Space Industry and Business News  
Worlds Largest CIGS Thin-Film Solar Array Goes Live

GSE solar technology.
by Staff Writers
Tucson AZ (SPX) Dec 05, 2008
Global Solar Energy has announced the full operation of the largest solar electric array worldwide using CIGS photovoltaic (PV) technology.

The 750-kilowatt (kW) system, located at Global Solar's manufacturing facility in Tucson, is the first commercial-scale deployment of the company's highly efficient CIGS thin-film solar technology and will help power its manufacturing plant.

The innovative system is financed, owned and operated by MMA Renewable Ventures, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage and Equity. SOLON Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of SOLON AG, produced and installed the PV modules and designed the array.

Covering 310,000 square feet at Global Solar's manufacturing plant, the system features a ground-mounted solar array that uses 6,600 SOLON solar modules incorporating Global Solar's CIGS thin-film solar cells. Offering cost and manufacturing advantages, CIGS thin-film is poised to become a leading solar technology.

"This new solar system solidifies the vitality and longevity of CIGS technology in the thin-film space," said Mike Gering, president and CEO of Global Solar Energy.

"We are proud to be instrumental in this industry first and excited to be a part of one of MMA's cutting-edge projects. As the only CIGS provider to have its technology powering a commercial-scale solar array, Global Solar Energy continues to prove itself as a solar industry leader."

Global Solar is purchasing the power generated from MMA Renewable Ventures under the terms of a long-term commercial financing agreement.

The thin-film solar power system will generate more than 1.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable electricity annually at Global Solar's 100,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The ground-mounted solar energy system will offset 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide over its expected 25-year lifetime.

"This operational solar array is a monumental step in America's energy revolution," SOLON Corporation's CEO Olaf Koester said.

"CIGS technology will contribute to driving down solar energy prices, bringing renewable energy to the masses." SOLON Corporation's vision is to help spark the widespread adoption of solar energy in the United States by designing, constructing and maintaining large-scale photovoltaic power plants.

"We are constantly looking for ways to deliver affordable energy at scale," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "Global Solar is a leader in CIGS materials and we value the opportunity to showcase its thin-film technology, an innovation in the solar market."

Tucson Electric Power helped fund the project through its agreement to purchase the renewable energy credits generated by the array's clean energy.

The credits will help TEP pursue goals established under Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard, which calls on electric utilities to work toward securing 15 percent of their power from renewable resources by 2015.

"This project helps us build toward the clean energy future we envision for Arizona," said Philip Dion, vice president of Legal and Environmental Services for Tucson Electric Power and its parent company, UniSource Energy Corporation (NYSE:UNS - News).

"Companies such as Global Solar, MMA and SOLON exemplify the best and brightest in renewable energy technology, and we're proud of their contribution to our community's renewable energy resources."

Related Links
Global Solar Energy
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Perpetual Energy Systems Launches 422 kW DC Solar Energy Project
Harrison NY (SPX) Dec 05, 2008
Perpetual Energy Systems (PES) has announced the launch of its newest project hosted at the City of Willits Water Treatment Plant. The project guarantees a reduction in energy costs and has the capacity to generate approximately 530,000 kilowatt hours AC (kWh) per year to meet 100 percent of the plant's current power needs.







  • Yahoo up on reports of new takeover bid
  • NASA Tests First Deep-Space Internet
  • Wired ... but frustrated
  • Qualcomm to link people to Internet without computers

  • Arianespace To Launch ViaSat-1
  • Russia To Launch Two Telecoms Satellites In February 2009
  • Russia Launches New Space Freighter To ISS
  • South Korea To Launch Maritime Weather Satellite Next Year

  • Thompson Files: Protect U.S. aerospace
  • NASA studies pilot cognition
  • China postpones talks with Airbus: spokesman
  • Two China airlines to get govt aid: state media

  • Boeing Develops Common Software To Reduce Risk For TSAT
  • USAF Tests Battlespace Information Solution On AC-130 Gunship
  • Harris Awarded Contract For USAF Satellite Control Network Program
  • LockMart Delivers Key Hardware For US Navy's Mobile User Objective System

  • ESA Satellites Flying In Formation
  • Kazakhstan Admits Losing Satellite
  • Astronomers hope to see orbiting tool bag
  • Please don't litter space, scientists say

  • Berndt Feuerbacher New President Of IAU
  • Orbital Appoints Frank Culbertson And Mark Pieczynski To Management
  • Chris Smith Named Director Of Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
  • AsiaSat Appoints New General Manager China

  • GIS Development Gives Award To Institute Of Photogrammetry
  • UNESCO Signs Partnership With JAXA
  • NASA Selects NOAA GOES-R Series Spacecraft Contractor
  • Ball Aerospace Completes CDR For Landsat's Operational Land Imager

  • Garmin Aids AA Fleet Rapid Response
  • Networks In Motion Integrates INRIX Total Fusion Traffic
  • Trimble Introduces Juno Series Of Economical GPS Handhelds
  • Spirent Communications Delivers Over-The-Air A-GPS Test Solution

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement