News Article
Solyndra & SCE Sign CIGS Solar System Supply Agreement
The firm’s subsidiary, Photo Solar, will install the solar systems onto 18 roof tops of Southern California Edison (SCE) customers.
Solyndra, a manufacturer of innovative cylindrical solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial and industrial rooftops, has been awarded a 20 year power purchase agreement. The firm will supply Southern California Edison with renewable electricity from 16.2 megawatts (MW) of rooftop photovoltaic solar systems on 18 rooftops. The agreements were awarded to Solyndra's wholly-owned subsidiary, Photon Solar.
"Southern California Edison is demonstrating tremendous leadership in the application of distributed solar electricity to serve its customers and address the state's renewable energy goals, and we are pleased to be selected as a part of this industry leading utility-scale rooftop power generation program," said Corby Whitaker, Solyndra's VP of North America Sales. "Rooftop solar takes advantage of unutilized space to generate energy right where it is needed, eliminating the need for costly transmission lines and extensive environmental impact testing and permitting."
"We believe the Southern California Edison solar rooftop project will ultimately be held out as an example for the rest of the world, demonstrating the benefits of distributed rooftop power generation in achieving broader renewable generation goals," said Marc Ulrich, SCE vice president of Renewables and Alternative Power. "We are pleased to be working with Solyndra on this project. We are also pleased that Solyndra designs and manufactures their panels in California, which means this project is maintaining and creating jobs here in our State."
Unlike traditional flat plate solar modules, the Solyndra product was designed to be ideally suited for large commercial and industrial rooftops using (copper indium gallium (di)selenide) CIGS technology. The Solyndra product can be cost effectively installed on rooftops that require a distributed load of less than 3 lbs. per square foot, which is very typical of "big box" retail, warehouse and other light industrial roofs which are not designed to support significant additional rooftop weight.
Solyndra's panels are composed of unique cylindrical modules that allow wind to pass through, which eliminates the need for heavy brackets, weights, and roof surface penetrations that are common with traditional solar modules. When installed in conjunction with white "cool roofs", the Solyndra solution combines both power generation and the energy efficiency benefits of a reflective roof surface while preserving the integrity of the roof surface.
In addition, Solyndra systems can be easily moved in the case of re-roofing, building retrofit or ownership change, which is particularly important to many real estate owners that wish to receive the cash flow benefits of hosting a solar system without encumbering the sale of the property in the future.
Photon Solar intends to complete construction of the 18 rooftop systems comprising the 16.2 MW project during 2011. Construction of these PV systems is subject to California Public Utility Commission approval, financing of the project, certain permitting, and other customary closing conditions.
