North American Clean Energy July August 2009

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4

Regional Development GuideIntersolar North America show in print

Wind Energy:Forecasting & Assessment

Tide of SeaWave power technology

PLUS…

Harnessing Solar Power from Space

FinancingClean Energy

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5North American Clean Energy

July/August 2009Volume 3, Number 4

EDITOR

Michelle [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

Rommel [email protected]

SALES MANAGER

Ian [email protected]

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Kristy [email protected]

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Alison [email protected]

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contents

Wind Energy 10

Solar Energy 22

IntersolarNorth AmericaShow in Print 33

Geothermal Energy 47

RegionalDevelopmentGuide 51

Investing inClean Energy 55

BioPower 58

Hydro & MarineEnergy 62

Energy Efficiency 64

departments

06 News Bites

08 Patents, Litigation & Licensing: Emerging issues for clean energy technologies

10 The Forecaster’s Toolbox: Developing tailored solutions for transmission systems and wind plant operators

12 NWP Modeling and Wind Power Site Assessment & Forecasting

14 Big Parts Meet Big Solutions: Bringing lean automation to wind turbine production

16 Improving Wind Generation Station Profi ts through Excellent O&M

22 Solar Thermal Poised for US Growth

24 Advance Controller Monitoring: How monitoring technology is shaping the solar thermal industry

26 Power Conversion: Film technology replacing electrolytic technology in solar applications

28 Beaming Down: Harnessing solar power from space

47 Warming Up to Geothermal: Understanding ground loop heating and cooling systems

49 Geothermal Growth Potential and Financing

51 2009/2010 Regional Development Guide

55 Mitigating Change-in-law Risk Associated with RECs

56 The Financing of Clean Energy

57 Part II: Joint Ventures between Regulated Utilities and Developers: An alternative method for developing renewable energy generation

58 Dry Fermentation in Municipal Solid Waste Management

60 Case Study: CSI Biomass Co-generation project

62 Tide of Sea Energy: The Wave

Hub power project

64 Annual Energy Effi ciency Indicator: Survey reveals regulation and incentives will drive investment

66 Key Issues to Consider When Undertaking Renewable Energy Projects on Tribal Lands

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4

Regional Development GuideIntersolar North America show in print

Wind Energy:Forecasting & Assessment

Tide of SeaWave power technology

RegionaRegionall DevGuide

technolog

PLUS…

Assessment

Harnessing Solar Power from Space

Tid f S

Power from Spa

FinancingClean Energy

NACE Jul Aug 2009 ADD.indd 5NACE Jul Aug 2009 ADD.indd 5 7/8/09 10:30 AM7/8/09 10:30 AM

6 July / August 2009 nacleanenergy.com

Renewable energy, much like any other resource or commod-ity, is a business. Or, at least, the harnessing of renewable en-ergy can be classifi ed as such. And, as most any other business, this industry is not without its fair share of challenges. From fi nancing projects and developing partnerships to generating new technology (not to mention new legislation) and forecast-ing and attaining profi ts, producing wind, solar, geothermal,

and biomass power may not be considered “new” but, as an industry, these forms of power are really still in their formative years.

To this end, our summer issue of North American Clean Energy is full of articles that offer answers to many of those business challenges—from fi nancing clean energy (page 56; also see p 49) to dealing with patents, legislation, and licensing (p 8). We also bring you Part II of our look at “Joint Ventures between Regulated Utilities and Developers” (p 57) from last issue and present our fi rst Regional Development Guide (p 51), which provides information on various cities, states, and provinces looking to develop clean energy and economic growth in their region.

With this information in hand, it is also worth noting something Henry Ford once said: “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.” In spite of the words coming from a past automobile manufacturer and founder who put a dealership in every North American city (granted, Ford probably didn’t guess that by 2006, trans-portation sources would account for approximately 29% of total US greenhouse gas emissions and would be the largest end-use source of CO2), there is merit to what he

said—perhaps especially in the renewable energy industry. In a world that often places money and business at the forefront (we live in a capitalist society after all), it is nice to be reminded of what matters and what is worth working for on a more profound level.

If you haven’t already seen “Home,” a fi lm by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, it is worth the YouTube search. Considered a “carbon offset” movie—meaning all of the CO2 emissions from the making of the fi lm were calculated and offset by donations used to provide clean energy to those who don’t have any (check out www.home-2009.com)—it serves as a warning, with scientist telling us we have ten years to change the way we live and avert the depletion of natural resources. Agree or disagree? Regardless, you might want to re-fl ect on just how your business is making a difference in the world; for our planet…does it make more than just money? At times, this is perhaps easier said than done.

Interestingly, at press time for this issue, a much-debated 1,200-page House Climate Bill (formally known as the “American Clean Energy and Security Act”) was narrowly passed, requiring the US to “cap” or reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020, and by about 80% by mid-century—it also mandates that 15% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2020. It isn’t clear if the bill, which would affect everything from electricity generation to new home design to foreign trade, will survive the Senate. Needless to say, contro-versy abounds. Agree or disagree with the bill? Send your thoughts our way…email [email protected]. Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Michelle Froese

editor’s note

news bites

Pho

to b

y M

iche

lle M

oore

Software powers greenhouse gas meterEnterprise Information Management, Inc. (EIM), and Evergreen Energy Inc. offer a greenhouse gas meter called GreenCert, developed on IBM Websphere Portal-based software, which can cal-culate carbon reductions across multiple industries and devices. The absence of such compliance tools is cited as inhibiting the investment in and growth of the potential US$30 billion global car-bon market, according to a World Bank report.

GreenCert provides an automated software tool to gauge and document greenhouse gas man-agement efforts and can transform this data into Certifi ed Carbon Emissions Reduction Credits (CCERC). This greenhouse gas meter solution is a collaborative project among IBM Business Partner Enterprise Information Management, Inc. (EIM), Evergreen Energy Inc., and its subsidi-ary C-Lock Technology Inc. (C-Lock).

The technology extends the global greenhouse gas reduction trading market to numerous sec-tors including power, agriculture, government and fi nancial services. It can easily be deployed throughout power plants, cement factories, steel factories and commercial buildings, measuring outputs of greenhouse gases from fl orescent lights, printers, and other sources of energy output. GreenCert offers a standard, repeatable methodology for effi ciently collecting and manipulating large volumes of information and calculating and documenting emissions reductions, a process which has typically relied on highly specialized labor and transaction intensive methods.C-Lock Technology, Inc. | www.c-locktech.com Evergreen Energy Inc. | www.evgenergy.com

Climate inaction = inexcusableThe most up-to-date report on climate science notes that global temperatures, sea levels, and frequency of extreme weather events are all increasing beyond the patterns of natural variability within which our contemporary society and economy have developed. That doesn’t bode well for the future of global economies and of civilization itself, nor on the ecosystems that our civilization depends on, unless glo-bal societies rise to meet the challenge of climate change.

The report, based on a scientifi c congress held in Copenhagen in March, is an attempt to update the 2007 synthesis report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has already become outdated. For instance, the IPCC report acknowledged a lack of understanding of the dynamic processes that cause polar ice to melt, so the report left those effects out and projected a sea level rise of up to 59 centimeters (23 inches) by 2100. New observations have nearly doubled that projection to one meter, or 39 inches, an increase that would threaten many islands, shorelines, and low-lying wetlands. The report also provides updates on our understanding of ocean surface temperatures and heat content, indicating that ocean warming is about 50% greater than the IPCC had reported. Further studies have shown that societies and ecosystems are highly vulnerable to even modest levels of climate change, and a global temperature rise of more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels will cause “major societal and environmental disruptions.”

To help mitigate these disruptions, the world must limit its greenhouse gas emissions by heavily promoting energy ef-fi ciency while shifting to low-carbon energy sources, such as renewable energy. The report also identifi es the eastern half of the United States as one of two critical agriculture centers for the future of the world.

View the full report at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12599US Department of Energy Effi ciency and Renewable Energywww.eere.energy.gov

Sustainable living made easyInterested in alternatives to the “grid” energy system? Consider William H Kemp’s book, “The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independ-ence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living.” The book of-fers information, explanations, real-life examples, and practical applications to creating your own energy from home—touching on solar, wind, hydro, biofuels, and more. Available at www.amazon.com.


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By Mark C Scarsi, Lawrence T Kass & Chris L Holm

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP

Patents, Litigation& LicensingEmerging issues for

clean energy technologiesFrom left to right: Mark C Scarsi, Lawrence T Kass & Chris L Holm

May 19, 1891, Lawrenceville Georgia. Today, the US Patent Offi ce issued US Patent No. 452,546 to James M Mitchell for his invention: ‘Wind Apparatus for Generating Electricity and Charging Secondary Batteries.’ Mitchell fi led the application for his newly issued US Patent in December 1890. That was only eleven years after Thomas Edison fi rst demonstrated his improvements to the electric light in 1879, which allowed an incandescent lamp with a fi lament of carbonized sewing thread to burn for thirteen-and-a-half hours. Even now, Edison’s additional inventions are fueling the development of a massive electric utility industry across the Unites States. In an interview Mitchell stated, “I hope and believe that my invention will play a signifi cant and important role in providing alternative and renewable energy sources to supplement the electric utility industry. It is also very relevant in providing electricity to people living in rural areas where the electric utilities do not provide service. I have been in discussions with the electric utilities in the hope of forming a partnership and licensing my technology.”

The press release is fi ctional and we don’t actually know what Mr Mitchell said the day his patent was issued in 1891, or whether he was able to license his

patent. But over 100 years later, James M Mitchell’s dreams for alternative and re-newable energy are fi nally coming to pass. Today, patents are playing an important role in the alternative and renewable energy industry, and they will continue to play an important role in the future.

Patents are a force to be reckoned with as indicated by signifi cant patent litiga-tion. As just one example, in a patent infringement action at the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”) in Washington DC, General Electric is asking for an order that will block US imports of certain Mitsubishi wind turbines. GE is asserting three US patents, all directed to wind power generation technol-ogy, in the ITC action. In May 2009, there was a hearing on infringement of the accused Mitsubishi products and validity of the asserted GE patents. An initial de-termination is due in August 2009. If GE is successful, and Mitsubishi does not take a license from GE, then the accused Mitsubishi wind turbines and components will probably be excluded from importation into the US until the last asserted GE pat-ent expires in 2023.

This wouldn’t be the fi rst time a patent holder has successfully excluded US imports of wind power components by proving patent infringement at the ITC. Earlier, in 1995/96, Kenetech/Zond Energy successfully asserted US Patent No. 5,083,039 (“the ‘039 patent”) against Enercon. That ITC decision was affi rmed in 1998 following appeal. GE acquired the ‘039 patent out of bankruptcy from Zond Energy in 2002, and GE is now asserting that same ‘039 patent along with two other GE patents in the current infringement action against Mitsubishi in the ITC action described above.

As reported, after GE acquired the ‘039 patent, Enercon and GE entered into a cross-license agreement, and Enercon is now able to import the previously excluded wind turbines and components into the US. Therefore, by cross-licensing their re-spective patents, GE and Enercon can practice the inventions of the other’s licensed patents, by making, using, selling, offering to sell and/or importing products into the States, that might otherwise infringe those same patents.

Although it is not clear whether the successful ITC action between Kenetech/Zond Energy and Enercon had a role, wind power patent fi lings did increase dra-

matically thereafter. As illustrated, wind power patent fi lings were generally fl at until about 2000, even though Kenetech/Zond Energy began its ITC action against Enercon in 1995, received a favo-rable decision in 1996 and that decision was affi rmed in 1998. Beginning in about 2000, the number of wind power patent applications fi led each year followed a signifi cant upward trend.

The trend illustrated above mirrors a similar upward patent fi ling trend that was observed in the semiconductor industry over the last 40 years. Just as in the wind power industry, the semiconductor industry also reacted to successful patent in-fringement litigation by patent holders, and companies started to build their patent portfolios for use in licensing, cross-licensing, and litigation.

The semiconductor industry also pro-vides some lessons learned for the alter-native and renewable energy industries. As the IP climate was changing, some companies were slow to recognize the change and build their patent portfolios. In one particular case, when a company entered license negotiations with a large peer company with far more patents, the fi nal cross-license had a signifi cant

$200M payment to the company with the larger patent portfolio. That fee might have been less if the numbers of patents owned by each side were more comparable.

In other cases, companies launched new products without investigating their competitor’s patents, resulting in costly licenses or infringement suits. An early investigation before product launch might have mitigated impact from the com-petitor’s patents. In some cases, companies only focused on patents for their own products with the attitude of “if we don’t sell it, we don’t need to patent it.” As a result, in a cross-license negotiation, they had fewer patents to assert against their competitors, and got less favorable cross-license terms. Focusing on patents for their own products and considering their competitors’ products when fi ling patent applications might have given them better leverage in the cross-license negotiation.

Finally, the semiconductor industry and other mature technology areas learned the value of early participation in the legislative process. This has been important as Congress considers changing the standard for injunctions, or imposing venue limits for patent infringement suits. Early and active involvement in the legislative process has allowed industry concerns to be heard, understood, and addressed by Congress as the legislation is being drafted, debated, and amended.

While the alternative and renewable energy industries are more than just wind power, the wind power industry provides a good perspective for the alternative and

renewable energy industries as a whole. For example, owners of wind power patents include individual inventors, companies with less than a handful of patents, and large corporations with many patents. That same diversity applies for all the alter-native and renewable energy industry technologies.

As illustrated below, in the area of wind power technology, there are a few companies with signifi cant patent portfolios where GE, Hitachi, Vestas, Repower Mitsubishi, Nordex, and United Technologies have some of the larger portfolios. There are also many other companies with more modest portfolios including ABB, Gamesa, Ingeteam, Northern Power, Siemens, US Windpower. There are a number of companies that have less than fi ve patents or patent applications, and also a signifi cant number owned by the individual inventors and not assigned to any particular company.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP recently hosted a webinar entitled, “Infl uence of Intellectual Property on the Development of Renewable Energy Technologies.” The webinar provided additional details on the issues addressed in this article. To view a replay, please visit http://milbanklegalupdate.com/ve/ZZ98U79Fk79tG92BFS.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007Year Filed

Num

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iled

Per Y

ear



All of this means that patent infringe-ment litigation for alternative and re-newable energy technologies is here to stay. That litigation will certainly occur in US District Courts, where damages and injunctions can be awarded. Some Courts (like the Eastern District of Vir-ginia, the Western District of Wiscon-sin, and the Eastern District of Texas) are reported to have reasonably fast case dockets, and the time-to-trial in those courts can be relatively short. Other Courts, (like the District of New Jersey) have much longer time-to-trial. Some Courts also have special patent infringe-ment trial rules, which helps to formal-ize discovery and patent-unique issues.

Patent litigation for alternative and renewable energy technologies will also be prevalent at the US International Trade Commission, where a successful patent holder can get an order pro-hibiting importation of the infringing products into the US. The ITC is a spe-cialized administrative court that is very experienced in patent law. Some unique requirements to sue in the ITC include: proof of a US domestic industry and import of the accused products into the US. If a plaintiff can satisfy those re-quirements, the ITC is a good place to sue. The time from fi ling a complaint at the ITC to getting an initial determina-tion on infringement and validity is gen-erally as fast or faster than almost every US District Court.

To avoid or settle litigation, licensing will also be more common, as companies with strong patent portfolios force in-fringers to either stop making and selling their products, or take a license. Cross-licensing will also be more common, as companies with strong patent portfolios realize success in the marketplace will require that they have access to patents held by others, including competitors and suppliers, providing the freedom to practice the technologies covered by pat-ents that are licensed from others.

Indeed, there is an increased level of licensing activity in the renewable energy fi eld. For example, last month American Superconductor subsidiary AMSC Windtec licensed its technology for 2 MW doubly fed induction wind turbines to Inox Wind Ltd. The license gives Inox rights to manufacture and sell the wind turbines worldwide. Inox will pay AMSC an upfront license fee

and royalty payments, and plans to begin large-scale production in 2010. American Superconductor recently acquired Windtec, including 27 patents and patents pending worldwide on wind turbine technology by former sole owner and founder of Windtec, Gerald Hehenberger. Signifi cantly, AMSC Windtec will supply the turbine electrical systems to Inox as part of their overall licensing deal.

Mark C Scarsi is a partner at the Los Angeles offi ce of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP, Lawrence T Kass is a partner at the fi rm’s New York offi ce, and Chris L Holm is a senior associate at the Los Angeles offi ce.

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLPwww.milbank.com

Wind Power Patent Ownership

Not Assigned (617)

< than 5 patents each

GE (70)

Hitachi (19)

Vestas (16)

Repower (14)

Mitsubishi (12)

Nordex (12)

United Tech. (12)

ABB (11)

Gamesa (6)

Ingeteam (5)

North. Power (5)

Siemens (5)

U.S. Windpower (5)



wind energy

Wind power forecasting has evolved as an essential tool to predict the variability as-sociated with wind and energy production at a wind plant. Wind power forecast

users tend to have different applications, each requiring a different type of forecast opti-mization. Understanding the unique needs of each user allows forecasters to develop op-timization scenarios to address a variety of requirements. A forecast can be tailored to the needs of individual wind plant operators or transmission system operators who might be scheduling power from several wind plants in addition to conventional generation sources.

Balancing area and transmission, system operators schedule and control how much electricity will be placed on the grid at any given moment. Paramount to grid manage-ment is ensuring the overall reliability of the system. System operators must make certain there is enough reserve power generation capacity poised to generate electricity if the de-mand suddenly increases or if the existing supply of electricity suddenly decreases. Stand-ard scheduling procedures were historically optimized to function with dispatchable fossil fuel power sources. These sources offer a quick supply response to an electricity demand increase.

By their nature, renewable energy sources are variable. If the variation in these power sources goes unforecasted, transmission operators must maintain system reliability by in-creasing the amount of spinning reserves, which raises electricity system production costs. Diverse forecasting tools have been developed to assist with dynamically scheduling elec-tricity supply to match demand. Probabilistic, ramp event, and deterministic forecasts are three tools developed by forecasters to support a number of objectives.

Probabilistic forecastsA probabilistic forecast is often employed at the system operator level. This approach offers not only the most likely occurrence, but also provides users with a sense of wind events and associated power production that fall on both the high and low sides of the probability distribution. For example, the graph below demonstrates a forecast that gives confi dence of an 80% chance of the wind plants in a region generating 1,400 megawatt hours (MWh) during hour three, and only a 20% chance of these same plants producing 2,100 MWh over the same time period.

The probabilistic forecasting approach gives schedulers a broad sense of what type of energy output could occur in the future in a cost-effective manner. The wind power fore-cast in this example is used as a cost-deterrent mechanism by removing the need to keep a large amount of conventional generation in reserve and, perhaps, avoiding the need to keep slow-start based load units available. If a system operator is unsure about how much wind will be available to produce energy at a certain time, it has to keep a larger amount of conventional generation in reserve, and quite possibly keep some slow-start baseload units available.

Ramp event forecastsOutlier events are another unique forecast optimization that requires tuning a forecast to focus on events that have a low likelihood of occurrence, but have signifi cant consequenc-es on the occasion they do happen. For example, a ramp event is a signifi cant increase or decrease in wind speed, which equates to a substantial change in energy output. A ramp

event is defi ned as an observed change of 15% of wind plant capacity in one hour. Fore-casts optimized for occurrences other than ramp events are prone to missing the duration or amplitude of a ramp event.

The graph below shows an up-ramp in energy output. While the forecast and actual en-ergy output track relatively close, the forecast was optimized to achieve the lowest RMSE (root mean square error) over the 48-hour forecast period. In this example, the forecast took a more gradual increase in MWh Output out to hour nine, and then never predicted the extreme lows or highs that actually occurred out to hour 48. When averaged out hourly over the 48-hour period, this forecast only contains a 5% margin of error due to the way it hedged the sharp increases and decreases in energy output. Looking at only hours fi ve to nine shows how scheduling this power output could prove diffi cult—a 150 MWh shortfall.

If the opposite occurs and an unexpected down ramp happens, transmission system operators must spin up additional power generation and might be caught with not enough quick-start assets on line. This is a worst case scenario that schedulers must avoid, and do so by matching the severity of a ramp event with enough reserve to main-tain overall system reliability.

Deterministic forecastsIndividual wind plants are often contractually obligated to provide off-takers an expecta-tion of power generation over a future time interval. These users might request that a forecast be optimized to provide a deterministic energy output value. The deterministic forecasting approach offers users an exact energy output value that will occur over a time interval. These forecasts are often optimized to calculate future weather conditions in a region, and then model how wind plants will react to these conditions. A confi dence band or a range of possible outcomes will not suffi ce in this situation. To best determine the exact energy output value, forecasts often employ a weighted ensemble technique that can determine what forecast algorithms to use and how to weight the importance of one pre-dictive forecast algorithm over another, or even what combination of algorithms will pro-duce the most accurate results. Solutions like AWS Truewind’s eWind forecasting system, for instance, employ weighted ensembles to optimize forecasts.

With the increased penetration of wind throughout the world, wind power forecast-ing has developed into a crucial tool for effective grid management. A single forecasting approach will not satisfy the requirements of every user and, in some instances, multiple forecasting approaches are necessary to address the complex issues a single user faces. By understanding the unique scheduling obligations of forecast users, wind power forecasting can help bring about even greater penetrations of wind.

Ken Pennock is the forecasting business manager at AWS Truewind, LLC.

AWS Truewind, LCC | www.awstruewind.com

The Forecaster’s ToolboxDeveloping tailored solutions for transmission systems and wind plant operators By Ken Pennock



Machine condition monitoring Azima DLI’sWATCHMAN Remote Mon-itoring Services is a subscription-based service that addresses the equipment relia-bility and uptime needs of wind park own-ers by supporting safe and cost-effective machine condition monitoring of remote or unmanned installations. The award-winning WATCHMAN Remote service features advanced web-based technology and a team of experienced engineers who rely on proven monitoring techniques and knowledge of the wind power industry to promote optimal performance of turbines and related equipment.

Many of the turbines that went into service over the past several years are reaching the end of manufacturers’ war-ranties, putting wind park owners at risk for equipment failure. Because wind tur-bines are complex machines that operate under an infi nite range of loads and con-ditions, utilizing traditional automated monitoring and alarming systems can be ineffective. WATCHMAN Remote pro-vides wind park owners with a “virtual” expert condition monitoring team for a fraction of the cost of maintaining an in-house program, and it does not require any capital purchase of monitoring hard-ware or up-front installation costs. Azima DLI | www.azimadli.com/remote

Drive solutions for wind turbines ABM has introduced newly developed drives for wind turbines. The program consists of high-grade yaw and pitch drives with important functions: they position nacelle rotor blades optimally in the wind to achieve the best energy generation. For these drives, a combination of AC induction motors (or optional AC permanent-magnet motors type Sinochron on pitch applications), multi-stage planetary gearboxes, and electromagnetic holding brakes have been selected. Motor outputs range from 2.2 up to 22 kW, and gearboxes can be delivered with ratios between 100 and 2000. Drives have been engineered for rated output torques from 2,000 to 50,000 Nm. ABM manufactures motors and gearboxes in-house, establishing the base for optimum fi ne tuning of all drive components. Exposed to the tough-est environment they perform steady over the complete duration of 20 years and even more. High torsion resistance guarantees that even with high wind gusts, the exact position is maintained. ABM DRIVES INC. | www.abm-drives.com

Lubrication for wind power applicationsKlüberplex BEM 41-141 is high-perform-ance grease with a special blend of base oil and additives to cover the different lubrica-tion requirements of the individual bearing applications within wind power stations. The beige grease is ideal for pitch and yaw bearings (high stresses, oscillations, vibrations), main bearings (low rpm, high stresses, vibrations), and generator bearings (high rpm and temperatures). Klüberplex BEM 41-141 can be used in all bearing applications, which allows consolidation of lubrication inventory. Another unique product is the priming and operational lu-bricant, Klüberplex AG 11-462, an effective lubrication for open gears. Klüberplex AG 11-462 is esthetically neutral because it is white in color and provides excellent adhe-sion, as well as superior protection against high loads and corrosion. Klüber Lubricationwww.klubersolutions.com/wind

WASHINGTON, DC | NEW YORK | LOS ANGELES

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. © 2009 Dickstein Shapiro LLP. All Rights Reserved.

What’s Missing from Your Wind Project?

When Competitive Power Ventures Inc. (CPV), a power

generation development and asset management company

with extensive wind energy development experience, decided

to sell Phase I of its wind farm development project located

in Keenan, Oklahoma, to Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company,

CPV turned to Dickstein Shapiro’s experienced wind energy

and corporate counsel to structure, negotiate, and document

the transaction. CPV continues to rely on Dickstein Shapiro’s

energy transactional and regulatory attorneys in connection

with all aspects of its wind energy development program to

help ensure that it remains a signifi cant player in the North

American wind energy sector.

Larry Eisenstat, Energy Practice Leader

(202) 420-2224, [email protected]



wind energy

As the wind power industry continues to mature, accurate wind resource information has emerged as a mission-critical input into a wide range of decision-making proc-

esses. Developers and fi nanciers, faced with tight and competitive credit markets, are un-der more pressure than ever to validate projected returns on investment. Many struggle to make the best use of observational data, while others make the mistake of assuming their limited window of measurement is representative of long-term climatology.

A less than thorough understanding of a wind resource can easily translate to six-fi gure revenue implications over the lifetime of a plant. Once built, operators try to squeeze the greatest value from wind projects, which requires a high level of confi dence in how much energy will be generated during the next hour, the next day, and beyond. As wind power accounts for an ever-increasing percentage of the total power generation portfolio, grid operators strive to integrate this variable energy supply. Fortunately, as in other indus-tries, the maturation of the wind power industry has also propelled growth and scientifi c advancement in wind energy information services. Today’s wind resource assessment and power forecasting techniques go a long way in mitigating the risk of wind’s inherent vari-ability, while also maximizing the value of this free fuel source.

NWP modeling at the coreHaving a comprehensive understanding of the wind resource (i.e. the fuel of your project) is vitally important to all potential and operational wind projects. For projects that are still in the development phase, the long-term variability and expected production of the project must be well understood. Poorly performed wind resource assessments can quickly lead to large fi nancial losses once a project becomes operational. For wind projects that are already operational, forecasting services can provide information on the expected vari-ability of the wind resource over a range of timescales (minutes, hours, weeks), and are critical to properly integrate power into the grid and to maximize revenue.

Wind resource assessmentIn the past, a wind resource assessment relied upon three main sources of information: on-site observational data, off-site observational data, and the expertise of consulting me-teorologists. The best source of information for understanding the wind resource at a par-ticular project is high-quality, on-site observational meteorological data. However, these data are generally not of suffi cient temporal or spatial coverage to fully represent the wind resource across potential project sites. This is especially true during the early phases of development when many critical decisions must be made.

Traditional methods to gain a detailed understanding of the geographic variability of a wind resource are often too simplistic or too ineffi cient. A fi rst guess of the spatial vari-ability can be obtained by simply interpolating conditions from the on-site meteorological tower(s), when such data are available, for the location in question. These interpolation

schemes usually take into account the topography and/or land use characteristics of the project site, but such techniques are simply not accurate enough at most project sites. This is especially true for projects sited in regions of complex topography. In these instances, the expertise of a consulting meteorologist can be useful. A consulting meteorologist can visit the site to obtain a better understanding of spatial variability. However, when devel-opers are investigating multiple sites, it is often too time-consuming to send a consulting meteorologist to each and every potential project.

Today, mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) models play an important role in wind resource assessments. NWP models are sophisticated computer algorithms that solve the physical and dynamic equations of the atmosphere to simulate the four-dimensional variability of the wind resource. Previously, the signifi cant computational costs associated with running mesoscale NWP models limited their use to operational forecasting and research by large governmental agencies and laboratories. With the in-creased effi ciency and decreased costs associated with computer computations, processing of mesoscale NWP models can now be cost-effectively used to provide invaluable data in a timely manner. Data from these models can help to fi ll in the gaps of the observational datasets (both temporally and spatially), in addition to providing information for periods of time without direct observational measurements.

Mesoscale NWP models can be run over any project site to provide a detailed analysis of the spatial variability of the wind resource. These simulations do not require on-site observational meteorological data and can be run at very high resolutions. NWP model-generated maps of the wind resource are extremely useful for understanding the relative windiness across project sites, as well as the direction of the prevailing fl ow. Such wind resource maps are valuable during the early phases of project development for siting me-teorological towers at potential project sites. During the later phases of project develop-ment, these high-resolution maps can help to site turbines in the most appropriate loca-tions. NWP model-generated maps of the wind resource are a cost-effective and timely solution to understanding the detailed, site-specifi c spatial variability of the wind resource allowing developers to focus on projects with the best resources fi rst, and prioritize their efforts accordingly.

Once on-site meteorological data are being collected at a project site, it becomes vitally important to determine whether the observed period of record is indicative of the long-term mean conditions. A year’s worth of data with a mean wind speed of 7.2 m/s is a good sign. However, without any context of past conditions, a single annual-mean value does not completely remove the “weather risk” in a developer’s ROI calculations. So, how does one determine if the observed period of record at the on-site meteorological tower is above or below average conditions?

Traditional methods to determine a long-term correction to the on-site observational data have relied upon off-site observational data that have a longer record of measure-ment. Statistical techniques, such as measure-correlate-predict (MCP), can then be imple-mented to put the short-term, on-site observational data into the context of a longer-term record. Although an MCP analysis may be able to offer some information with regards to making a long-term adjustment to the on-site data, this technique is reliant upon the quality of not only the on-site data, but also the off-site data. Off-site meteorological tow-ers are often not installed with the same level of quality as on-site meteorological towers, leading to increased uncertainty in the results of an MCP analysis. Even more problem-atic is the situation when off-site observational data are not available.

NWP Modeling and Wind Power Site Assessment & ForecastingBy Scott Eichelberger

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Mesoscale NWP models are a valuable tool for placing on-site observational data into a long-term climatological perspec-tive. NWP models can be run over the last several decades allowing for a thorough understanding of the year-to-year and decade-to-decade variability, even when off-site observational data are not available. On-site observational data can be com-bined with the NWP model data to pro-vide corrected model output and validation statistics. NWP models allow developers and other stakeholders to cost-effectively analyze the long-term variability of a single meteorological tower or an entire portfolio of meteorological towers.

During the fi nal stages of project devel-opment, when a turbine layout has been defi ned, NWP model data can be used to determine the expected project-wide gross energy output. High-resolution model data are combined with long-term climate vari-ability model data and on-site observation-al data to provide an energy assessment on a turbine-by-turbine basis. Such an analysis provides a continuous time series of gross project energy output over the entire peri-od of the model simulation. These data in-crease the understanding of expected year-to-year variability, including how project variability is affected by climate indices (ex. the El Nino Southern Oscillation).

Wind power forecastingAfter a wind project has been built, wind power forecasting information is neces-sary to ensure proper integration into the electrical grid and also to maximize revenue. System operators need accurate forecast data (i.e. they need to know when wind speed values across project sites are expected to increase or decrease, so that the intermittency and variability in wind project energy output is effectively man-aged and coordinated with other energy sources). Power marketers also require forecast data to schedule expected energy output as accurately and as early as pos-sible, thereby maximizing revenue.

NWP models have been used as the primary tool for generating wind power forecasts for many years. However, NWP models continue to improve in their ability to capture small-scale effects critical to ac-

curate wind power forecasts. Much of this improvement has occurred within public, community supported NWP models such as the Weather Research and Forecast-ing (WRF) mesoscale NWP model. Fur-thermore, state-of–the-art wind power forecasting systems today use data from a multitude of sources including on-site observational data, purposefully sited off-site observational data, and neural network algorithms in coordination with mesoscale NWP model data. Exact forecasting meth-odologies are tailored for specifi c forecast-ing sites and the time frame of the forecast (from minutes to weeks ahead). While such forecasting systems are by necessity com-plex, decreasing computational costs have made these sophisticated methodologies scalable and cost effective.

Scott Eichelberger, PhD, is the managing director at 3TIER North America.

3TIER | www.3tier.com

Concrete tower baseTindall Corporation recently introduced the Atlas CTB Concrete Tower Base, with patent pending. Tindall’s design team of engineers and specialty consultants developed the CTB hybrid tower to answer the need for higher-effi ciency turbine out-put and an economical tower/foundation instal-lation. Atlas CTB, which resulted from extensive research, is an economical way for wind farms to raise hub heights beyond 80 meters to 100 me-ters-plus. All CTB components are road and rail

transportable. Erection takes place rapidly on a cured foundation. In a typical application, the Atlas hybrid tower base diameter is 15 to 18 me-

ters, with a standard steel monopole upper section starting at approximately 31 meters. The steel monopole may extend to hub heights of 100 to 110 meters. System performance benefi ts from a higher tower, natural frequency, and the in-herent damping properties of concrete construction. Enhanced life cycles of the blades, turbine, and other components are expected. The low-maintenance base requires no painting or bolt torquing; the anticipated service life is 50 years. Tindall | www.tindallcorp.com | www.atlasCTB.com

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Reach stacker with task-specifi c attachment Taylor Machine Works has announced the addition of the TS-9973W to its product line. In develop-ing the TS-9973W, Taylor is uniting capabilities of its performance-proven reach stackers with an attachment specifi cally developed for the needs of handling the varied components needed in the wind power industry. The Taylor TS-9973W is designed and manufactured for lifting, transporting, and positioning wind tower, blade, and ancillary com-

ponents. With its task-specifi c attachment, the TS-9973W negates the need for slave attachments when handling these critical components. When equipped with a magnet, this attachment can also lift steel plate used in production of wind industry components. The TS-9973W can also be used for lifting and loading completed tower componentry onto trucks or transporting completed tower componentry to designated storage sites. Taylor Machine Works | www.taylorbigred.com



wind energy

Not since the revolution in aerospace manufacturing has the need for lean solutions that combine composite fabrication and large-part machining been so critical to an

industry’s advancement as it is now for wind energy. Like aerospace, the solutions require breakthrough automation technologies that enable lean, repeatable, mass production of large composite and metal components.

Fortunately, the foundation for a rapid evolution of manufacturing technology for wind power components was created by the experience of the aerospace industry, and it is already producing results. Aerospace providers have developed automation solutions for parts from blade tip to output shaft, including Rapid Material Placement and quick-cure mold systems for blades, which combine to reduce composite lay-up, infusion, and cur-ing time by 50%. Plus, an array of new multitasking machine tools for super-sized metal components can, in many cases, produce completed parts in a single set-up, minimizing dangerous part handling and improving part accuracy.

Manufacturing on a massive scaleThe imperatives driving wind tur-bine engineering and manufactur-ing are in many ways analogous to those of aerospace. The parts are massive, ever lighter and stronger, and engineered for safety and reli-ability while made with advanced metals and composites. The scale of the parts is mostly increasing, and a drive for weight reduction is always pushing those parts to their engi-neering limits.

On the manufacturing side, there’s a need to automate with improved process control, repeatability, and process capability, while working with evolving composites and large metal components. Aerospace and other sectors of the energy industry have met this chal-lenge with game-changing manufacturing technologies in composites and metalworking. In composites, automated tape layers and fi ber-placement systems revolutionized the manufacturing of large aerostructures. In metalworking, purpose-designed aerospace ma-chine tools with multiple spindles addressed the need to produce multiple large parts in a single set-up, working with aluminum or the toughest titanium.

The critical mass to support similar developments for wind power components has been building. New composite technologies are tailored to the cost requirements of the wind industry—which are different from aerospace—and fl exible enough for use with glass (the dominant material) and carbon fi ber. One of the most innovative is a systema-tized approach consisting of a Rapid Material Placement System (RMPS), combined with a patent-pending quick-cure molding system. Together, they can reduce lay-up, infusion, and curing time by 50%.

For metal components, the principal thrust in wind power is large-part multitasking capability, and the ability to complete more metal-cutting operations on one machine or completely fi nish a raw part on one machine. These manufacturing technologies bring distinct advantages to wind power components; chiefl y lower cost, higher performance, and lower warranty/ownership costs due to lighter, stronger components produced to tighter tolerances—with the repeatability only automation can deliver.

Automated blade fabricationRapid Material Placement technology brings an integrated approach to what has largely been a manual or piecemeal-automated process. A system like this is capable of spraying

in-mold coatings, dispensing/lay-up of glass and carbon fi ber materials, and dispensing/application of adhesive. It brings 3 m/sec (10 ft/sec) lay-up speed to placement of materi-als in blade skin, spar cap, and sheer web molds, with laser- and vision-based wrinkle de-tection in cross or longitudinal directions. Depending on the laminate schedule, this type of system can reduce lay-up time 85% on a 45-meter blade.

Programmed offl ine, the CNC-controlled machine uses a gantry system with multi-axis end effectors capable of manipulating spray heads and adhesive applicators, as well as tooling for spooling and placing materials. Two such systems adjacent to one another can each produce a 45-meter blade-shell half in less than two hours, with half the manual labor. The gantry system rides on rails that are fl ush with the fl oor, and carries bulk supply systems for gel-coat and adhesive.

After application of gel-coat with spray-head tooling, a ply generator with a ten-roll magazine of material cuts and dispenses plies to a lay-up end effector on the gantry. The lay-up end effector spools up the material supplied by the stationary ply generator. As the fabric is paid out onto the mold, a pair of articulating powered brushes smoothes it to the tool surface. The lay-up system is mechanically repeatable to ±2 mm, with application tolerance of ±5 mm. Offl ine programming software supplied with the system creates the CNC code from imported CAD data. The same software can program a related fi ve-axis machining system for root drilling/milling/sawing.

New quick-cure mold technology uses specialized tooling built to a customer’s specs, and molds are produced using the customer’s CAD data. The system yields a fi nished blade to spec with each cycle. It can be infused with resin in an hour, followed by a two-hour cure, which is about half the normal time. Like the lay-up system, the infusion/curing system includes process control metrics for resin metering, temperatures, blocked channels, etc, with alarm limits. Other new blade fabrication technologies include a fi ve-axis machining system for root drilling/milling/sawing.

Multitasking brings lean to large metal partsMany of the main metal components of wind turbines start out as castings or forgings that can require hundreds of hours of precision machining. Part accuracies are as high or high-er than those of aerospace parts. Machining challenges include tight tolerances, capacity/throughput, complex geometries, in-line bore precision, parallelism between bores, bore concentricity, and precision mating surfaces.

Meeting these challenges on large parts is complicated by part weight and size. Great risk and time are involved when parts weighing up to 80,000 pounds are transferred from one machine to another to produce different features on different surfaces. Such transfers often degrade overall part accuracy, too, as tiny set-up errors stack up each time the part is re-fi xtured. Reducing part transfers, and the attendant increased WIP, is the essence of lean manufacturing. It’s all about one-stop processing, which is accomplished with mul-titasking machine tools: machines that integrate normally dissimilar operations such as milling, turning, drilling, tapping, perimeter scalloping, boring, hobbing, and grinding.

Four primary metal-cutting machines for massive wind turbine components—hori-zontal boring mills, vertical turning centers, horizontal or universal machining centers, and horizontal turning centers—are increasing their multitasking capabilities to meet the needs of the wind industry. Key components produced on these machines include rotors/shafts, gear case assemblies, planetary carriers, hubs, rotor bearings, couplings, pinions, cylinder brackets, yaw beams, and rotary crowns.

New developments in horizontal turning machines (for rotor shafts, pinions, and simi-lar shaft-style parts) combine a wide array of unusual capabilities for fi nishing a large part in one set-up. These horizontal turning centers (HTCs) perform operations unheard of on a typical HTC: deep-hole drilling, serrating, grinding, hard turning, notch milling, hobbing, as well as cut-to-length and centering, rough and fi nish turning. European wind

Big PartsMeet Big Solutions Bringing lean

automation to wind turbine production

By Rich Curless



industry leaders are already using these machines to produce parts up to 1500 mm in diameter and 2800 mm long.

Horizontal boring mills (HBMs), used to process gear case assemblies, planetary carriers, and hubs, are increasing their one-stop processing capabilities with contour-ing heads and programmable boring bars, which reduce the number of tools (and tool changes/time/cost) needed to complete a part. One tool can bore multiple diameters and produce complex part geometries. A contouring head combined with a pro-grammable boring bar can perform nine to ten different operations (atypical for a boring mill) on a part, including threading, grooving, turning, contouring, taper turn-ing, and others—internally and externally. Right-angle heads and precision rotary tables add capabilities for fi ve-sided part processing in a single set-up.

Vertical turning centers (VTCs) for production of bearing rings and planetaries normally apply a stationary tool on the end of a movable ram, but automatically inter-changeable powered heads allow VTCs to add capabilities for drilling, milling, tapping, and similar operations with live tooling, all in one set-up. The addition of a full-contouring, 360,000-position C-axis table now enables drilling or mill turning of features anywhere on the workpiece. Turret heads provide excellent productivity on parts that do not require a lot of reach into the part. Vertical turning centers han-dle parts up to 4700 mm (185 in) in diam-eter or larger.

The Universal Machining Center (UMC) is what its name implies: a machine that can approach a part from a horizontal or vertical orientation. Designed for large, complex geometry parts, the UMC allows fi ve-axis/fi ve-side machining with auto-matically interchangeable heads for faster processing and reduced work-in-process. With a spindle ram mounted on a crossrail, this machine can have a rail or moving-bed design. A rail design allows the machine to have multiple work zones under the spin-dle, so operators can load and unload parts

while the machine continues operations in other work zones. Another new machining concept places a torque table in the work zone of a UMC to enable the machine to do turning work with fi xed tooling. This effectively adds vertical turning capabilities to a machining center.

Horizontal machining centers are a mainstay of prismatic parts manufacturing

and these machines are growing in size, speed, and multitasking capability to meet needs in wind energy manufacturing. Twin-pallet machines for wind parts typically have a table size of 1250 x 1600 mm, and accept parts weighing up to 7000 kg (15,400 pounds). Twin pallets and quick work change ensure high production rates, while robust, cast-iron

construction, and oversized ballscrews provide muscle and traverse speed to process large parts in volume.

Rich Curless is the chief technical offi cer for MAG Industrial Automation Systems.

MAG Industrial Automation Systemswww.mag-ias.com

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wind energy

Every decision a wind turbine generating station owner or asset manager makes during op-erations and maintenance (O&M) has a long-term impact on the success of the project.

As with any power generating facility, optimizing both short- and long-term plant perform-ance—and the earnings—of a wind generating station is best achieved by applying the O&M experience gained from hundreds of plant-years at thermal generation stations. Investment in a wind generating station is best realized by following the same fundamental processes used at other types of facilities and using the same information as the basis for good decisions.

Wind O&M carries new risksGenerating electricity by wind has developed steadily during the last three decades into the largest growth segment of the power generation industry. The rapid evolution of the wind generating industry, the lack of third-party parts and maintenance, and the challenges of the investment/ownership environment all present O&M risks to the wind generating station owner not experienced at other types of generating stations. The technology is based on relatively short model runs and operational histories, with new models frequently introduced, and signifi cant dependence on the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for parts and service during and after the warrantee period.

In addition, whereas thermal plant generators have an expected life of 40-plus years, straight-forward investment strategies with linear depreciation, and maintenance plans developed over decades of operating experience, including advice from multiple manufacturers and users groups, wind turbine generators have an expected life of 20 years, complicated investment strategies with continually evolving “production tax credits” for half of that life, and maintenance practices based mostly upon limited OEM experience.

Traditional O&M methods translate to wind technologyBy effectively implementing power plant fundamentals—safety, compliance, and perform-ance—traditional O&M methods translate to any type of generating facility, regardless of the technology. Standard O&M methods employed at wind generation stations are proven to increase the bottom line, mitigate owner risk, and deliver top performance. Through these practices, common pitfalls can be avoided in wind generation station O&M prac-tices, including short staffi ng and relying solely on the OEM.

As an independent third-party operator, NAES Corporation has identifi ed many of the unique O&M needs of the independent wind generation station owner, including:• EPC contract and OEM service agreement review to obtain a more competitive agree-

ment;• Options for service at the expiration of the warranty period;• High-quality services and parts at the lowest cost to the owner;• Customized CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) tailored to the

needs of the wind generating station, including mobile devices;• 24/7 remote monitoring;• Employing skilled wind technicians and managerial staff; and,• Incorporating “lessons learned.”

Adequate O&M staffi ng enhances valueA common operation condition of many wind stations has been to contract the OEM to provide all service and maintenance during the warrantee period and, in some cases, for several years beyond with an owner representative periodically visiting the station and monitoring conditions; thereby, forgoing the expense of seasoned, on-site O&M person-nel. This business model may have been appropriate during the early years of the indus-try when the primary value of wind farms was the production tax credits (PTC).

Regardless of the size of the wind station, adequate O&M staffi ng from the start of the commissioning phase, through the warrantee phase and any OEM service and mainte-nance period, results in improved performance and maintenance of the owners’ equity value. These improvements easily offset the comparatively small cost of adequately staff-ing the facility, typically by about 2%.

Necessary on-site O&M staff consists of a plant manager, a plant administrator, and usually four wind technicians. The plant manager prepares an O&M plan and annual budget that, once approved, ensure the station’s operating goals align with the owner’s priorities. The wind technicians become the eyes and ears of the plant manager by routinely traveling to the wind turbines located over several miles of gravel roads and climbing the turbine ladders for inspections. Working alongside OEM technicians, the station technicians become familiar with the status of the equipment and the OEM’s

maintenance practices, gaining the valu-able knowledge needed for after the OEM warranty, service, and maintenance period ends.

All plant personnel work to publish pro-cedures that establish expectations for the safe, consistent performance of the station. The staff accomplishes a number of activi-ties that enhance the station’s earnings and value:• Managing the station to the owner’s pri-

orities, rather than those of the OEM’s, which are not necessarily consistent with the owner’s;

• Maximizing availability, not just to the contract guarantee;

• Using a computerized maintenance sys-tem (CMMS) to capture the costs and maintenance history of all equipment and parts used;

• Monitoring faults to proactively identify warrantee issues and potential serial failures;

• Providing better management of ongo-ing issues with the OEM at the end of the warrantee period;

• Through knowledge gained, providing an alternative to continuing the OEM contract at the conclusion of the OEM service and maintenance period; and,

Improving Wind Generation Station Profits through Excellent O&M

By Bill Manganaro & Linda Fulsaas

T O R O N T OTORONTO, ONTARIOSEPTEMBER 20-23, 2009

Join Canadian and global industry leaders at Canada’s largest renewable energy conference.

