cause célèbre of our day. For example, if you have developed a cleaner, faster, and less expensive way to generate energy, you can then enter the environmental sustainability arena through various vehicles like media, tradeshows or Internet to add your two-cents and promote your stance on the matter. Clearly in favor of environmentally-friendly industrial practices, this will serve to solidify your position as a thought leader on the topic. Enough positive exposure in the right places including, but not limited to, strategically targeted trade publications, tradeshow dailies and association newsletters can even allow you to take ownership of the dialogue surrounding an issue, further increasing its visibility and inherent credibility. While daunting at times, it is only fitting to make use of available technology to promote emerging technology. In industries where peer opinion carries weight and people expect vital information at their fingertips, social media can have its place in the savvy marketing of new technologies. While this does not necessarily call for a presence on MySpace or Facebook, blogs, podcasts and discussion groups can all play an active part in providing important industry news and advice, increasing awareness of and interest in a new or emerging PV technology. In addition, industry blogs can be a useful tool for gleaning valuable information, helping to determine how best to communicate the benefits of PV technology to your customers. Careful monitoring and analysis of various industryspecific blogs can help reveal the priorities and concerns of targeted audiences. This can allow you to determine which performance benefits, such as cost efficiency or environmental sustainability are most important to your customers or potential customers. Even observing how specific audiences discuss these topics can be valuable information when honing your key messaging. While it does require valuable
SOLAR FORWARD | EDITORIAL
time and resources, when used effectively, blog monitoring can be like front-row seats to a series of diverse focus groups. Making the Business Case So now key decision makers are aware of your innovative PV technology. It’s on their radar screens and they’ve begun making inquiries. Their purse-strings, however, are still drawn shut. These potential customers are going to need a credible and compelling reason to invest in a new and relatively untested technology. What better way to do this than to show key decision makers the concrete gains that early adopters – possibly even their competitors – are making with your unique technology? Assuming that your technology delivers its performance promises – effectively generating low-cost power – you need to develop a case study, highlighting the various benefits associated with the use of your technology. For example, “Customer X utilizing Company A’s innovative PV module component technology has been able to supply a considerable portion of their building’s energy needs, recouping their initial investment and approaching grid parity. They have installed a dependable and sustainable source of power that will save them significant overhead for years to come. As a result, they have already begun talks with Company A to retrofit their other manufacturing facilities throughout North America with this new and dependable PV technology.” In addition to the obvious value of a good customer testimonial, such a story, clearly demonstrating the business case, can be leveraged in many ways. A solid case study can be used as a feature article in trade publications, trade show collateral, corporate website content, and sales literature, to list a few. A case study can also further serve to solidify relationships with featured customers – no small thing in today’s competitive marketplace. By creating positive industry awareness and then presenting a strong business case, PV module manufacturers, like your’s, can break the traditional sales cycle, start making some headway and begin identifying qualified sales leads. From a broader perspective, it is important to remember that the effective promotion of these technologies goes well beyond the simple success or failure of your company. The success of new and emerging PV technologies can have a profound effect on our economy, providing a much-needed shot in the arm for various industrial sectors, while also paving the way for future technological advancements.
In industries where peer opinion carries weight and people expect vital information at their fingertips, social media can have its place in the savvy marketing of new technologies. While this does not necessarily call for a presence on MySpace or Facebook, blogs, podcasts and discussion groups can all play an active part in providing important industry news and advice, increasing awareness of and interest in a new or emerging PV technology.
Jonathan Gosberg
Energy Leaders Today 41
CORPORATE PROFILE | SOLAR
THE SOLARAY CORPORATION as durable as the products they manufacture and sell edited by Joel Cornell
In the halls of the recent Solar Power International exhibition in Los Angeles, it was difficult to find a renewable manufacturer that has been in business as long as the warrantees it offers, let alone to find staff members that have been with the company for more than a couple of years. This is not the case for The Solaray Corporation’s seasoned team of solar professionals. But don’t bother looking in the conference directory, or asking around, because to the general public, the name TSC is an unknown entity. Instead, you are much more likely to find someone who knows the man behind TSC, Mr. Lawrence McCully Judd, better known as Cully. During the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, the young Cully Judd saw the future. In realizing oil was a losing proposition, hope was found when he and his father got their hands on a used solar water heating collector and started experimenting with ways to improve it. He also began sourcing the other parts and pieces to build complete systems for friends’ roofs. He hired a plumber to help with installs and convinced his then-girlfriend Carol Silva, now life partner, to help glaze the collectors he was manufacturing in Korea. Two years later he incorporated under The Solaray Corporation name, and soon after began doing business exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands as InterIsland Solar Supply (IISS). Judd quickly quit the contracting side of the business and began focusing exclusively the distribution of quality solar energy products to contractors. Judd’s appreciation for quality products drove him to the U.S. mainland to attend early solar 42 Winter 2010
trade shows where he established relationships with companies like Grundfos Pumps and Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) Solar, which IISS has done continuous business with through its many ownership changes from Siemens, Royal Dutch Shell and now SolarWorld. While the core of IISS’s business for many years has been solar water heating, it has been a leading PV distributor since the early 1980s. With business growing, Judd hired Rick Reed, now IISS president, as an assistant in 1982. The initial solar energy boom in the U.S., unfortunately, did not last beyond 1985. The solar water heating industry’s hasty growth—which included both excellent and abysmal products—was brought to a screeching halt in 1986 when Congress failed to extend the solar investment tax incentives. “It was an utter loss,” Judd said. “The United States gave up our momentum as the global leader in the utilization of renewable energy, and the solar industry was left with a black eye from which it is still recovering.” Weathering what Judd refers to as “the dark days of solar” has forever tainted his perception of the market. Although keeping its doors open was difficult, IISS began diversifying its product offering and quickly moved into the distribution of energy efficiency products and other complimentary lines which later resulted in the acquisition of TSC subsidiary Pacific Liquid and Air Systems. While IISS was struggling, most other solar companies around the country were failing. By 1990 the Hawaii market began to regain some traction and, for the first time in five long years, the
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Energy Leaders Today 43
CORPORATE PROFILE | SOLAR
“It is imperative that the industry continues to attract capital, increase its professionalism, develop more uniform standards and specifications and – most importantly– attract a new generation of talented ‘green collar’ workers.” PREVIOUS PAGE: Making the most of their rooftop, Waikiki Shores Hotel’s new commercial thermal installation. Photo courtesy of Solar Soo. BELOW: Inside SunEarth’s main net zero energy manufacturing building featuring natural daylighting, T-5 lighting, electric forklifts and waterless urinals. Outside features rooftop solar testing, drought tolerant and edible landscaping.
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future brightened. The dark days had meant opportunity for the then independently owned California solar thermal manufacturer named SunEarth. SunEarth was founded in 1978, and in 1987 acquired the manufacturing equipment and assets of bankrupt Acro Solar, one of the nation’s three largest manufacturers of liquid flat plate solar collectors from 1977 to 1985. Rights to the CopperHeart integral collector storage (ICS) technology were purchased from Sun Systems of Arizona in the early 1990s. Concurrent with these developments, TSC began to purchase SunEarth stock in 1988 and purchased the balance of the remaining common stock in 1992. TSC has independently operated SunEarth since that time. In 2001, after a modest decade of growth at home, Judd ventured to Germany to witness firsthand the solar boom starting there. This first pilgrimage to Freiberg reignited his faith. “With a little help from government in leveling the playing field, renewable technologies just might have a chance of competing with cheap and heavily subsidized fossil fuel based technologies,” Judd said. “If it could happen in Germany, where the solar resource was limited at best, then it could happen in the U.S., and I wanted to be ready for that day.” Judd’s sense of mission led to a decade of improvements at SunEarth including: the purchase of a five-acre parcel in Fontana, Calif.; the construction of a custom manufacturing
facility with expanded office space, rooftop solar testing and training room; and most recently, an expanded sales and engineering team. SunEarth more than quadrupled its production capacity from 2003 to 2009. Current capacity stands at approximately 85,000 liquid flat plate collectors per annum. In addition to a nationwide distribution network, SunEarth has established strategic partnerships with Rheem Manufacturing (U.S. and Australia) and Steca Controls of Germany. Realizing early on the importance of both local and national level energy policy, IISS was a founding member of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association in 1977 and has long supported president Rick Reed’s active role in the California Solar Energy Industry Association (CALSEIA). “While the U.S. solar industry, both thermal and photovoltaic, continues to struggle with its overdependence on inconsistent government and regulatory incentives, it is imperative that the industry continue to attract capital, increase its professionalism, develop more uniform standards and specifications and—most importantly—attract a new generation of talented ‘green collar’ workers,” Judd said. “All of these things are needed if we are to avoid a market crash similar to what we witnessed in 1986.” In 2007, industry veteran Ron Richmond joined the TSC team after completing twelve years at the Hawaiian Electric Company where he administered the nation’s most successful
SOLAR | CORPORATE PROFILE
Some of The Solaray Corporation’s 20-year plus team members: Owner, Cully Judd, middle flanked by left to right: Al Cassidy, purchasing; Brad Whitten, general manager; Alan Kihewa, warehouse; Mark Hertel, engineering; Louis Valenta, PV manager; Rick Reed, president; Kini Sofa, warehouse manager. Not pictured: Carol Silva, corporate secretary; Jim Garber, Big Island branch manager; Chuck Richardson, SunEarth production supervisor. Photo by Meleana Judd. Energy Leaders Today 45
CORPORATE PROFILE | SOLAR
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SOLAR | CORPORATE PROFILE
utility solar water heating program, as well as one of the nation’s first net-metering programs. With changing policy, new financing options, net energy metering and feed-in tariffs on the horizon in Hawaii, solar water heating and PV are more affordable than ever. TSC’s experienced and cohesive senior management team is well equipped to navigate the complex dynamics of today’s renewable energy markets. TSC is entering its fifth decade in renewables. The corporation’s growth has largely been fueled by Cully Judd’s mission to reduce the country’s dangerous dependence on polluting fossil fuels. Climate change has only deepened his conviction that the time for clean energy is now. The three TSC operating companies now have a dedicated team of 70 staff focused on customer service, technical support, vendor relationships and providing excellent value for their customers. Abundant sunshine, high energy costs and Hawaii’s continuing dependency on oil for generating electricity make Inter-Island Solar Supply’s role and mission even more critical. Hawaii remains the nation’s per capita leader in solar water heating installations, and the PV
market is experiencing unprecedented growth. Between its operations in California, Oahu and Maui, TSC companies maintain more than 135,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing and warehouse space and $10 million in inventory. Despite the high cost of doing business in Hawaii, TSC’s scale allows it to offer extremely competitive pricing. After 35 years in business, Inter-Island Solar Supply remains one of the nation’s preeminent full-line distributors of quality solar thermal and PV systems and components. While the U.S. mainland solar thermal market, especially in states like California that enjoy cheap natural gas, continues as a challenge for TSC, there is good news for SunEarth. California is now providing gas and electric ratepayer funded incentives for the installation of residential, multi-family and commercial solar water heating systems. In today’s world of climate change, energy and resource insecurity and gyrating energy prices, the proven capability of The Solaray Corporation family of companies to outperform the competition makes this group more attractive than ever before. ELT
ABOVE: An aerial view of a military housing project, all units complete with solar water heating. TOP LEFT: The Solar Corporation wants the world to know that renewable energy, and this typical residential flat plate collector solar system is patriotic. Photo courtesy of Solar Living, Inc. TOP RIGHT: Judd and daughters in front of SunEarth’s Solar Hot Water vs. PV demonstration installation. Remainder of SunEarth’s 175 kW PV array and solar testing facility in background. BOTTOM: One of Inter-Island’s long time customers places orders and gets help at InterIsland Solar Supply’s Honolulu counter- perhaps the most complete a la carte one-stop-solar-shop for contractors in the nation.
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CORPORATE PROFILE | SOLAR
Industry Pioneer delivers Solar for the Rest of Us.
48 Winter 2010
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Sun Farm Network: Solar for the Rest of Us INDUSTRY PIONEER MAKES SOLAR AFFORDABLE by Jane Caffrey
Imagine calling the local utility to order power for your new home and being told it would cost $50,000. They say, “We have estimated your electricity usage for the next thirty years. Pay in advance and we’ll be glad to hook you up. Cash or check?” And that, according to Mark Warner, CEO of Sun Farm Network, is the primary problem with solar energy. “If customers had to buy their electricity from the utility in one lump sum, few people would be able to afford it. To make solar energy available to everyday consumers, we have to change the way they pay for it.” Founded in 2002, Sun Farm Network was the first company in New Jersey to offer a financing solution that made solar systems universally affordable. “Everyone else was selling solar the way you OPPOSITE PAGE: Visible from space, the Duke Farms’ solar array will power their entire property including their educational showcase on sustainability and environmental stewardship. LEFT: Mark Warner is CEO and driving force behind Sun Farm Network’s mission to make solar affordable.
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sell washing machines - big lump sum, install and forget.” Warner said. “That’s not the way most people want to buy their electricity. So we combined the solar system with a long term support plan by introducing a utilitylike model that eliminates up-front costs and allows customers to pay for systems in monthly installments. We cracked the code on to how to make solar as convenient as utility power. When we do that, everyone wants it.” Warner has extensive experience creating business models and finance strategies for new technology. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he was actively involved in market development for the fast moving telecommunications 50 Winter 2010
industry and the emerging market of distributed computing. “There’s a lot of overlap with work I did during the deregulation of the telecommunications industry and what is happening now in the energy space,” Warner said. Warner said that solar power, like cell phone and internet technology in its infancy, is a solid technology that has yet to be adopted by the mainstream market due to a lack of business models, marketing strategies and financial solutions that make it universally affordable and compelling. Creating those strategies and fostering widespread adoption of solar energy is Sun Farm Network’s core mission.
“We’re trying to design solar for a large-scale mainstream market. We can make solar available for everybody, not just the rich guys. It’s solar for the rest of us,” Warner said. His passion for sustainable energy was reinforced when New Jersey passed the Global Warming Response Act, a 2007 law mandating the reduction of the state’s carbon dioxide footprint by 80 percent by 2050. “By the time my 10-year-old son is my age, New Jersey will need to eliminate almost all fossil fuel use – for electricity, heating, and transportation,” Warner said. “The sheer magnitude of that problem means that we have to get almost every man, woman, and child in the state of
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New Jersey involved in sustainable energy.” For Warner, a focus on mainstream markets is the key to making renewable energy a significant part of America’s overall energy portfolio. While Warner is a strong believer in wind power and other sustainable sources, he maintains that solar energy has a special role to play in the industry. “Imagine that you could design the perfect energy source. It would be completely clean, indefinitely renewable, ubiquitously available to everyone and generated right at home near the point of use,” he said. “That’s exactly what solar energy is – a huge resource that is truly sustainable, and it has the added benefit of
delivering maximum power at times of peak demand. Technically, solar energy is rock solid. All we need are the business models and finance solutions that will let it take off.” And that is where Sun Farm Network has chosen to focus its innovative efforts. Warner’s founding goal eight years ago was, and still is, to achieve mainstream scale. Once the company developed a solar financing solution that eliminated up-front investment, demand for the company’s solution spread like wildfire. The company has been one of the fastest growing solar companies in the state, and in recent years has been sustaining triple-digit growth. Today, it employs about 25 solar professionals and
ABOVE: Speaking to local busnessmen and women, Mark Warner preaches, “Solar is for everybody, not just rich guys.”
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THIS PAGE: (TOP) New Jersey businesses reduce energy costs and hedge future utility increases by going solar. (BOTTOM LEFT & RIGHT) Houses of worship made their sustainability commitments real through a Sun Farm Network solar installation. OPPOSITE PAGE: Sun Farm Network creates New Jersey jobs that can’t be outsourced.
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continues to lead the market in the development of new solutions. The company has installed hundreds of systems across New Jersey, and currently manages the largest aggregated base of financed solar systems on the East Coast. Warner said the company’s success is based on its deep understanding of state policies, needs of project investors and market development dynamics. “We have been able to keep both our customers and our investors on the cutting edge by understanding not just what was happening, but why,” he said. As part of inventing new financing solutions, Sun Farm Network was the first to buy and sell Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) in New Jersey. SRECs are sellable commodities which, under state regulations, are generated by solar power systems in addition to electrical energy. The company has been active in developing a market for these commodities,
which can generate substantial revenue for solar system owners. The state has transitioned from pay-up-front incentives like rebates to a larger, more scalable framework based on competitive markets. The solar industry in New Jersey is installing about one coal plant a year of solar capacity. And based on recently passed legislation, the state will build about five nuclear plants worth of solar power by 2026. “Under the market-based structures that we helped pioneer, in just over a decade solar systems in New Jersey will produce more electricity per year than the Hoover Dam,” said Warner. “New Jersey has developed a market system that will scale, and we are proud to have been part of making it accessible to everyday customers.” This market leadership has earned Sun Farm Network an active role in state program development, and the company currently sits on the New Jersey Renewable Energy Committee and
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works closely with state administrators on new legislation and policy development. In 2008, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recognized the company’s leadership with the coveted “Clean Markets Innovator of the Year” award. Although fluent in the needs of investors and the broader issues of public policy, Warner remains focused on the practicalities of delivering financing solutions that enable ‘solar for the rest of us.’ Warner said, “These government programs can be complicated and working with utilities and project investors is not for the faint of heart. Our success as a solar company comes from translating all these solar market details into simple, compelling solutions that are easy to use. We make solar energy a sound and immensely satisfying business decision.” 54 Winter 2010
The success of Sun Farm Network can be seen in the hundreds of projects completed by the company across a wide range of market segments. While much of the company’s current focus is on large commercial projects, Sun Farm Network’s financial expertise helped open entirely new segments. Warner is especially proud of the work the company has done to bring solar to New Jersey farms and the faithbased community. “As a result of our work with the New Jersey Farm Bureau, we have installed solar on more New Jersey farms than any other company in the industry,” Warner said. Interest in the company’s solar solutions has been just as strong in the faith-based community, “Working with our partner Greenfaith, we have installed solar on
more houses of worship than the entire rest of the industry combined. These congregations saw sustainability as a matter of faith. Going solar was a way to make their stewardship commitments real, and we are proud to have helped make it possible for them.” Warner was recognized for his innovative work and commitment to these inspirational community-leading projects by Greenfaith in 2007. He says these segments are especially challenging, yet rewarding, and their success in those markets has paved the way for new innovations. “Solar is exploding in New Jersey, and we are developing new solutions that take ‘solar for the rest of us’ to a whole new level,” Warner said.
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Unlike utility power, where costs fluctuate with fuel prices, solar provides predictable, fixed-price energy over its thirty-year lifetime. “By increasing the solar component in New Jersey’s energy supply, we are helping contain energy costs for the entire state. We are starting to grow in a whole new way.” As an example of that expanded direction, Sun Farm network is currently working with the Duke Farms Foundation, a large family estate and nonprofit organization. Duke Farms is undergoing a massive renovation, re-purposing the property as an educational showcase for sustainability. An extensive solar farm, covering 2.6 acres and producing 640 kilowatts, will power the entire facility. “We are proud of our work with Duke Farms,
and this project has given us a chance to push the boundaries of what it means to be 100 percent sustainable,” Warner said. Whether it’s financial problem solving, opening new markets, or breakthrough solar showcases, Warner hopes to keep his company focused on the strategic goal of making mainstream solar energy a reality. “We have proven that if combined with smart market strategies and practical financing solutions, solar can become a large scale market serving thousands of customers,” he said. While already a widely respected and wellestablished pioneer of the Garden State’s solar market, Sun Farm Network is hard at work breaking new ground in its mission to bring solar to the rest of us. ELT
TOP: Sun Farm Network is a market leader of large scale ground arrays on New Jersey farms. BOTTOM PHOTOS: Homes, farms, small businesses, and houses of worship all benefited from “Solar Pays,” Sun Farm Network’s original financial mechanism. All photos courtesy of Sun Farm Network.
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Sustainable Energy Group Proving Solar and Energy Efficiency Can Be Cost-Effective Sustainable Energy Group Inc. is a Grass Valley, Calif. company providing complete solar and energy efficiency services from initial consultation, through design, construction and servicing. Their specialty is finding the most cost-effective alternatives to meet a given customer's needs and budget - a crucial plus in these challenging economic times. "Some folks just hire us for a consultation,” said owner Ray Darby. “Given the range of services we offer, we can give them a good qualitative sense of their best options in a short amount of time. If they like, we can also give them a quantitative assessment of the costs and benefits of a wide range of alternatives." While Darby always recommends customers get competitive bids, he isn't concerned that it might result in less work. "We've developed a pretty sharp pencil and lowered our overhead over the years, so we stay
pretty busy. Besides, most of our work comes through referrals from happy past customers,” Darby said. Sustainable Energy Group is licensed to provide general, electrical and plumbing contracting services. In addition to consulting they design and install solar thermal systems, solar PV systems with and without battery backup, hydronic (hot water) radiant floor and baseboard systems, advanced (high efficiency) evaporative cooling systems, and provide a variety of building performance contracting services. With less than a dozen employees on payroll, the company is small by most standards. But that doesn't keep them from the larger projects. "We have a number of out of work contractors in the area, some I've known for 30 years; so if we need more man-power, help is just a phone call away," said Darby.
While Ray himself is up on the details associated with today's energy technologies - from the underlying science, to the hands-on nuts and bolts, to the economics. "The benefit of our group is the depth of expertise we have under one roof. For example Dave's background in electronics and construction really helps when it comes to complex electronic control systems,” said Darby. Darby is a licensed mechanical engineer and has specialized in energy efficiency and solar energy since 1978. As a consulting energy engineer over the past 32 years he's helped thousands of building owners in 34 states and around the world find their most cost-effective energy options. Darby, also known as The Energy Guy, has a popular web site by the same name offering a comprehensive assortment of pages and links related to sustainable energy. After working closely with contractors over the years, it was a natural evolution to start Sustainable Energy Group, a design/build firm, in 2004. He began his career as a technical assistant in developing the Passive Solar Handbook for California under the direction of Phillip Niles, a recognized solar pioneer by the American Solar Energy Society. Through that project he was introduced to the "who's who" of people in the industry, including managers from the California Energy Commission who he's worked LEFT: From left to right, Dave Stokes, Jake Von Schoff and Brian Bookout of Sustainable Energy Group out on a recent job with Darby‘s all-electric vehicle behind them. Darby has been driving electric for 13 years, powering the car and his home with solar energy. OPPOSITE: A dormatory in Squaw Valley, Calif. with a combined space and domestic hot water system (upper row of collectors) and solar PV (lower row of collectors). The collectors are mounted on a 45-degree metal roof so they can easily shed snow and collect energy all winter long as the area has a 212 pounds per sq. ft. snow load. The steep roof and three-story building height made for an especially challenging installation.
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ABOVE: Sustainable Energy Group groundmounted solar arrays are designed and installed to help facilitate regular maintenance washing as dust and pollen can reduce power production by five percent or more. With roof-mounted arrays, they attach all the cabling under the panels to allow easy removal of leaves and pine needles with a leaf blower, something Darby says few other installers take the time to do. BOTTOM: (LEFT) An example of the company‘s innovative, cost-saving approach is this home they retroffited with a reconditioned 500-gallon solar storage tank and 12 4x10 used solar collectors. The drainback system was designed to heat a hydronic radiant floor and the homeowner’s hot water on a shoe-string budget. Collectors are tilted to facilitate drainback. Deciduous Blue Oak trees allow winter heating but prevent excessive summertime heat gain. “What sets us apart from other companies is a focus on how to better serve a customer‘s specific situation, needs and budget,” said Darby. (RIGHT) This pool heating system, designed by Darby in 1982, used plastic pool collectors (absorbers) inside a metal frame with corrugated fiberglass glazing on top. After 28 years, when the plastic absorbers began to leak and the glazing yellowed and turned brittle, the homeowner got bids to replace them. Darby cleaned and repainted the frames, replaced the absorbers and installed clear double glazed Lexan cover glazings, saving the customer over half the cost of replacing them.
with on and off over the years. The Commission has awarded Darby with the coveted Superior Accomplishment Award twice; the first time in 1999 for his work in helping develop Sustainable Building Design Guidelines for state buildings and again in 2001 for his efforts helping to resolve California's peak electricity crisis. He has worked with state and federal energy offices, California's gas and electric utilities and other top experts in his field on a wide variety of endeavors over the years including research and development, building energy code development, sustainable design guidelines for state buildings and schools and training energy managers in school facilities. Because of his long history with solar water heating, including serving as the Energy Commissions point-person on solar, he served on the board of the national Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) and chaired the Standards Committee. From the very beginning of his career, Darby recognized the value of the practical, handson knowledge of contractors and installers. "I was introduced to the concept of engineer versus contractor early on,” said Darby. “Contractors typically complain about an engineers' lack of practicality – 'Do they have any idea what this will cost?' - while engineer's complain about how contractor's are so stuck on the way they always do things they never want to change.” Darby took it upon himself to bridge the gap by working elbow to elbow with contractors from the design phase through construction. He and his company are staunch supporters of what's referred to as the "Design Team Approach", wherein the customer, contractor and designer work together from the beginning to meld the needs of the customer with the knowledge and expertise of both designer and builder. ELT Energy Leaders Today 59
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Powering Buildings. Empowering People. Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc has been committed to providing the highest quality grid-tied solar electric and solar thermal installation for over 20 years throughout the northeast and beyond. by Joel Cornell
“Investing in solar energy is appealing to people for multiple reasons,” said Sunlight Solar Energy’s Outreach and Public Relations Director, Carolyn Humphreys. “Given the limitations of their current energy strategy, it’s no wonder Americans are choosing to go solar in record numbers. Our team is excited to do a job that saves our neighbors money over the years, reduces our CO2 levels and eliminates the need for fuel, and all of its associated costs. These benefits are what drive our national growth, projected to be 40 percent a year for the next decade.” Sunlight Solar Energy, founded in 1988 by the company’s president, Paul Israel, is committed to bringing about the solar revolution. This doesn’t simply mean bringing their products and services to the market. The company and its six branches across Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania are ultimately dedicated to delivering the awareness, knowledge and affordable services and products to all people, in all markets, in all regions. “The incentives and benefits range so widely from state to state and have a profound impact upon where and how we are able to bring solar energy to people,” said Systems Designer Ryan Fitzsimmons. “Here in Massachusetts, we have some great state incentives that help significantly reduce the costs of solar when combined with federal incentives. Currently, there’s a
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Given the limitations of their current energy strategy, it’s no wonder Americans are choosing to go solar in record numbers. Carolyn Humphreys Sunlight Solar Energy’s Outreach and Public Relations Director
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Although in the past the upfront investment posed some challenges for folks without enough liquidity or home equity, new financing options, including unsecured loans, have eliminated this impediment for the majority of investors. This is good news in states with high electricity rates because with low risk and a high rate of return, it’s a wise investment, and people know that. Carolyn Humphreys Sunlight Solar Energy’s Outreach and Public Relations Director
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state rebate up to $8,500, along with a $1,000 tax credit for home and business owners who tie their solar system into the grid. Additionally, there is a system in place that allows solar energy system owners to earn carbon credits from their solar array. The current standard trading equivalency is one carbon credit for one megawatt. Those who earn enough carbon credits can then sell them to local manufacturers or production companies who need to offset their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits. In selling these carbon credits, solar array owners can generate anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 a year. That’s on top of what they’re already saving from being tied in to the grid and having virtually no electricity bill to worry about.” In providing solar electric, solar hot water and solar pool heating products and services, Sunlight Solar Energy is ideally poised to help bring the U.S. into the solar age. Back when the company was founded in 1988, the main solar market consisted of off grid systems and smaller units ideal for sail boats or RVs. Sunlight Solar Energy was a part of the early movement in Oregon that started connecting solar energy systems into the local power grid. Since then, both Sunlight Solar Energy and the solar industry at large have exploded across the country. “I began with the company in 2006, when I purchased a solar system and made my passive solar home an active solar home as well,” said Humphreys. “The more I learned about solar energy, the more I fell in love with the technology and the financial and environmental opportunities it makes available. Like so many others over these past few
OPENING SPREAD: (LEFT) Joey Jorwart, Thermal Division director, is having a good time installing a 5.4 kW pole mount PV system. These pole mounts are seasonally adjustable to optimize energy production year round. (RIGHT) Carolyn Humphreys at the Live Green CT! event, sharing solar info. THIS PAGE: (LEFT) Paul Israel, president (BELOW) Jerome Prince, installer, and Kevin Reis, YouthBuild student, review the basics of solar installation on a newly finished solar roof model. Students of YouthBuild, a program that provides job skill training for young adults who dropped out of school, built the roof model with the help of Sunlight Solar installers during an educational partnership that prepares students for careers in green energy. OPPOSITE PAGE: Neil Rasmussen’s 5.4 kW ground mount system in Concord, Mass.
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years, I see solar energy as a way out of a lot of our national, and even individual, quandaries. People in Connecticut are truly tired of paying the second highest rates in the continental United States. They’ve experienced unacceptable rate increases over the last decade and they are generally thrilled to find out they have another choice. It requires being proactive. Yet, once your solar equipment is paid off, the energy it produces is free. People like free and they like clean and renewable too.” For Sunlight Solar Energy, a main mission is the education of energy consumers. As a
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SunPower Premier dealer, their employees, installers and designers have had some of the best training on solar energy available. And though they were very honored to receive the Sunpower “Intelegant Award for Excellence” in design, aesthetics and customer satisfaction, they don’t exclusively install SunPower or any other single line of products. They realize that every state, home, site and owner is unique, and thus requires a system specifically customized to fit those needs. “We appreciate that solar energy is often a new topic. We also know some folks have been
interested in solar energy for years and have thoroughly researched the subject, coming to us with considerable knowledge,” said Humphreys. “With this in mind, we try to be appropriate with the amount of technical language we use. If someone is just starting out, we might talk more about what portion of their utility bill a system might replace rather than its size, using terms like kilowatts. Of course we give a greater amount of technical detail to engineers, builders, architects and anyone who wishes it.” The scope of Sunlight Solar Energy’s services extend past installing, designing and servicing
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We take our customers through a three-stage process to discover what their perfect system will require... the finer details don’t necessarily mean anything to some home or business owners, and we try and customize not only their system, but their experience as well.
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Carolyn Humphreys Sunlight Solar Energy’s Outreach and Public Relations Director,
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The incentives and benefits range so widely from state to state and have a profound impact upon where and how we are able to bring solar energy to people Here in Massachusetts, we have some great state incentives that help significantly reduce the costs of solar when combined with federal incentives.
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Ryan Fitzsimmons System Designer
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PREVIOUS PAGE: Sunpower’s “Intelegant Award for Excellence” in design, aesthetics and customer satisfaction was given to Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc. for the Durno Residence in Westport, Conn. THIS PAGE: (LEFT) Ryan Fitzsimmons, PV system designer, Sunlight Solar Energy, Mass. (BOTTOM LEFT) Ray and Patricia Robinson stand in front of their 3.68kW system in Wareham, Mass. that Sunlight Solar installed in 2009. (CENTER) Rick Dryer of Waterton expresses his joy at owning a solar PV array. (RIGHT) Dan Albert of Marblehead, Mass. Dan Albert’s 6.3 kW PV system is estimated to cover approximately 120 percent of his annual electric usage and will provide his home with free, renewable energy for decades to come. OPPOSITE PAGE: The Sunlight Solar Energy team knows that most people’s home is their single largest investment. Great design means making sure they offer systems that are built both for optimal performace and optimal aesthetics to increase the value of that investment as much as possible. SunPower’s truly all-black panels allowed the Yarmoff family to produce the clean renewable energy they wanted, beautifully.
solar thermal and solar hot water systems for both the residential and commercial sectors. Besides their additional solar pool heating and solar space heating services, Sunlight Solar Energy is very active in promoting sustainability in general throughout the communities in their states. Employee involvement is widespread. All of their Systems Designers, like Fitzsimmons, go to local libraries to talk and answer questions on the finer points of solar energy systems. Humphreys was also a member of the Energy Working Group for the governor-elect’s Transition Team Policy Committee, a group formed to advise the new Connecticut governor on strategies to bring energy costs down and to increase the deployment of renewable energy. The staff ’s commitment to operating sustainably and promoting energy efficiency in addition to renewable energy is well known. Coworkers encourage one another and their communities to reduce, reuse and recycle. Paper products made with 100 percent post-consumer waste, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and elemental chlorine free use 100 percent fewer trees, 42 percent less energy, 46 percent less water and produce 37 percent fewer green house gas emissions. Uniforms and logoed garments are made from organic and/or environmentally
sensitive materials. Gifts and giveaways are preferable if they have fewer travel miles, are organic, fair-trade, and/or shade grown. They drive a fleet of hybrid Toyota Prius and fuel efficient Sprinter vans because hybrids typically reduce gasoline consumption by roughly 30 percent. Much of the staff walks, rides bikes, takes public transit or carpools whenever possible. The company’s efforts were most recently recognized by the New Haven Land Trust and the Milford Environmental Hall of Fame. So far, Sunlight Solar’s greatest hurdles have been policy and program based, often having more to do with previously inconsistent incentives and limited financing options. “This recent economic downturn has made people far more interested in solar energy,” Humphreys said. “Most current energy strategies don’t have any kind of payback. As money gets tighter, people are looking at their electricity bills in a more critical way. They want protection from rising utility rates, and they’d also like to be less dependent on foreign oil. It doesn’t hurt that we mitigate air, water and land pollution and provide new jobs either. Although in the past the upfront investment posed some challenges for folks without enough liquidity or home equity, new financing options,
including unsecured loans, have eliminated this impediment for the majority of investors. This is good news in states with high electricity rates because with low risk and a high rate of return, it’s a wise investment, and people know that. It’s only a matter of making sure predictable and consistent state and federal incentives last just long enough until we don’t need them. In the past, we saw ample lip service but perhaps not enough adoption of the solar policies that have been working in other states and countries. But with the swearing in of our new governor, Dan Malloy, we are optimistic this will change. He is very knowledgeable about, and committed to, clean energy. And as the technology becomes increasingly cost effective, with material costs continuing to go down, we, too, are looking forward to the end of subsidies.” Across the country, Sunlight Solar Energy is working hard and working smart to bring solar opportunities to every home or business owner interested. In working closely with the client to establish exactly what they need and how they can help, the company’s scope and detail oriented service has been an important contributor to changing some Americans from passive energy consumers to active producers of clean renewable energy. ELT Energy Leaders Today 67
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solar | corporate profile
A Radian future for So ar by Juan Stewart
Radiance Solar, an Atlanta-based turnkey solar company is committed to designing, developing and installing solar systems across the state of Georgia and the southeast. Since its inception in 2008, James Marlow, founder and CEO, has devoted much of his energy to building Radiance Solar’s three-fold focus: people, planet, and profits. These three words are the basis of the company and the focus of Marlow’s vision for Radiance Solar. Marlow has been interested in solar since he was in high school, yet this former candidate for the U.S. Congress didn’t decide to pursue the a career in the solar industry fulltime until 2008 and he admits that he wished he had decided to focus solely on solar a lot quicker than he did. A challenge that he had with Radiance Solar was truly defining the business, because they wanted to do wind, solar and geothermal. But as a small startup, Marlow knew the importance of having an effective market entry strategy and wanted the company to have a clear niche and focus. “Although the company wrestled with the direction it would take during its early days,” he said, “We had to make a strategic decision and when it came down to it, when we (Radiance Solar) wake up in the morning, we are thinking about solar.” THIS PAGE & NEXT: Clements and Sweet Law Firm, Atlanta, Ga. John and Midge Sweet partnered with Radiance Solar to build one of Downtown Atlanta’s first solar PV systems. As one of the first law firms in Georgia to adopt renewable energy, the Sweets will realize substantial energy savings and will be able to promote the firm’s sustainability by reducing their environmental footprint with this 10kW SunPower solar PV array system. The Sweets are lifelong environmental leaders and are working to stop coal plant expansion in the southeast. The League of Conservation Voters is located in their building.
