Tangent Energy brings clean energy solution to Yuasa Battery, Inc.

Reading, PA (October 11, 2011) Tangent Energy Solutions today announced the completion of a 240 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar array at Yuasa Battery, Inc.’s manufacturing facility in Laureldale, PA.

The system generates 299,438 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power, and over the 20 year term of the agreement Tangent estimates it will save Yuasa more than $300k in energy costs. Environmentally, the system eliminates 455,209 lbs of CO2 emissions – about the same as removing 40 cars per year from the roads.

Yuasa Battery, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of its ultimate parent GS Yuasa, and Yuasa Brand motorcycle batteries have been manufactured to uncompromising standards in the United States since 1979. GS Yuasa Corporation and its affiliates are committed to managing the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle on a global basis. This solar installation is another example of Yuasa Battery, Inc’s commitment to environmental responsibility that will reduce the carbon footprint of the energy used in producing its Powersports batteries.

Tangent saves commercial and industrial companies 20% on energy costs, by combining technology and clean on-site generation assets to balance supply and demand in response to grid pricing conditions and facility energy needs. Generation assets are provided at no capital cost, and the energy produced is sold to customers at a discount to retail rates through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement.

We’re very excited to be working with Yuasa, to supply their manufacturing facility with a clean generation source, and the latest energy efficiency technologies,” said Dean Musser, President and CEO of Tangent Energy. “As conditions on the energy grid become more complex, it’s important to have forward-thinking companies like Yuasa. They serve as a model for others on how to become active participants in the energy market.”

The project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.

About Tangent Energy Solutions
Tangent Energy Solutions reverses the traditional utility driven approach to developing the smart grid by partnering with commercial and industrial customers to optimize the “grid behind the meter.” By providing clean energy assets and technologies at no capital cost, Tangent saves C&I energy customers 10 percent to 20 percent while increasing the amount of renewable content in their supply. Tangent actively manages on-site, assets to decrease a customer’s reliance on grid sourced energy, especially during peak demand periods. As a result both the end-customer and the utilities benefit. Tangent is a venture-backed company founded in 2009 by a management team that has been providing commercially successful energy innovations to mainstream C&I customers for 30 years.

About Yuasa Battery, Inc.
Yuasa Battery, Inc. is the largest American manufacturer and the largest distributor of batteries for motorcycles, snowmobiles, scooters, all-terrain vehicles, and personal watercraft. Most of the large capacity Powersport batteries are manufactured in the Laureldale, PA plant. All other Powersport batteries are produced in a Yuasa state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in various countries throughout the world. Each Yuasa facility follows the same rigorous manufacturing processes to insure the highest Yuasa quality standards are met. Additionally, Yuasa distributes the Yuasa brand (original and true) NP Series batteries, a sought after power source for security and alarm systems, UPS Systems, emergency lighting, CCTV’s and electronic applications.

Solis Partners Completes Solar Installation For New Jersey Utility

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (March 11, 2011) – Solis Partners, a leading developer and integrator of commercial solar power systems, and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s oldest and largest publicly owned utility, recently celebrated the completion of a 921-kilowatt rooftop solar installation at the utility’s Central Division Headquarters in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, N.J.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by PSE&G executives, local elected officials and dignitaries, representatives from the solar panel supplier and the solar developer responsible for building the system.

Designed, engineered and deployed by Manasquan, N.J.-based Solis Partners, the system utilizes a combination of U.S.-made SolarWorld flat, glass-plated crystalline panels and Solyndra thin film panels.

The Somerset system is part of Newark-based PSE&G’s Solar 4 All™ program, a plan to invest $515 million on 80 megawatts of solar projects around the state between 2009 and 2013.

“With the hard work and commitment of key state legislators, the BPU and utilities such as PSE&G, New Jersey has become the sixth largest solar market in the world and a national leader in installed solar capacity — second only to California,” said Jamie Hahn, managing director of Solis Partners. “PSE&G’s Solar 4 All program has been key to that achievement. This project exemplifies PSE&G’s commitment to transforming underutilized commercial rooftops into clean renewable energy sources.”