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• Enhancing community relations by pro-viding a consistent relationship with the regulator, the power taker, landowners, and environmental agencies.

Beyond warranty, service, and maintenanceBy applying proven electrical generating station principles of operation to the service and maintenance of a wind station, income and asset values are optimized. By providing a small staff, procedures, and management tools from initial commercial operation through the OEM warrantee, service, and maintenance period, the owner gains knowl-edge of his station and ensures that it is op-erated to his priorities. Station value is en-hanced during the transition from warrantee to the follow-on service and maintenance period, providing the owner with options when this phase ends. The net cost can be zero with a signifi cant upside potential.

Bill Manganaro is a project manager for NAES with over 30 years of engineering, supervisory, and project management experience. Linda Fulsaas is the senior technical writer for NAES, with over 25 years of technical publications experience.

As the world’s largest independent, third-party O&M provider, NAES Corporation (NAES) offers comprehensive generation services to in-dustries that generate or consume power.

NAES Corporation (NAES) | www.naes.com

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Solar Greening by Design

Solar Destination MAR APR.indd 1 4/26/09 7:57 PM

Windmill lifting bracketsHanes Supply, Inc.’s manufacturing of synthetic, chain, and wire rope slings include Slingmax and Twin Path Slings, along with unlimited design and fabrication for specialized equipment. Their windmill lifting brackets are fully adjustable for differing tower designs, and come with full technical support and convenient kits that provide everything under the hook. Further fea-tures include: a reduction in mobilization and cost in fi eld work; ergonomic benefi ts that result in decreased fi eld injuries; lightweight brackets, which eliminate the need for additional instal-lation equipment; and, a color code and fastening system that are readily available. The Hanes Supply team has a vast inventory of a broad range of contractor, safety, and industrial supplies. Hanes Supply, Inc. | www.hanessupply.com Blade enclosure

systemEven heavy duty wind generation equip-ment needs protection from the ele-ments. Ensuring turbine blades remain in top shape during storage and in tran-sit, international shrinkwrap supplier Dr. Shrink introduces the Wind Bag—a blade enclosure system. The company’s thick, 10 mil shrinkwrap is used to make covers for wind turbine blades, protecting them from weather dam-age. Dr. Shrink’s thick mil shrinkwrap is constructed from 100% virgin resin and contains maximum UV inhibitors for long-term storage. Unlike tarps, this premium shrinkwrap will not move or chafe surfaces. Available up to 60 meters in length, the Wind Bag is easy to install and apply. Covers to protect blade ends against water and mold damage are also available. Environmentally responsible, the company offers the REBAG system, a shrinkwrap recycling program avail-able in the US and Canada. Dr. Shrink | www.dr-shrink.com



wind energy

Wind speed and power forecasting Weather Services International (WSI) recently announced WSI WindCast, a wind speed and power forecasting product, plus an innovative alerting service for the wind power marketplace. WSI WindCast is a graphics-based, statistical forecasting sys-tem for the energy market providing wind power and speed forecasts anywhere in the world. WSI’s new alerting service provides warnings when lightning, thunderstorms, or other se-vere weather events are approaching wind farm locales.

Climbing assistance and fall protection DBI-SALA, a Capital Safety brand, intro-duces Climb Assist Ladder Safety System for wind turbines. The system provides both climbing assistance and fall protec-tion to workers ascending a fi xed ladder system within a wind turbine tower. Fall-arrest rated, Climb Assist Ladder Safety is unlike any other system on the market because it does not require a separate or secondary fall protection system.

The Climb Assist system is designed to lift between 45 to 120 pounds, which es-sentially decreases the climber’s weight by that amount, reducing fatigue, and allow-ing for faster and easier climbs. Activation and deactivation of the system is quick and simple—to use, the climber attaches the Lad-Saf Ladder Safety Sleeve to the cable system and to the front D-ring of his or her harness, activates the motor, and be-gins climbing. The 220V motor is deacti-vated if the user stops climbing. If the user slips while climbing, the system will lock and arrest the fall, allowing the user to re-gain his or her footing and handhold. Capital Safety | www.capitalsafety.com

November 3 – 5, 2009 COBO CENTER DETROIT, MI www.smallandcommunitywindexpo.org

For homes, farms, ranches, and businesses, wind energy creates opportunities to make money, save money and be more energy independent.

The Small and Community Wind Conference

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leaders, project developers, economic

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growth strategies for small and mid-sized

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information to help you capitalize on wind

technology by learning about national

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zoning requirements, utility interconnection,

tax revenues and investment opportunities.

Developed in response to increased worldwide demand for wind power, WSI WindCast provides accurate, hourly forecasts that include weather-related parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, atmos-pheric pressure, and temperature, all at turbine height. Using these pre-dictions, WSI WindCast then provides accurate wind power forecasts up to seven days out. WSI Corporation | www.wsi.com

Specialized adhesives for wind energy marketITW Plexus offers specialized adhesives for the assembly of wind blades, nacelle assemblies, lightning suppression systems, and repair work throughout the wind en-ergy market. These GL approved adhesives require little or no surface preparation and cure at room temperature, thereby elimi-nating the need for costly heated fi xtures or secondary curing ovens. The adhesives are supplied in cartridges for fi eld repair and small assembly, as well as in 5 gallon and 50 gallon containers for larger applications. Plexus offers revolutionizing answers to bonding and dispensing needs. ITW Plexus | www.itwplexus.com



On-site commercial power generationGreen Energy Technologies’ WindCube is designed for on-site commercial power generation in urban and suburban locations. The compact wind turbine has a unique shroud design that captures and con-centrates wind to produce more power—WindCube produces the most energy in the smallest footprint of any wind turbine. One 22' x 22' WindCube produces energy equivalent to a traditional 170' tall wind turbine (which could not be sited in an urban or suburban location). The WindCube expects to be one of

the fi rst in the country to receive DOE/AWEA Certifi cation that will soon be required for small wind turbines. After three years of development and 17 months of testing, the fi rst WindCube is now being commissioned and several more installations are scheduled. Green Energy Technologies | www.getsmartenergy.com

Machine tower fl anges to spec Climax Portable Machine Tools’ Climax CM6000 portable circular mills are now avail-able as standard products for sale or rent. Fast becoming an industry standard for handling the extremely tight tolerances required in wind tower machining applications, the Cli-max CM6000 has a milling reach of between 1993.9 and 5003.8 mm (78.5 and 197 inches). It enables machinists to achieve a surface fl at-ness tolerance of +/- 0.032 mm/m (0.0004 in/ft.). The machine is ideal for in-situ machin-ing of tower fl anges in factory production and in the fi eld, and cuts machining time up to 75%, taking only two hours to machine large fl anges compared to 12 to 14 hours when us-ing single-point machining tools. Machinist training on the basic operation and mainte-nance of the equipment is available. Climax Portable Machine Tools www.cpmt.com

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Shaft grounding ring installation without drillingAEGIS SGR Bearing Protection Ring from Electro Static Technology can now be installed quickly and easily with conductive epoxy, eliminating the need to drill bracket holes in the motor’s end bell. For motors controlled by variable frequency drives (VFDs), the SGR chan-nels harmful motor-shaft currents away from bearings and safely to ground, protecting them and extending their lives for a sustainable “green” solution. Instal-lation of the SGR, whether by the mo-tor manufacturer or end user, takes just minutes. Unlike conventional grounding brushes, the ring is maintenance-free and works with virtually no friction or wear for the service life of the motor.