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At Radiance Solar, we have high standards for aesthetics and functionality. We really want the systems to look elegant and well integrated in the home or business of our client. James Marlow Radiance Solar Founder & CEO Radiance does both solar PV as well as solar thermal, but due to the cost drop of solar panels and the significantly improved return on investment, Marlow said that Radiance Solar customers are demanding more PV installations right now then they are solar thermal. In addition to the drop in price, Marlow attributes the decline of solar thermal demand to the drop in price of natural gas which he said “lengthened the payback on solar thermal projects.” Marlow’s primary role in day-to-day activities includes sales and marketing. He lobbies for the energy industry in Georgia, while Jamie Porges, Radiance’s COO manages the installation, construction and operations. Marlow enjoys being out on the roof, but these days the demands of the office do not allow him to be out with the installation crews as much as he would like. Despite tumultuous economic times, Radiance Solar has come out on top celebrating is third year anniversary by embracing a backlog of over 30 projects. As far as residential installations go, most systems are around six kW. There are a few crucial steps that Radiance Solar takes before installation. Understanding the clients’ goals is probably the most important. Then, the company can determine what the costs and investment will be. They also use satellite images and conduct a site visit to determine topographic conditions, such as how much shade there is on the site. Finally they prepare a preliminary proposal for the client and draft a contract. “At Radiance Solar we have high standards for aesthetics and functionality,” Marlow said. We really want the systems to look
STITES & HARBISON, PLLC Stites & Harbison, PLLC (Stites) is a preeminent law firm based in strategic southeastern locations and sought by business and institutional clients nationwide for sophisticated transactions, difficult litigation and complex regulatory matters. In addition to providing traditional legal services, Stites recognizes the importance of renewable energy and sustainability. In response, Stites developed a Sustainability & Emerging Technologies (SET) Group that takes a multi-disciplinary approach to provide legal services to the renewable energy and sustainability industries. To this end, Stites has assembled a team that offers diverse backgrounds, expertise and perspectives on the renewable energy industry. Stites draws on its SET Group to provide legal service to emerging solar companies such as Radiance Solar. In that regard, Radiance Solar can depend on Stites to provide responsive and high-quality legal services for both general business and finance needs as well as issues unique to solar companies. Specifically, SET has assisted Radiance with regard to financing transactions and in structuring solar panel projects. Stites recognizes the importance of contributing to the renewable energy and sustainability fields. The firm provides volunteer services and financial backing to several groups active in the renewable energy and sustainably fields, such as the USGBC and GSEA (Georgia Solar Energy Association). For more information about Stites, please visit www.stites.com or contact Allen Bradley directly at abradley@stites. com.
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elegant and well integrated in the home or business of our client. We want to determine the best products, panels, mounting systems, monitoring systems, screws, etc. to make sure that the project stands the test of time, lasting over 25 years. Solar panel technology is over 50 years old, and they are made to last.” Compared to larger companies, Radiance Solar is focused on the southeastern U.S., and they partner with larger companies so there is no direct competition for larger projects outside the area. They maintain great working relationships with larger firms. With a focus on state-of-the-art and worldclass installations Radiance has some impressive projects under its belt. Partnering with national solar panel manufacturers SunPower and Suniva, the company has seen exponential growth each year of operation. “We are currently completing a project that is one of the most advanced and largest commercial rooftop retail mixed use buildings in Georgia,” Marlow said. “East Decatur Station includes a 147 kilowatt PV system.” The company also completed the largest solar hot water system project in the state at the Manheim Auto Auction. Residentially they completed a model home at the Serenbe Community. Radiance Solar is also completing a project at the new student center on the Georgia Tech campus that will include solar hot water and solar PV. Although Georgia is in the heart of the southeastern U.S., it is not one of the leaders in what can be described as a solar epidemic. Marlow sees this as a problem that will have to be fixed by the politicians in Washington and in state capitals. “Some things that could speed up the industry include a national renewable/clean energy standard,” Marlow said. “As of now, 29 states have laws that require utilities to purchase a certain percentage of their energy as clean energy, and Radiance would like the number to expand to all 50 states.” Marlow continued, saying that the company would like to have power purchase agreements across 50 states and that as of now, only about 20 states allow it. “Radiance is also pushing for national consistency in rebate incentives,” he said. “It THIS PAGE: Persimmon Creek Vineyards, Rabun County, Ga. Co-owners Mary Ann and William “Sonny” Hardman partnered with Atlanta-based Radiance Solar to install an eight-kilowatt solar system on the roof of their winery. Persimmon Creek is the first Georgia vineyard to make an investment in solar energy, and one of the very few in the southeast to incorporate renewable energy into a vineyard’s operations. OPPOSITE PAGE: Cox Enterprises Manheim Water Conservation Center, Atlanta, Ga. The Cox 40 collector AET System with 2,000 gallons of storage is the Georgia’s largest commercial solar hot water system at the Manheim facility in Atlanta. The system offsets more than 50 percent of the facility’s hot water heating needs and reduces Manheim’s environmental impact. The Manheim system is an example of the type of best-in-class installation that Radiance Solar’s customers can expect.
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will allow for better business planning and increase overall sales. North Carolina has a better incentive than Georgia. Alabama has no incentive at all. These situations need to be eliminated with nationwide standards.” The U.S. Solar Institute highlights a need for solar installers across the board, there are a plethora in California and Colorado, fewer on the East Coast. As Radiance Solar hires new people that are less experienced with solar, the company plans to have an intensive training plan and a mentoring program to ensure that they are well trained, safe, and using best practices. “We have employees with experience working around the globe. Taylor Hollis, the lead designer and energy engineer, has worked on projects in Portugal and California. And Danny Rubin, the project manager worked in Colorado. The electrical team has worked on hundreds of projects across the southeast.” For educational purposes, they support NABSEP as the current standard for training in solar certification, and the company takes advantage of local training programs to ensure their staff is qualified and knowledgeable in their area of work. As Radiance continues to grow, there will be ongoing training programs. The personnel management of Radiance Solar includes a business development and marketing team as well as an installation team. “Typically employees enter the company being more talented in one area than another,” Marlow said. “We provide them with the tools they need to follow their passions and pursue their specialty.” Room for growth for the employees is available, each person that worked in the introductory stages now has ownership in the company, they have become a trusted source for solar. The company is very profitable. Marlow predicts there will be around a 20 percent annual decrease in the cost of installations over the next couple years. With the panels already seeing a decrease in price, he predicts the solar industry will follow similar trend pattern as the personal computer, flat panel televisions and cell phones soon becoming standard within the energy industry. Whether this prediction holds true or not, Radiance Solar is a company built on a strong foundation and has leader with the knowhow and work ethic to make sure it succeeds. ELT
THIS PAGE: Solar installation for The Nest at Serenbe, an energy-efficient EarthCraft model home. It is currently serving as a laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program. The Nest’s first model home is providing data on the cost savings and energy efficiency resulting from its next-level environmental measures which includes a solar PV array installed by Radiance Solar.
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WIND
INSIDE: OREGON’S LARGEST WIND PROJECT, EUOPEAN WIND DEVELOPMENTS
spotlight | wind
Department of Energy Finalizes Loan Guarantee to Support Oregon’s Largest Wind Project 845-Megawatt Wind Facility Will Create Hundreds of Jobs and Avoid Over 1.2 Million Tons of Carbon Dioxide Annually U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Dec. 20 that a partial loan guarantee for a $1.3 billion loan has been finalized to support the world’s largest wind farm. The loan will finance the Caithness Shepherds Flat project, an 845-megawatt wind generation facility located in eastern Oregon sponsored by Caithness Energy, LLC and GE Energy Financial Services. The Department of Energy, through the Loan Programs Office, has issued loan guarantees or offered conditional commitments for loan guarantees to support 16 clean energy projects totaling nearly $16.5 billion. Together, the 16 projects total over 37 million megawatt-hours of capacity, which will produce enough clean energy to power over 3.3 million homes. “Renewable energy investments like these are creating jobs while helping to maintain America’s global competitiveness in the clean energy economy,” said Secretary Chu. “By leveraging our nation’s vast natural resources, we can help provide alternative sources of energy and stimulate economic growth and job creation.” The Caithness Shepherds Flat project is the sixth Recovery Act-supported project to close and the largest to date to receive a loan guarantee under the Financial Institution Partnership Program (FIPP). The $1.3 billion loan is funded by a group of 26 institutional investors and commercial banks led by Citi, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., RBS Securities and WestLB Securities, Inc. The closing of this transaction reflects the market acceptability of the loan guarantee model under FIPP, including cooperation among multiple creditors. “Today tells a story about the power of collaboration,” said Governor Ted Kulongoski. “State policies coupled with investments from the federal government, local governments, private sector partners and landowners created the environment in which we are able to create new jobs, new clean forms of energy and new opportunities that better our state and our nation.” The Caithness Shepherds Flat wind project will use 338 GE 2.5xl wind turbines, which are designed to provide high efficiency, increased reliability and grid integration. The wind farm is the first in North America to deploy these turbines, which have been used in Europe and Asia. Once completed, the project will sell 100 percent of the power and renewable energy credits generated to Southern California Edison under 20-year fixed price power purchase agreements. “This is a great holiday gift for eastern Oregon and it couldn’t come at a better time,” said U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. “This financing from the U.S. Department of Energy will help put people back to work and continue Oregon’s reputation as a clean energy leader.” According to company estimates, the project will directly employ 400 workers during construction and 35 workers during operation. The company projects the wind farm will avoid over 1.2 million tons 78 Winter 2010
of carbon dioxide per year - equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide from approximately 200,000 passenger vehicles. “This loan guarantee helps insure that this project will be built, that jobs will be created, that the Oregon economy will benefit and that the United States will be another step closer to energy independence,” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said. “When it is completed, Shepherds Flat will be one of the largest windmill farms in the world and will put Oregon on the map as a leader in green energy.”