Rooftop solar makes tremendous sense for New Jersey, which has more flat commercial rooftops per square mile than any other state, said Gary Weisman, director of sales for Solis, in remarks at the event.

“These underutilized rooftop assets are the perfect platform for deploying distributed solar generation facilities where power is most needed,” said Weisman. “Rooftop solar produces during the hours of peak demand, and provides power to the areas of the grid that need it the most — large commercial and industrial users.”

The innovative cylindrical panels from Solyndra are designed to optimize electricity production on commercial flat rooftops.  The ability of the system to cover more rooftop area and capture more light than traditional panels results in more annual solar electricity generation and will provide clean, low-cost power back to the utility grid for more than 25 years.

The Solyndra panels were integrated in the PSE&G system with a reflective white “cool” roof, which was on display at the ribbon cutting along with the Solyndra panels. The reflective roof not only enhances the efficiency of the building envelope from an energy savings perspective, but also increases the amount of solar production harvest.

Solis partnered with Allied Building Products Corp. on the project. Allied’s distribution team delivered the Solyndra and SolarWorld panels directly to the PSE&G rooftop and craned the Satcon inverters into place onto the concrete pad. Allied also provided the overall logistical support that allowed the project to be executed smoothly.

“For a project of this magnitude, staging and delivery are key to overall success and Allied has been a great partner in the role of solar distribution and logistics,” said Hahn.

At the ribbon cutting, the consensus of local dignitaries, which included New Jersey Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula and Somerset County Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, was that without a thriving renewable energy sector, the nation risks escalating dependence on fossil fuels, increased greenhouse gas emissions, reduced national security and the erosion of job creation within the clean energy sector.

In addition to being a great example of the advancements that are occurring in the solar sector, PSE&G’s Central Division Headquarters’ solar system illustrates how the Solar 4 All initiative is helping the renewable energy sector grow in New Jersey and the nation, said Al Matos, PSE&G’s vice president of Renewables and Energy Solutions, who delivered the opening remarks to the crowed of about 50 people.

“By installing large amounts of solar capacity in a reliable, orderly way, Solar 4 All is a driving force behind the renewable energy market,” said Matos. “Programs such as ours help create a predictable demand for these advanced products. This creates the kind of environment that solar companies need to spur innovation and cost efficiencies on their part, which then drives even more demand, more sales and more innovation.”

The benefits of having utilities such as PSE&G as major players in the renewable energy field extend beyond helping to create a market for solar companies, also helping ratepayers, he said.

“Our Solar 4 All program provides maximum benefit to PSE&G electric ratepayers,” said Matos. “Every one of the panels we are placing in service generates value from the sale of its electricity and capacity, the federal investment tax credits it realizes and the solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) that it generates.”

Southern California Edison Awards 36 Contracts for Utility-Scale Solar Rooftop Project

Southern California Edison (SCE) awarded 36 contracts to independent power producers for a total of nearly 60 megawatts from photovoltaic solar panels that will produce emission-free energy for SCE customers. The panels will be installed on 31 unused rooftops and five ground-mount sites in SCE’s service territory.

The solar rooftop project, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in June 2009, calls for a total of 500 megawatts of  solar generating capacity, most of it on otherwise unused large warehouse rooftops. Half of the 500 megawatts will be from independent power producers who respond to SCE’s request for offers under competitive solicitations; the remaining 250 megawatts will be owned and operated by SCE. It is expected that this project will create about 1,200 jobs for Southern Californians.

“These contracts make significant strides toward distributed renewable generation for one of the most innovative solar programs in the country,” said Marc Ulrich, SCE vice president, Renewable and Alternative Power. “We’re working to help California meet its Million Solar Roofs goal and supply even more renewable energy to our customers where and when it’s most needed, without the added time and expense to construct major new transmission facilities.” The contracts awarded today are the first executed under the competitive solicitations for independent power producers.

SCE believes that its solar rooftop project will be a boon for the solar industry and consumers alike, with the resulting cost per unit significantly more cost effective than more common residential photovoltaic installations in California. Eventually, this could help drive down installation costs of photovoltaic generation for everyone. When complete, the solar panels will cover an area totaling 4 square miles on about 250 otherwise unused warehouse roofs. The total power production will rival a utility-scale power plant, enough electricity to serve 325,000 average homes at a point in time. SCE has already installed panels on three rooftop warehouses in California’s Inland Empire that are delivering – or are in line to deliver – electricity to the grid.

SCE is the nation’s leading utility for renewable energy. In 2009, SCE delivered 13.6 billion kilowatt hours of renewable power to its customers, about 17 percent of its total power portfolio.

New solar energy product could revolutionize industry

From CoolerPlanet.com

A newly announced development from Dow Chemical may change the solar energy industry for homeowners in the coming years.

Dow’s new Powerhouse solar shingle is said to incorporate photovoltaic technology into a roof shingle, potentially allowing people to use their entire rooftop to generate electricity at a reasonable cost. According to the company, the new shingles will be on the market in limited quantities next year, becoming more widely available in 2011.

“These types of innovative products not only showcase our deep scientific and technical expertise but also demonstrate how our commitment to R&D is fueling Dow’s future growth agenda around the world,” said company chairman Andrew Liveris.

The news was also hailed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm because of the green manufacturing jobs the new product is expected to bring to the state, which has it headquarters in the city of Midland.

The technology is said to involve thin film technologies that have been growing more common throughout the industry. In the coming years, thin film technology may provide advanced new applications for solar energy technology, such as wrapping or printing solar generating material onto a variety of surfaces.

Smart grid project features solar energy

From coolerplanet.com

A smart grid project getting underway in New York City will provide more information about how solar energy technology can be incorporated into existing power grids.

This week, Con Edison announced an 18-month smart grid pilot program that will take place in Queens. Residents will receive smart meters that will help them monitor home energy usage to better maximize efficiency and to help control costs.

However, the plan also features a 100-kilowatt solar roof array at a local community college that will be used to improve the integration of solar energy into the power grid of a densely populated area. The distributed solar energy project involves a partnership between Con Edison and the City University of New York.

“With this ‘smart grid’ agreement, CUNY is partnering with Con Edison to create a roadmap for New York and an example for the nation as we move toward energy independence. The University’s faculty and researchers will continue to work closely with Con Edison to identify new solar and renewable energy opportunities,” said university chancellor Matthew Goldstein.

While solar energy has been growing steadily in popularity, the electrical grid system is not always prepared to handle new sources of power. This is particularly the case for large utility-scale projects that tend to be located far from population centers.

Roofing Giant Johns Manville Enters Solar Market

From Greentechmedia.com

A heavyweight is entering the solar roofing business.

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company with 151 years of history, has inked a multi-year deal with Energy Conversion Devices (NDSQ: ENER) to buy flexible thin films made by ECD’s subsidiary, United Solar Ovonic, that it will then incorporate into roofing materials.

The Denver-based company also created a new company called JM E3 Co. to market eco-friendly products for the commercial rooftop market. This could mean competition for people like Serious Materials and Aspen Aerogels, who have teamed up on energy efficient insulation, or Photosolar, which make integrated window films that repel solar heat. Manville already produces a myriad of insulation products for markets including aerospace, automotive and wind energy.

“Until now solar has not a great return on investments,” said Sarah Tholen, a marketing and communications manager at Johns Manville.  “With the economic stimulus package there are a number of drivers that make solar an attractive value proposition.”

In the past, a return on investment for installing solar on rooftops could take 17 years, Tholen said. That window has shrunk to about six to seven years, she added.

Johns Manville’s foray into solar roofing products reflects the growing interest in building-integrated solar products, which remain a tiny market with low-efficiency products.

Unlike many rooftop solar energy systems today that use solar panels with mounting systems, installing flexible solar thin films such as those made by Uni-Solar would require no roofing penetration or racks. That could shave installation costs and reduce the likelihood of leaky roofs and other problems. Integrated solar roofs also could be more aesthetically pleasing.