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Today tells a story about the power of collaboration. State policies coupled with investments from the federal government, local governments, private sector partners and landowners created the environment in which we are able to create new jobs, new clean forms of energy and new opportunities that better our state and our nation. Ted Kulongoski Oregon Governor
Energy Leaders Today 79
news research | wind
Wind Turbines Help Crops by Channelling Beneficial Breezes Over Nearby Plants Wind turbines in Midwestern farm fields may be doing more than churning out electricity, They May Be helping corn and soybean crops Nearby. article first published by Ames Laboratory http://www.external.ameslab.gov/
A researcher at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and his co-researcher from the University of Colorado announced in December the preliminary findings of a months-long research program aimed at studying how wind turbines on farmlands interact with surrounding crops. “We’ve finished the first phase of our research, and we’re confident that wind turbines do produce measureable effects on the microclimate near crops,” said Ames Laboratory associate and agricultural meteorology expert Gene Takle. According to Takle, who is also a professor of agricultural meteorology and director of the Climate Science Program at Iowa State University, the slow-moving turbine blades that have become a familiar sight along midwestern highways, channel air downwards, in effect bathing the crops below via the increased airflow they create. His colleague in the research is Julie Lundquist, assistant professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, joint appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Fellow of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute. Lundquist’s team uses a specialized laser known as a lidar to measure winds and turbulence from near the Earth’s surface to well above the top tip of a turbine blade. “Our laser instrument could detect a beautiful plume of increased turbulence that persisted even a quarter-mile downwind of a turbine,” Lundquist said. Both Takle and Lundquist stressed that 80 Winter 2010
their early findings have yet to definitively establish whether or not wind turbines are in fact beneficial to the health and yield potential of soybeans and corn planted nearby. However, their finding that the turbines increase airflow over surrounding crops, suggests this is a realistic possibility. “The turbulence resulting from wind turbines may speed up natural exchange processes between crop plants and the lower atmosphere,” Takle said. For instance, crops warm up when the sun shines on them, and some of that heat is given off to the atmosphere. Extra air turbulence
likely speeds up this heat exchange, so crops stay slightly cooler during hot days. On cold nights, turbulence stirs the lower atmosphere and keeps nighttime temperatures around the crops warmer. “In this case, we anticipate turbines’ effects are good in the spring and fall because they would keep the crop a little warmer and help prevent a frost,” said Takle. “Wind turbines could possibly ward off early fall frosts and extend the growing season.” Other benefits of wind turbines could result from their effects on crop moisture levels. Extra turbulence may help dry the dew that
wind | news research
Gene Takle Ames Laboratory Associate and Professor of Agricultural Meteorology and Director of the Climate Science Program at Iowa State University
settles on plants beginning in late afternoon, minimizing the amount of time fungi and toxins can grow on plant leaves. Additionally, drier crops at harvest help farmers reduce the cost of artificially drying corn or soybeans. Another potential benefit to crops is that increased airflows could enable corn and soybean plants to more readily extract atmospheric CO2, a needed “fuel” for crops. The extra turbulence might also pump extra CO2 from the soil. Both results could facilitate the crops ability to perform photosynthesis. Takle’s wind turbine predictions are based on years of research on so-called agricultural shelter belts, which are the rows of trees in a field, designed to slow high-speed natural winds. “In a simplistic sense, a wind turbine is nothing more than a tall tree with a well-pruned stem. For a starting point for this research, we adapted a computational fluid model that we use to understand trees,” said Takle. “But we plan to develop a new model specific to wind turbines as we gather more data.” The team’s initial measurements consisted of visual observations of wind turbulence upwind and downwind of the turbines. The team also used wind-measuring instruments called anemometers to determine the intensity of the
turbulence. The bulk of the wind-turbulence measurements and the crop-moisture, temperature and CO2 measurements took place in the spring of 2010. “We anticipate the impact of wind turbines to be subtle. But in certain years and under certain circumstances the effects could be significant,” said Takle. “When you think about a summer with a string of 105-degree days, extra wind turbulence from wind turbines might be helpful. If turbines can bring the temperature down below 100 degrees that could be a big help for crops.” The Ames Laboratory’s royalty income seed funding program supported the initial work. Additional funding came from the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The U.S. National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment contributed the surface flux instruments used to measure the wind turbines’ effects and the personnel to operate them. Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science research facility operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. They use their expertise, unique capabilities and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global challenges. Energy Leaders Today 81
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Wind Power Market Breezes Ahead Frost and sullivan overview finds major opportunities for wind power development in the near future With the traditional wind energy markets in Europe approaching although on a smaller scale. saturation, wind turbine manufacturers and project developers In 2006, only 416 MW had been installed in wind energy in CEE, are looking for new frontiers. Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) increasing to 1,500 MW by the end of 2009. This underlines the presents one such less developed territory that offers sizable fact that countries are having a closer look at their energy mix opportunities for wind power development in the near future. and are establishing essential support in order to diversify it and New analysis from a Frost & Sullivan overview of the Wind increase the number of renewable installations. EWEA estimated Power Market in Central and Eastern in that order to fulfill EU obligaEurope, reveals that the installed tions, 21,600 MW will need to base in the region is over 1,500 MW be installed in wind power with in 2009 and estimates this to reach a CAGR from 2009-2020 of 28 almost 23,000 MW in 2020 to meet percent. With an anticipated the target set by the European ComHowever, the lack of political mission for all member states. will looms as a major challenge increase in installed “The 2020 targets for the EU memto market development. Poor grid capacity from slightly ber states is the single-most imporaccess presents another restraint tant driver for the CEE countries to that threatens to slow down the over 1,500MW in the increase the number of wind power wind power market in CEE. installations,” notes Frost & Sullivan The reluctance of countries to whole region, the regional research analyst Magdalena Dzishift away from their over-reliance hotspots will need equipegielewska. “In December 2008, EU on fossil fuels and conventional member nations agreed to support energy generation has manifested ment, expertise and a new Renewable Energy Directive, itself in the lack of political will with one of the objectives being to to develop a wind power market. financial support in order boost renewable energy use to 20 “However, countries are slowly percent by 2020.” moving away from their depento turn the opportunity All CEE countries that belong to dence on fossil-fuel sources and into reality, the EU are being compelled to rethere is evidence of developing examine their energy portfolios. They government support and finanare developing strategies that would cial aid,” said Dziegielewska. Magdalena Dziegielewska enable them to reach these targets “There are four types of support Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst in the most efficient way. mechanisms that countries “With an anticipated increase in can resort to: feed-in-tariffs installed capacity from slightly over (FIT), quota obligation with 1,500MW in the whole region, the tradable green certificates, regional hotspots will need equipment, expertise and financial t end er pro c edure s and f i scal inc entive and grants.” support in order to turn the opportunity into reality,” states FITs are the most popular form of government support. They are Dziegielewska. being used in 15 countries in the CEE. Poland and Romania employ The front-runners will include Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and the quota obligation system and the Czech Republic has both of Turkey that are likely to outpace their neighbors. The Czech them in place. FIT provides better certainty for investors in terms Republic, Estonia and Hungary may also offer some opportunities, of price level and investment payback period.
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Energy Leaders Today 83
news research | wind
Syracuse University Researchers Contribute New Ideas to Enhance Efficiency of Wind Turbines One issue confronting the efficiency of wind as a promising renewable energy source is the wind itself—specifically, its changeability. While the aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine is best under steady wind flow, the efficiency of the blades degrades when exposed to conditions such as wind gusts, turbulent flow, upstream turbine wakes and wind shear. Now, a new type of air-flow technology may soon increase the efficiency of large wind turbines under many different wind conditions. Researchers from Syracuse University’s L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (LCS) are testing new intelligent-systems-based active flow control methods with support from the U.S. Department of Energy through the University of Minnesota Wind Energy Consortium. The approach estimates the flow conditions over the blade surfaces from surface measurements, and then uses this information in an intelligent controller to implement real-time actuation on the blades to control the airflow and increase the overall efficiency of the wind turbine system. The work may also reduce excessive noise and vibration due to flow separation. Initial simulation results completed by LCS researchers Guannan Wang, Basman El Hadidi, Jakub Walczak, Mark Glauser and Hiroshi Higuchi show that flow control applied on the outboard side of the blade beyond the half radius could significantly enlarge the overall operational range of the wind turbine with the same rated power output, or considerably increase the rated output power for the same level of operational range. The results suggest that either the overall operational range of the wind turbine could be effectively enlarged by 80 percent with the same rated power output, or the rated output power could be increased by 20 percent while maintaining the same level of operational range when the control is on. The optimal location for the actuator is found to be on the outboard of the blade beyond half of the radius. The team is also investigating a characteristic airfoil in a new anechoic wind tunnel facility at SU to determine the airfoil lift and drag characteristics with appropriate flow control while exposed to large-scale flow unsteadiness. In addition, the effects of flow control on the noise spectrum of the wind turbine will be also assessed and measured in the anechoic chamber. “It is exciting for us to be involved in the world-class wind energy consortium led by the University of Minnesota,” says Glauser, profes 84 Winter 2010
Engineers at SU’s L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science collaborate with University of Minnesota on new intelligent systems and grooved designs
wind | news research
sor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. “This is a wonderful opportunity to transition our expertise in intelligent systems for flow control, developed largely through support from the aerospace sector, to this important and growing area of the renewable energy sector.’’ Scientists at the University of Minnesota are looking at another inefficiency with wind energy—the drag, which is the resistance felt by the turbine blades as they beat the air. The team at the University of Minnesota’s Saint Anthony Falls Lab (SAFL) looked at the effect of placing tiny grooves on turbine blades on drag reduction. The grooves are in the form of triangular riblets scored into a coating on the blade surface. They are so shallow (between 40 and 225 microns) that they can’t be seen by the human eye—leaving the blades looking perfectly smooth. Through wind-tunnel tests of 2.5-megawatt turbine airfoil surfaces (becoming one of the popular industry standards) and computer simulations, they have looked at the grooves’ efficacy for various groove geometries and angles of attack (how the blades are positioned relative to the air stream). University of Minnesota researchers Roger Arndt, Leonardo P. Chamorro and Fotis Sotiropoulos, believe that riblets will increase wind turbine efficiency by about 3 percent. Both of these new ideas for enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines were recently presented at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting in Long Beach, Calif. On Nov. 21, the SU research team presented “Benefits of Active Flow Control for Wind Turbine Blades,” and researchers at the University of Minnesota presented “On the skin friction drag reduction in large wind turbines using sharp V-grooved riblets.” Photos courtesy of Clipper Windpower, Inc.
Energy Leaders Today 85
GEOTHER MAL
INSIDE: HARKER HEATING & COOLING, AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS, GEO-HYDRO SUPPLY, AIRFLOW SYSTEMS, K & M SHILLINGFORD, FLOW CENTER PRODUCTS
CORPORATE PROFILE | GEOTHERMAL
HARKER HEATING & COOLING Providing its Customers with Quality, Knowledgeable Service for 60 Years by Felicia Willis
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GEOTHERMAL | CORPORATE PROFILE
Long before any green initiatives, solar power, or knowledge of geothermal programs, Harker Heating & Cooling of Madison, Wis., has been providing its customers with quality, knowledgeable service. Unlike many of their competitors in their region, this union contractor company has been a thriving business since 1949, and every employee belongs to the local Sheet Metal Workers’ Union. “We experienced quite a few different owners until 1988,” said project manager Jason Phillips. “Tim Heiar became the owner in
1988, and now shares ownership with his son Luke Heiar, Oscar Wendt and Marcus Nelson. With a total of 23 field employees, the company’s specialty is diversity. “We’re 25 percent commercial, 25 percent residential, 25 percent service, and 25 percent residential new construction. Our specialty can be considered anything that falls under any of these categories,” Phillips said. In the commercial component of Harker Heating and Cooling, the company’s role is as contractor for commercial HVAC instal-
lation and maintenance. The company’s expertise lies in roof top units, air handler units, boilers, VAV systems, air cooled chillers, central exhaust systems, cooling towers, geothermal systems, ductless split systems, energy recovery units, furnace split systems, radiant in-floor systems, temperature control systems and air balancing. As it pertains to residential services, Harker Heating and Cooling provides cooling, heating, air quality and geothermal products and ideas. Like the diversity of its service menu, Harker
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CORPORATE PROFILE | GEOTHERMAL
“ We’re 25 percent commercial, 25 percent residential, 25 percent service, and 25 percent residential new construction. Our specialty can be considered anything that falls under any of these categories.” Jason Phillips | Project Manager Heating & Cooling boasts a full and varied range of completed jobs. These jobs include many buildings, with various sizes, applications, and budgets from apartments and condominiums, single family homes and even commercial buildings. An area of Harker’s business that has increased greatly recently is residential new construction. The team at Harker has managed to make this area profitable by providing an efficient and uncomplicated way for
builders to offer HVAC system upgrades to new home buyers. Those individuals have the opportunity to visit Harker’s well-equipped showroom, which is the area’s largest working showroom. The showroom features an operational Carrier Infinity furnace and a Carrier 38TUA air conditioner that does indeed, heat and cool the building. The Carrier system has four zones and includes an air cleaner and humidifier. As it appears, Harker Heating and Cooling has cornered the market on cooling, heating, air quality, and HOT WATER PRODUCTS geothermal, and the Hot Water Products is the midwest’s premier stocking supplier of solar thermal, domestic hot water and hydronic heating systems, including parts and company has started accessories. HWP is a heat transfer products manufacturer representative, to dabble in the solar Bradford White wholesaler and Solar Skies’ exclusive Wisconsin distributor. hot water market. Since 1998 their highly trained team provides services such as product evaluSolar water heating ation, conceptual design, and quick delivery. For more information visit www. hotwaterproducts.com. systems comprise sev-
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eral innovations and many mature renewable energy technologies which have been accepted in most countries for many years. Solar water heating has been widely used in Israel, Australia, Japan, Austria and China. Like any tight knit family, Harker Heating and Cooling relies greatly on communication between owners, management and employees to run the company successfully. Over snacks and a cold beverage, the owners listen to the gripes and accolades of each employee, at least once a month. Tim Heiar believes greatly in the adage, “if you make your employees happy, they will make your customers happy.” To that end, the company sponsors holiday parties and regular bowling nights, as well as 100 percent paid tuition for work related courses. ELT Photos courtesy of Harker Heating & Cooling
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CORPORATE PROFILE | GEOTHERMAL
A l w a ys Quality, Always There by Joel Cornell
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GEOTHERMAL | CORPORATE PROFILE
Any energy specialist company knows that it’s not good enough to practice their trade well. To succeed, a company must practice their trade well in serving the client and ensuring their satisfaction. This dedication to quality and customers alike has brought Air Conditioning Specialists, headquartered in the southeastern Virginia town of Portsmouth, over 13 years of growth and accomplishment. The fully licensed, insured and experienced staff at Air Conditioning Specialists is fully aware of the magnitude of their work. They know that they aren’t in business casually or for performing purely aesthetic services. They’re in the business of ensure the comfort of the customer and the customer’s family, through blazing summers and frigid winters. They achieve this by working closely with trusted, local business partners such as Southern Material Handling. “Our workmanship, along with the highest quality of home and business products available, ensures the dependable performance of your HVAC system and your family’s comfort year after year. Our staff welcomes the opportunity to serve, and looks forward to building a long-term relationship. Our success is dependent upon 100 percent customer satisfaction and the referrals we receive from our many satisfied customers.” The range of products that Air Conditioning Specialists uses matches their service in being of the absolute highest caliber. Not only do they offer everything a customer would require for a building, whether that is a new residence or a large commercial project, but they match that with a deep and sincere understanding of their products. From gas and electric furnaces, air conditioning units and generators to air filtration system packages, tankless water heaters, generators, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, comfort control systems, heat pumps and a wide array of packaged units, no HVAC project is outside of their scope. In holding themselves to such high standards, Air Conditioning Specialists do limit their range of products, but simply by providing only the highest quality equipment available on the market, in particular Trane products and equipment. As a licensed Trane Comfort Specialist, the company is able to provide the systems alongside a severe knowledge of the products and the brand,
WITH 24 HOUR SERVICE, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND THE FINEST TRAINING WITH THE FINEST PRODUCTS, AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS IS POISED TO BRING CLIENTS THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN THEIR LOCAL HVAC NEEDS.
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CORPORATE PROFILE | GEOTHERMAL
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in particular the Trane CleanEffects system. Trane CleanEffects utilizes patented, breakthrough air cleaning technology to remove up to an astounding 99.98 percent of airborne allergens from the air that passes through the filter, making it eight times more effective than even the best HEPA room filters and up to 100 times more effective than a standard one-inch filter. Trane CleanEffects has been performance-tested by LMS Technologies and Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc. (EH&E), and the results verified by professors from the Harvard School of Public Health, so you know you’re getting an air filtration system like no other. To integrate a full system for any size project, they have the experience and the expertise to install, service and maintain any kind of system, anywhere. The Tidewater region in southeastern Virginia, which covers a wide area from Portsmouth to Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News and Williamsburg, is a unique area for an HVAC specialist. With the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries right next door, Air Conditioning Specialists’ control over their work and its impact on the environment is of the utmost importance. Additionally, with a high concentration of military personnel stationed in the area, it can be difficult for customers who might be transferred across the country within a matter of a few years to find a HVAC company they can trust and can deliver a system and set of services worth investing in. Thus, Air Conditioning Specialists makes a unique effort to reach out to members of the armed forces, also offering them a 10 percent discount off all services and equipment. Air Conditioning Specialists also can provide professional duct cleaning, system repair and HVAC maintenance services for clients. They also have specialists on hand 24 hours a day who can help with not only the actual work on a system, but who can help the customer understand the benefits of a new system and also the finer points of federal tax credits for energy efficiency and any financing that may be required for the client. ELT Photos courtesy of AC Specialists
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A One-Stop-Shop for Geothermal Supplies With 20 years of experience in the geothermal closed-loop installation industry, Geo-Hydro Supply provides the highest quality supplies and expert customer service to its customers. by Felicia Willis
Geo-Hydro Supply, Ltd. first began in 2004 with three partners, Tim Yoder, Rebecca Conn, and Elaine Beach, who all made the initial investment. The partners appointed Greg Beach as President and Manager of the business. Beach was charged with growing and developing Geo-Hydro Supply, Ltd. Comparable to how most businesses are born, Geo-Hydro Supply was started from a need in that industry. In this particular case, the need was to have a one-stop shop for HVAC contractors and geothermal loop installers to purchase residential geothermal loop components. The “loop” is the heart of a geothermal heating and cooling system. It is the physical portion of the system where the energy is exchanged in the ground, transferring heat to the geothermal heat pump during cold weather and evacuating heat from the home to the ground in warm weather. The company draws from 20 years of experience in the geothermal closed-loop installation industry. The goal of Geo-Hydro Supply is to provide the highest quality supplies and expert customer service to its customers. After experimenting with many brands of fittings, flow centers, supplies and pipe; the company is confident that the products offered is of the highest quality, and includes a B&D Mfg. five-year warranty on residential flowcenters as well as a Centennial Plastics 50 year warranty on pipe. THIS PAGE: Greg Beach, president, pictured next to a rack of HDPE pipe inventory. Geo-Hydro Supply, Ltd.stocks straight sticks of HDPE geothermal pipe in 20 ft. lengths ranging in diameters from ¾-inch to two-inch. OPPOSITE PAGE: Pictured here are just a few of the brass fittings that Geo-Hydro Supply, Ltd. stocks for the geothermal loop installer. Brass mechanical fittings should always be used to avoid corrosion and deterioration.
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CORPORATE PROFILE | GEOTHERMAL
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Geothermal heating and cooling for residential and commercial buildings can have an enormous impact on our environment and our economy. And we feel a responsibility to ‘keep the pump primed’ and educate those who don’t understand its benefits.
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The main product line of the company originally was in non-pressurized flowcenters but they have expanded and now provide a vast array of geothermal supplies. They stock materials from top names in the industry such as B&D Manufacturing, Centennial Plastics, Central Plastics, US Poly, Rahn, Grundfos, Armacell and Ideal. The company also continues to keep the full line of non-pressurized flowcenters the featured product. Geo-Hydro Supply has also grown into a supply house supporting the residential geothermal loop installers across Ohio, and around the country via Internet orders, which started in 2007. Sales through the Internet began slowly but have steadily grown as more and more people become accustomed to e-commerce. Currently, the company has provided service to customers in 45 states and receives regular inquiries from locations throughout Canada. One hundred percent of the company’s warehouse space is dedicated to geothermal products. It is interesting to note that most HVAC or drilling supply houses typically only have a corner of their warehouse dedicated to geothermal. Geo-Hydro Supply’s employees have a passion for geothermal and believe it can solve many of the common energy problems found in the United States. Because of its efficiency, geothermal reduces warm-weather energy consumption that typically contributes to brown-outs across the nation. In cold climates, geothermal systems, due to their efficiency, also reduce over-all energy consumption and carbon emissions. In affect, widespread use of geothermal technologies could help level peak energy demands on the
B&D MFG, INC. B&D MFG, INC. is a geothermal manufacturer that specializes in non-pressurized residential and commercial flowcenters. B&D has grown to become a master distributor of polyethylene fittings and fusion tools. They have the ability and knowledge to custom make specialty fittings and valve combinations. One of the growing areas in B&D is the custom-made hydronic buffer tanks and large polyethylene headers. Over the last couple years B&D has increased their ability to reach other regions by adding more warehouse locations: Iowa, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. B&D prides itself in working strictly through distribution and being innovators of geothermal technology. For more information on B&D, visit www.bdmfginc.com. 98 Winter 2010
Greg Beach President & Manager Geo-Hydro Supply, Ltd.
GEOTHERMAL | CORPORATE PROFILE
nation’s power grid. Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. The use of geothermal technology in your home is a safe alternative to traditional carbon fuel furnaces because a geothermal system releases zero carbon emissions. And the amount of electrical energy required to operate these systems year-round expends far less energy than what is used to heat a home with carbon fuel systems. The company is very proud of their stand for continuing education in the field. According to Mr. Beach, it is one of the company’s pillars. “We believe that by educating the geothermal installer and the general public, we can make a difference in the world around us,” said Beach. “Geothermal heating and cooling for residential and commercial buildings can have an enormous impact on our environment and our economy. And we feel a responsibility to ‘keep the pump primed’ and educate those who don’t understand its benefits.” Geo-Hydro Supply is very proud of its knowledgeable staff that is capable of helping the beginner, intermediate and advanced installers. Beach has high expectations for the industry, and the company sets the bar high for others. “We can have an impact on bettering the image of geothermal and preventing common mistakes.” The company is continuing to grow and delve into working with other industries and markets. “Many drilling companies across the U.S.,
especially the waterwell industry, are coming out looking for additional work,” Beach said. “We can be their one-stop shop for people looking for supplies to install this piping system that is necessary for a geothermal system for a residential home or business. That’s an area where we’d like to expand.” Beach said, “We don’t just supply geothermal products, we specialize in them!” ELT
THIS PAGE: Pictured here is Galen Beachy, sales and technical support representative on the the phone with a customer. OPPOSITE PAGE: Geo-Hydro Supply stocks a large quantity of HDPE pipe coils and premanufactured geothermal U-bend coils. Sizes range from ¾-inch to two-inch. All photos by Greg Beach
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A
by William Coleson
IRFLOW SYSTEMS
This out-of-the-box geothermal heating and air conditioning company has been keeping Virginia well cared for, for over 20 years
In central Virginia, if you want to go geothermal, there’s only one person to call: Jimmy North, the owner of AirFlow Systems, Inc. “When people start talking to other people about wanting to build a house- an energy efficient house- our name always seems to pop up. And it just keeps turning itself over,” North said. North started AirFlow Systems, Inc., an HVAC contractor, 23 years ago with a business partner who has since retired. “All through school I worked for a local heating and air conditioner contractor. So I learned the business by working in the business.” AirFlow Systems started out small, with only five employees. “I basically started the thing from scratch,” he said. “I had no business or anything lined up, and as the years went on, we became a successful player in our particular area, in our community.” The company now boasts 20 employees. But despite the relatively small size, North keeps the company organized and on track with three duct crews, three install crews and four service technicians. He and one other employee handle the sales and design. “The jobs that I sell, I design,” he said. “We’re totally hands-on. Everybody does a little bit of everything.” North takes the hands-on approach seriously. “I’m here all the time. But I want it that way, because I feel like I’m all about the quality of workmanship and the people that I have working for me. That’s what you do when you own a business. If you’re not doing that, you’re not going to be successful.” His 10- and 12-hour days, where North has turned his company into a leader in the geothermal industry, have paid off, helping the company through this tough economic period.
“I must say that it has, other than the first two years of opening this business, been very very challenging. The times that are going on now. Had it not been for geothermal, I’m not sure we’d be here today.” AirFlow Systems, Inc. got into the geothermal industry 20 years ago. At the time, few people knew about geothermal its environmental benefits. “I really wanted to separate myself from all the other HVAC contractors.” North said. I wanted to do things that were outside of the box that not a lot of other people would be doing. So I felt that was an opportunity for us to do something that other heating and air conditioning companies did not do.” They have since completed over 350 projects in the central Virginia area, sometimes traveling up to an hour and a half to a job site. Geothermal equipment only has about five moving parts, meaning there’s less chance for malfunctioning. North knows that once he installs a geothermal system, the upkeep is nearly nonexistent. AirFlow Systems, Inc. is also a WaterFurnace dealer, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of all geothermal sales nationwide. And even though the company could probably secure water furnaces from a different dealer at a lower cost, and thus close more geothermal sales, North won’t switch. “The support that those guys give us
OPPOSITE PAGE: (TOP) outside view of Airflow Systems, Inc. office and shop (BOTTOM LEFT) Airflow Systems, Inc. trucks in back lot (BOTTOM RIGHT) 1134 Rose Hill Dr. front signage
FOSTER WELL AND PUMP CO. INC. Foster Well and Pump Company, Inc. is a family-owned business that opened in 1984. Foster Well and Pump drills residential, geothermal, irrigation and commercial wells. They also have a service division that covers well service, water filtration, hydro-fracking, installation of pumping systems for residential and irrigation, installation of septic systems and site work. After working with Air Flow for five years, Foster Well and Pump finds Air Flow to be very knowledgeable about the geothermal industry. The companies have established a good working relationship. For more information, please call 1-800-827-9079. Energy Leaders Today 101
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I REALLY WANTED TO SEPARATE MYSELF FROM ALL THE OTHER HVAC CONTRACTORS. I WANTED TO DO THINGS THAT WERE OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THAT NOT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE DOING. SO I FELT THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOMETHING THAT OTHER HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPANIES DID NOT DO. JIMMY NORTH OWNER, AIRFLOW SYSTEMS
is really incredible,” he said. "We’ve looked at other manufacturers, but it’s the support and the quality of the unit that they build and the way that they stand behind their product is the reason that I want to be a WaterFurnace dealer.” The company focuses mainly on residential work and specifically high-performance houses. When working on a new build, North will meet with the builder and the homeowner to figure out the best set up for their individual needs, even doing a walkthrough with the owner. "You have an idea of what you're going to do with your furniture in your house and I don’t. So we do a complete walkthrough and we locate where to put the vents." North handles every aspect of a job with this same care and dedication. "Our system is custom to your house," he said. AirFlow Systems, Inc. has an in-house sheet metal fabricator, which builds the ducts specific to each home. "We don't just buy it at the store and then piece it together at the job site. I tell my guys all the time, you’re only as good as the last job you did. The people’s houses that you’re getting ready to go into, they don’t know how good you are, so you have to prove yourself over and over again." They also conduct duct-blast tests on all of their systems, to ensure there is as little leakage as possible. North serves on the board of the 102 Winter 2010
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EarthCraft program, Virginia's green building program. "I've been in that program ever since its inception, so we have to guarantee our homeowners less than ten percent duct leakage." North manages to get most down to less than three percent duct leakage. "That way you know that the energy you're spending money for is getting to the rooms in the home that you need it to." A few years back, they installed a geothermal system for the Nottoway County Courthouse, about an hour and a half outside of Charlottesville. The project had seven vertical wells, a challenge that many homes on small lots face. Vertical wells can be difficult due to the increased chance of hitting water, but luckily, North has developed a close relationship with Foster Well Drilling, who bring their expertise to every project. "We just have
a good working relationship with one another," North said. "It's great." Their focus on geothermal has helped keep the company afloat in this economy. The Bush-era tax credits for green building practices are 30 percent, with no cap. "That certainly lends itself to getting more people into the business of selling geothermal," North said. "This has certainly allowed us to be out in front of people and keeping all of my guys busy and not having to lay anybody off or send anybody home." He's even been able to hire a few people. "I'm hoping to be able to survive and thrive through this recession that we've got going on," North said. "I'm hoping that as 2011 comes upon us, we remain strong as far as the geothermal business is concerned." ELT
OPPOSITE PAGE: Jimmy North, owner of AirFlow Systems, Inc. at a vertical loop installation in the Ashcroft neighborhood in Charlottesville, Va. BELOW: (LEFT) Service technicians (left- Devin Hamlett; right- David Mcclary, service manager; middle- Warren Tomlin) (MIDDLE) AirFlow Systems, Inc. sheet metal fabracation shop (RIGHT) Service dispatcher, Andrea Buck.
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“Cradle To Grave” System Services For Customers THE OKLAHOMA COMPANY OF K&M SHILLINGFORD STARTED WITH JUST TWO PASSIONATE ENGINEERS AND A TECHNICIAN AND HAVE NOW GROWN INTO A WELL RESPECTED DESIGN/BUILD MECHANICAL CONTRACTING FIRM PROVIDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. by Felicia Willis
Founded in 1980, K&M Shillingford (KMS) is a design/build mechanical contracting firm that has been a pioneer in providing innovative solutions for today’s heating and cooling needs. The company is based in Tulsa, Okla., and specializes in geothermal heat pumps. KMS has the distinct honor of leading the country in environmental system solutions. The firm was started with two engineers and a technician who had strong interests in the role of alternative energy applications in
the heating, ventilating and air conditioning industry. At the same time, closed loop earth coupled geothermal water source heat pump technology was in its infancy with technology learned in Europe. The company has evolved into a very well respected firm employing designers, sales, engineers, installation technicians and service technicians to provide complete “cradle to grave” system services to their customers. President, Jay Murphy has a clear vision of K&M Shillingford’s specialty.
“We specialize in energy saving. We specialize in trying to give our customers the most efficient systems possible and we justify the higher efficiency with financial return on their investment. We justify if the energy efficient system is right for our customer, we can actually show that by giving them a good return on their investment.” KMS specializes in design, sales and service of heating, cooling, water systems, geothermal heat pumps, air heat pumps, air cleaners, humidification and solar. The company also specializes in heating and air conditioning contracting. The vast menu of services offered includes the design, installation and service of the following types of systems: conventional heating, ventilation, air conditioning, ductwork, boiler and chiller conversions, geothermal air to water heat pumps, geothermal water to water heat pumps, air to air heat pumps, air cleaners, humidification, solar hot water, solar pool heaters, water heaters, geothermal domestic water heating, geothermal pool heating, geothermal pool de-humidification, geothermal floor slab and walkway heating, design, installation and service of horizontal and vertical closed loop energy fields including drilling of vertical well bore holes, installation of vertical loop piping in bore holes, pressure grout bore holes after insertion of piping, trenching and backfill, well headers, underground iping from energy field to structure, pressure testing of well field piping and purging well field of debris and air. This quarter of a century old company has many major completed projects under its belt, including Northeastern State University, Oklahoma’s fourth-largest public four-year institution. Other projects include Rogers State University, Wallace Engineering and Lawton Junior High. New markets of interest to KMS include Energy Leaders Today 105
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inverter technology. The inverter technology is integrated in the outdoor unit and can be compared to the technology in a car - the harder you push your accelerator, the faster you go. An inverter unit will gradually increase its capacity based on the capacity needed in the room to cool down or heat up the room. The non-inverter can be compared with switching on or off a lamp. Switching on this type of unit will start to run on full load. Additionally, Murphy is excited about a new project the company is undertaking. “We are leasing geothermal systems to our customers. If you can’t afford the geothermal, we’ll put it in for you and we’ll lease it back. That way, we can justify the cost by so much savings, it will add up to the actual lease payment.” Murphy goes on to say, “We are the only company currently that leases geothermal systems.” Over 75 percent of the company’s annual sales are in the field of earth coupled geothermal heat pumps and energy saving HVAC systems. Each of these systems utilizes some form of
THE JRJ AGENCY The JRJ Agency is proud to have long provided insurance and bond services for KMS. As the industry leader in geothermal installations and the contractor of choice for a wide variety of mechanical projects, KMS is respected by engineers and owners for their expertise and ability to consistently exceed client expectations. They truly care about their customers, employees and the communities in which they work. For more information on the JRJ Agency, please visit www.thejrjagency.com. 106 Winter 2010
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heat transfer techniques to provide increased system efficiency and lower system operating costs. KMS has played an active role in laying the groundwork such as promoting and educating companies, industries and homeowners about its advantages. For the last 30 years they have shared their knowledge of the industry with universities, technical schools, equipment manufacturers, utility companies, government agencies, architects and engineers. The company has designed and installed well over 1000 complete systems utilizing millions of feet of geothermal pipe in the earth. There is over 350 years combined experience on staff. KMS was one of the first mechanical contractors to be involved in the installation of earth coupled ground source heat pump systems. They are believed to be the oldest company involved with this technology throughout the country. The first vertical closed loop system utilizing high-density, high-molecular weight polyethylene pipe was installed by KMS. They are responsible for several industry techniques utilized today. In addition, several government and private industry prototype test installation and monitoring programs have been constructed by KMS. All in all, the company is responsible for installing over 500 miles of vertical and horizontal underground pipe that is utilized for over 1000 earth coupled ground source heat pump systems. KMS intends to remain the leader in quality
design, installation and service of products in Oklahoma and they are excited about expanding their knowledge and expertise beyond the current area into Illinois and Missouri. KMS is a member of the Green Country and National Air Conditioning Contractors Association, American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. They have a Boiler License, Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors License. KMS is also HubZone certified. ELT
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F low Center Products
Supplying reliable loop pumps for 21 years by Joel Cornell