Makers of copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) thin-film are going after the commercial rooftop market, though many of them are in pre-commercialization stages.

Solyndra, in Fremont, Calif., seems to have made more progress in tackling the roofing market. Last November, CIGS thin film developer said it had signed a $320 million deal with roofing system maker Carlisle Construction Materials, which is based in Carlisle, Penn.

The deal with ECD marks the first commercial product launch for Johns Manville, which has considered adding solar energy generation systems to its lineup for several years.

Under the agreement, Uni-Solar would ship its thin films to Johns Manville’s factory in Scottsboro, Ala., where they would be assembled into Johns Manville’s thermalplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing membranes, Tholen said.

Johns Manville also will offer another product that combines the thin films with its bitumen roofing offering, said Brad Burdic, group manager for owner services at Johns Manville. This product requires customization, so it’s not an off-the-shelf solution like the one with TPO.

Bitumen systems are the oldest products for the roofing industry, Burdic said. But the newer TPO membranes account for the fastest growing segment, and they cost less, he added. TPO membranes also meet California’s cool roof requirements.

California and New Jersey are two states that promise to be strong markets for the solar roofing products, thanks to strong state incentives for solar, Tholen said.

JM E3 plans to sell its new roofing products for the low-slope commercial roofing market, Tholen said. The company expects to see the first installations during the first half of 2010, she added. She declined to disclose the value of the company’s contract with ECD.

Johns Manville opted for Uni-Solar’s thin films because they are ready to be integrated into conventional roofing materials, even though those thin films aren’t as efficient at converting sunlight into electricity as other thin films under development, Tholen said.

Uni-Solar uses amorphous silicon as the key ingredient for its thin films, which have about 6 percent to 7 percent efficiency.

“We are looking at more efficient products, including monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon,” Tholen said. “Generally, our interest would be in systems with very limited roof penetration.”

Silicon solar panels are more expensive for integrating into roofing systems, she added. Most of them also are glass panels that require racks to support them.

There are companies such as Redwood Renewables that are putting crystalline silicon cells in roofing tiles, however (see Getting Solar Energy Cheap and Easy).

New options emerge for tapping into solar energy

By LESLIE BERKMAN, The Press-Enterprise

Although sunshine is free, a rooftop a solar system can cost $30,000 to $50,000 — enough to discourage even ardent environmentalists when financing is hard to find and households are holding tight to their cash to weather a recession.

But more affordable options are being touted by the solar industry. In recent months new financing programs have been introduced for homeowners who prefer to lease a solar system or to buy the power produced by a solar system on their home that is owned and maintained by someone else.

Mike Corral, 39, said in an effort to hedge against rising electricity rates, he considered buying a solar system for his family’s 4,300-square-foot home in Eastvale. But he said he wanted to avoid the $50,000 cost of such a system, which would cut a chunk out of his family’s rainy day savings and take many years to recoup in lower utility bills.

So late last month, Corral paid nothing to have a 5.6 kilowatt solar system with 28 photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of his two-story house.

The system is owned and maintained by SolarCity, a Foster City firm that began leasing solar systems in April and so far has signed leases to place systems on nearly 1,600 houses in California and Arizona.

“I have been saving money from day one,” said Corral, who on a bright Monday morning was enjoying watching his meter run backward, as it fed power into the utility grid and earned him credits to lower his utility bill.

He also said he liked the worry free aspect of letting SolarCity take responsibility for repairs.

“We knew the biggest barrier to adopting solar power was the upfront costs,” said SolarCity chief executive Lyndon Rive. So Rive said Solar City designed the financing program, then recruited Morgan Stanley to fund it.

Corral pays $151 a month to lease the system on his roof that is designed to meet about 79 percent of his family’s needs, based on their history of electricity consumption.

In the first year of his solar lease, Corral is expected to pocket a monthly average savings of $12, which will grow over time, said SolarCity salesman Mike Schmel. He estimated that over the 15-year term of the lease Coral could save between $11,000 and $14,000.

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