Flow Center Products, Inc. (FCP) is an assembling facility and distributor of loop pump modules and controls. Roy Klaty, founder and president, has over 21 years of experience with geothermal systems. Located just 50 miles Northwest of Indianapolis, Ind. in the city of Crawfordsville, Flow Center Products, Inc. utilizes a long list of trusted and talented installers and system designers to bring their reliable loop pumps to homes and businesses across the state and beyond. Flow Center Products, Inc. constructs flowcenters for closed loop heating and cooling systems. Flowcenter loop pump modules are available for both residential and commercial ground loop heating and cooling systems. Their flowcenters are compatible with Bell & Gossett, Grundfos and Wilo pumps and can be configured with multiple pump units to match different load requirements of various geothermal ground source heating and cooling installations. Additionally, all Flow Center Products, Inc. flowcenters come with built in flush valves. This allows their customers to have many options. Flow Center Products, Inc. offers cabinet models in black or white, without cabinet models, isolation unit models and commercial models. In addition, they offer a complete line of parts, fittings and PE fusion tools that are available for installation and maintenance of flowcenters and closed loop geothermal systems. Approved solutions for all Flow Center Products, Inc. products include: methanol, propylene glycol and exoendosol. The wide range of accessories and additional tools that they provide to clients make them an all encompassing, one-stop-shop for all
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geothermal needs. They specialize in flowcenters and pump, but their business is broad in its scope concerning geothermal loop systems. From the little things like digital thermometers specially designed for the work geothermal installers do, to OLCS-DC dual control open loop control systems for dual speed compressors, as well as thread lockers, sealants, a vast array of valves and pressure rams, piping, hoses and everything in between, Flow Center Products, Inc. has the products you need to ensure the quality of your next geothermal ground loop project. Geothermal closed loop fittings in brass or polyethylene are also available. Through their immense amount of experience, their ability to perform a wide range of custom designs for their clients and a form of efficiency that sets the standard for geothermal loop system pumps, Flow Center Products, Inc. is the ideal source for every conceivable product required for a high quality, capable and sustainable geothermal system. Their vast array of pumps, replacement parts and sheer knowledge mean that you’ll never face unwanted delays or impediments on a project again. More than just a provider of the necessary parts, Flow Center Products, Inc. gives you the confidence of knowing that you will always have an expert on every part involved in a geothermal loop system for heating or cooling. For more information on Flow Center Products or to order any of their myriad products online, please visit flowcenterproducts.com. ELT
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oZ WORLD MEDIA 1100 H Street NW, Suite M Washington D.C. 20005 202-470-6757 info@industryleaderstoday.com www.ozworldmedia.com
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Sun Farm Network 25 Minneakoning Road, Suite 101 Flemington, NJ 8822 908-782-4172 http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com/ SunEarth Inc 761 Ahua St Honolulu, HI 96819 808-523-0711 Sunlight Solar Energy 4 Oxford Rd Ste D8 Milford, CT 6460 203-878-9123 Sustainable Energy Group 13790 Gas Canyon Rd Nevada City, CA 95959 530-273-4422 sustainableenergygroup.com/ Tulsa Winnelson 3015 West Albany St. Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-294-9033 tulsawinnelson.com/ Virginia Air 2501 Waterford Lake Dr. Midlothian, VA 23112 757-342-6188 www.virginiaair.com/home.php WaterFurnace 145 Birdwood Ct Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-296-4075 http://www.waterfurnace.com/
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Kingco Enterprises 21844 North 22nd Ave/Ste A Phoenix, AZ 85027 623-516-2779 Learning Compass/ABT in Action 203 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 469-855-0287 http://www.learningcompass.org MACCS 484-454-4197 Macmillan/McGraw Hill 16131 Ironwood Dr Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-837-9725 http://www.mhschool.com/ Mad Dog Math 4562 Ocana Ave lakewood, CA 90713 562-533-5772 http://www.maddogmath.com/ OPS PO Box 1725 Hood River, OR 97031 530-265-3333 http://www.ops-online.com Peninsula Counseling Center 50 West Hawthorne Ave Valley Stream, NY 11580 516-569-6600 www.peninsulacounseling.org/ PNC Capital markets 225 Fifth Ave/9th Fl Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-762-3630 https://www.pnc.com/ Premier Health Systems Inc 6 Longford St. Philadelphia, PA 19136 215-990-9541 Sodexo 18052 North Black Canyon Hwy Phoenix, AZ 85053 602-548-2319 http://www.sodexo.com Study Island 3232 McKinney Ave/Ste 400 Dallas, TX 75204 800-419-3191 http://www.studyisland.com/ Success for All 200 W. Towsontown Blvd Baltimore, MD 21204 757-474-2888 Timberline Landscaping 2480 N. Powers Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-638-1010 http://www.successforall.net/ Total Education Solutions 625 S. Fair Oaks Ave/Ste 200 South Pasadena, CA 91030 323-344-4264
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ARCHITECTURE/ CONSTRUCTION A.Anderson Systems 322 E. Sangamom Ave Petersburgh IL62675 217-652-1217
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Conditioned Air 241 South St Macon, GA 32106 478-742-8768 http://www.conditionedairinc.com/
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Alan Court & Assoc 34 Park Pl East Hampton, NY 11937 631-324-7497 Albert M. Higley Co. 2926 Chester Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 216-861-2050 http://www.amhigley.com/
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Alliance Technologies 1301 Wellington Valley Ct/Ste 201 St. Louis, MO 63005 636-734-2337 http://alliancetechnologiesllc.com/
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Arborite 385 Lafleur Lasalle, QC H8R 3H7 514-595-2661 http://www.arborite.com/en AV Design Group 52 Sherwood Rd Hampton Bays, NY 11946 631-728-6600 http://audiovisualdesigngroup.com/ B&H Restoration 3455 Vernon Blvd Long City, NY 11106 718-274-5598 http://www.bhrestoration.com/ BD Engineering, LLC 1825 Swarthmore Ave/Unit B Lakewood, NJ 8701 732-886-5432 http://www.bd-engineering.com/
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Herner-Geissler 400 N Hermitage Ave Chicago, IL 60622 312-226-3400
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Hess Mechanical 9600 Fallard Ct Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 301-856-4700
Empire Mirror & Glass, LTD 77 Cliffwood Ave Cliffwood, NJ 7721 732-566-7335
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FACE Associates 1420 Beverly Rd Ste 230 McLean, VA 22101 703-760-0490
Horizon School Division No 67 6302 56th St Taber, AB T1G 1Z9 403-223-3113
Ferguson 12500 Jefferson Ave Newport News, VA 23602 757-223-6490
Hotel Resource Group 968 Civic Center Dr. Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-6607
Cenacchi International Via Della Liberta 31 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna 40064 http://www.cenacchiinternational.eu/ eng/index.asp Chamberlain Construction CO. 2864 Hartland Road Falls Church, VA 22043 703-698-1715 http://chamberlaincc.com/
Hall Planning & Engineering 322 Beard St Tallahassee, FL 32303 850-222-2277
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ADVERTISER INDEX (CONTINUED) http://www.gohrg.com/ Humidifall 5988 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. Ste 234 St. Charles., MO 63304 636-928-8855 http://www.humidifall.com/ Ian Ingersoll 422 Sharon Goshen Tpk West Cornwall, CT 6796 860-672-6334 Imperial Gunite Corp 81 Commercial Ave Oakdale, NY 11769 631-287-2455 Integrated Comfort Systems 267 Cortlandt St Belleville, NJ 7109 866-749-6331 Integrated Electronics 9847 Lackman Rd Lenexa, KS 66219 913-663-336 Interior Investments 205 w. Wacker Dr/Ste 1700 Chicago, IL 60606 312-212-5126 http://www.interiorinvestments.com/ JW Didado Electric 580 Vernon Odom Blvd Akron, OH 44307 330-374-0070 Landshapes Inc 88 Rogers Ln Richmond, VT 5477 802-434-3500 Leach Painting Co. 1233 Hanley Industrial Ct. Brentwood, MO 63144 314-961-4100 Lincoln Property Company 2000 McKinney Ave Ste 1000 Dallas, TX 75201 214-740-3300 Litwiller Excavating 7316 Sparrow Rd Hopedale, IL 61747 309-449-3280 Lopez Construction & Design 3032 E 1/2 Rd Grand Junction, CO 81504 970-434-5954 Marvin Doors & Windows 2714 Mercanile Dr Brentwood, MO 63144 314-646-5130 http://www.marvin.com/ Masco Contractors 30 S. Calle Cesar Chavez #B Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-965-4962 http://www.mascocs.com Michael Allen Inc. 440 Broadway/2R Brooklyn, NY 11211 718-782-8490
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Mid South Glass 330 South Pkwy Memphis, TN 38112 901-947-4146 Mincey Marble 4321 Browns Bridge Rd Gainesville, GA 30504 800-533-1806 http://www.minceymarble.com/
Rock Cottage Glass 6801 Farley St Merriam, KS 66203 913-262-0107 www.rockcottageglassworks.com/ Rocky Mountain Log Homes 1883 Highway 93 South Hamilton, MT 59840 406-721-0785 http://www.rmlh.com/
Monarc Construction 2781 Hartland Road Falls Church, VA 22043 703-641-8500 www.monarcconstruction.com/
Saia Trim Group 8110 Cordova Rd/ste 115 Memphis, TN 38016 901-751-7442
Morin Distribution 9305 Gerwig Ln/Ste V-Y Columbia, MD 21046 301-953-0250
Square 1 Builders 56199 Parkway Avenue. Ste 1 Elkhart, IN 46516 574-389-8010
Norwegian Wood 942 Grand Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211 718-218-8880
SRK Pools 370 Montauk Highway Wainscott, NY 11975 631-537-3750 http://www.srkpools.com/
Olsson Roofing 740 S. Lake St Aurora, IL 60506 630-892-0449 Palacio Collaborative 1425 Ellsworth Indust. Blvd NW/Ste 7 Atlanta, GA 30318 404-609-9006 http://www.palaciocollaborative.com/ Paul J. Ford & Co. 250 E. Broad St./Ste 1500 Columbus, OH 43215 614-221-6679 PCI Industries 21717 Rebublic St Oak Park, MI 48237 248-542-2570 http://www.pci-industries.com/ Performance Plus 1250 Paonia St Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-896-0385 Phelps Construction Group 315 Wootton St/Unit K Boonton, NJ 7005 973-402-0004 Pride Construction 315 Mann Dr. Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-8683 Quaker Windows 504 Highway 63 South Freeburg, MO 65035 573-744-5211 http://www.quakerwindows.com/ Reeder General Construction 109 Aviator Dr Fort Worth, TX 76052 817-439-2022 Resource Furniture 969 Third Ave NY, NY 10155 212-753-2039
St. John’s Woodworking 68 34th St Brooklyn, NY 11232 718-499-0584 http://www.saintjohnsplace.com/ Starrett Electric 110 West Court Dyersburg, TN 38025 731-442-0890 Summerhill Landscapes 6 Shaw Road Sag Harbor, NY 11963 631-725-0005 Super Enterprises 1877 McFarland Pkwy Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-393-9188 Sweetwater Interiors 212 West Washington St Goshen, IN 46526 574-534-3989 http://www.sweetwaterinteriors.com/ T6, Inc. 101 Green Meadows Dr. S/Ste 110 Lewis Center, OH 43035 614-880-2555 The Garland Company, Inc. 3800 East 91st St Cleveland, OH 44105 800-762-8225 http://www.garlandco.com/ The Melink Co. 5140 River Valley Rd Milford, OH 45150 513-965-7308 Thomas Builders 855 W. Wilson St. Niota, TN 37826 423-568-2134 http://www.thomasbuildersinc.com/ TMP Consulting Engineers 52 Temple Place Boston, MA 2111
617-357-6060 http://www.tmpeng.com/ Towne Carpet 1080 East 20th St Chico, CA 95928 530-343-0215 http://www.townecarpet.com/ Turner & Townsend 1 Westchase Cntr; 10777 Westheimer/Ste1160 Houston, TX 77042 281-496-5615 http://www.turnerandtownsend.com/ United Heating & Cooling 301 Duck Rd Grandview, MO 64030 816-761-5262 http://www.unitedheating.com/ Upstate Door 26 Industrial Street Warsaw, NY 14569 585-786-3880 http://www.upstatedoor.com/ Urban Planning Concepts 2624 Airpark Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-934-5760 www.urbanplanningconcepts.com/ Vandemark & Lynch, Inc 4305 Miller Rd Wilmington, DE 19802 302-764-7635 http://www.vandemarklynch.com VendRick 367 Collar Price Rd Brookfield, OH 44403 330-448-4600 http://www.vendrickconstruction.com/ Verdin Company 444 Reading Rd Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-241-4010 Zandur 80 Nottingham Dr. Nottingham, PA 19362 610-932-4390 http://www.zandur.com/ ZZ Consulting 1086 North 900 East Shelley, ID 83274 208-357-5571 http://www.zzconsulting.com/
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FORWARD LOOKING LAWYERS IN MISSOURI & NEVADA ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, CLEAN TECHNOLOGY, UTILITY + LAW
Representing clients within the renewable energy and clean technology industries BIOFUELS BIOFUEL CELLS BIOMASS C OGENERAT ION GEO THERMAL WIND
Robert B. Reeser III, Energy Practice Leader 800.243.5070 / www.armstrongteasdale.com