Installing the SGR with conductive epoxy takes only minutes and eliminates the need to mark and drill holes in the motor’s end bell. The motor shaft and end bell must be clean and free of any coatings, paint, or other conductive ma-terial. The installer simply applies the ad-hesive to the backside of the SGR, cent-ers the SGR around the motor shaft, and holds the ring in place to allow the adhe-sive to set. Units are guaranteed for one year from the date of purchase against defective materials and workmanship. Electro Static Technology www.est-aegis.com



wind energy

Wind data analysis software As no site is the same when it comes to determining

the feasibility of a wind farm, Windographer was de-signed with fl exibility in mind. Developed by Mistaya Engineering Inc. of Alberta, Canada, Windographer is a wind data analysis software with automated fea-tures that make analysis both faster and more reliable. Windographer automatically interprets a wide variety of wind resource data sets collected by meteorological towers, sodar, or lidar systems, and can dramatically increase productivity during the analysis process. The program’s graphical displays reveal patterns in wind speed, wind shear, turbulence intensity, wind power density, and more. It also allows users to fi nd and fi x problems in the data set, to fi ll gaps, to calculate wind turbine energy production, and to estimate extreme wind speeds. Mistaya Engineering Inc. | www.mistaya.ca

Gearbox contamination preventionWater contamination can cause major problems for wind turbine hydraulic sys-tems and gearbox machinery.

Donaldson Company, Inc. has developed the T.R.A.P. Breather as a patented solution to prevent moisture build-up within these types of operational systems.

Air breathers are designed to prevent atmospheric contamination from entering hydraulic reservoirs and gearboxes, allowing for suffi cient air movement and pressure equalization inside the system chamber. The T.R.A.P. Breather uses a new, superior method to keep moisture out, and prevent contamination issues. The T.R.A.P. begins removing atmospheric moisture when air enters the reservoir or gearbox. Traditional breathers are limited by fi xed water-holding capacity and require fre-quent change-outs, but the T.R.A.P. self-generates during reservoir breathing cycles, which helps it last longer, low-ers maintenance, and reduces replacement costs. Donaldson Company, Inc. | www.donaldson.com

Wind energy transmission line installationVermeer Corporation has intro-duced a series of underground products to aid in the installation

of wind energy transmission lines. One challenge to installing wind energy transmission lines is the multiple passes required using traditional excavation methods. Vermeer designed the CL80 cable layer attachment to sort, confi gure, and feed three cables: one ground wire, one conduit with fi ber optic cable, and one tracer tape. The attachment also places and secures the ca-bles in the specifi ed confi guration in the trench—all in one pass.

A series of rollers guide the cables over the machine then feed them into a cable box where they are sorted in the ap-propriate confi guration. On descent into the trench, the cables then begin to align in triangular formation, becoming more tightly knit on approach. The ground wire, conduit, and tracer tape are placed on top of the triangular formation as specifi ed. The CL80 attachment eliminates the need for one machine to dig the trench and then another to come back and lay and secure the cable. Vermeer Corporation | www.vermeer.com

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Electric wirerope hoist R&M Materials Handling, Inc. offers the Spacemaster SX Electric Wire Rope Hoist, featuring a load-handling capacity of a half-ton to 80 tons, with a large rope drum diameter and low headroom for safe, effi cient manu-facturing of wind turbines. Designed to provide easy load handling, the Spacemaster SX Electric Wire Rope Hoist offers versatile hook approaches, generous lift heights, and near true vertical lift for dependable lifting and precise positioning of components during wind turbine manufacturing.

The space-saving design of the Spacemaster SX Electric Wire Rope Hoist provides effi cient and depend-able operation, delivering a long serv-ice life with reduced maintenance costs. The hoist motor is class F insulated with a 60% effective duty and thermal-ly protected. The unique drum design extends equipment life through mini-mized rope wear and enhanced motor cooling. Designed to reduce stress on drum bearings, the gearbox extends component life, and the sealed trol-ley brakes require minimal adjustment over one million cycles. The Spacemas-ter SX is also equipped with a standard four-position hoist limit switch that includes a phase mismatch protection circuit to prevent the block from com-ing into contact with the hoist. R&M Materials Handling, Inc.www.rmhoist.com




solar energy

For the past decade, those referring to the solar industry in the United States and even North America largely meant photovoltaic or concentrating solar

technology. Most solar companies, investments, and legislation dealt with those technologies that generated electricity from the sun. If you were installing a solar thermal system or even engaged in a lively discussion about the best way to capture heat from the sun for the purposes of hot water heating, solar cooling, or process heating, then chances are you were in Germany, Spain, or somewhere on the Euro-pean continent. Until now.

With new legislation by the Obama administration and a growing awareness of the potential for solar thermal amongst consumers and companies, the coming years will see a tremendous surge in interest in solar thermal systems in the US and North America. Already, new systems are being touted around the country and many European companies and suppliers are preparing outposts in North America to meet this expected rise in demand.

Solar thermal systems harness sunlight to produce heat. Applications for solar thermal include heating, cooling, ventilation, cooking, hot water heating, or process heating. Solar pool heating has, perhaps, made the largest gains in terms of adop-tion in the US so far, but tax credit extensions and cap limits have created a fertile ground for solar hot water systems to take hold on both a residential and light com-mercial scale.

Historically, larger hotels and hotel chains around the world have been a fi rst-adopter for solar hot water systems because despite high up-front costs, the payback period is very short in this industry. There is a range of technologies in use, but most can supply more than half—and sometimes up to 80%—of all hot water used. High sun areas obviously perform best and most effi ciently. Depending on incen-tives and solar resource, the potential for early adoption by hotels in the US exists and should be a considered a ripe market opportunity.

Incentives prime the pumpThe Energy and Improvement Act of 2008 is critical to the growth of solar thermal because it extended the 30% investment tax credit for another eight years to 2016. With these credits fi rmly in place, solar thermal companies can in-vest in production with confi dence. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, or stimulus bill, improved upon this legislation by removing the $2,000 maximum deduction limit imposed on pri-vate households. Now, individuals can purchase a solar thermal system and realize the entire 30% tax benefi t. And, with a budget of over $800 billion, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is also establishing the framework for a number of other programs such as grid improvements and public housing energy effi ciency retrofi ts that will help push the renewable energy industry in the US even further.

With this new legislation as a backdrop, many companies have begun to make investments in their production and distribution capacity in North America. Do-mestic makers of solar collectors still make up the majority of systems produced and sold in the States, but foreign companies are searching for ways to break into the market. A visit to any industry trade show will confi rm this, as many of the exhibi-tors are consistently European manufacturers. The solar thermal market is much

more mature in Europe because of years’ worth of incentives and invest-ment, making these companies eager to share their knowledge and experience with US counterparts.

New technologies and applications are also gaining more widespread ac-ceptance. A number of new installations have moved beyond traditional solar thermal for hot water systems into dual-use heating and cooling systems. These systems can offset the amount of natural gas used to produce heating or cool-ing and can provide heating or cooling during the day or night, and summer or winter. A handful of colleges and uni-versities around the US are experiment-ing with this approach right now.

Another great example of solar heat-ing and cooling in action is the Fletcher Business Park in North Carolina. EnerWorks Inc., a North American solar thermal technology company, de-ployed the world’s largest solar thermal heating and cooling installation there earlier this year. The site features 640 rack-mounted roof top collectors that use Alanod-Solar absorptive surface technology, and it is approximately one-and-a-half times larger than the

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next biggest installation at the Beijing Olympic Village. Component provid-ers like Alanod-Solar are also making gains in North America with a new do-mestic manufacturing and distribution facility for their absorptive technology, which is soon to be announced.

Despite these impressive gains, one of the big bottlenecks to widespread growth of the solar thermal in the US is certifi cation of collectors and systems. With only two accredited laboratories testing for SRCC quality standards, some projects have been slowed. However, industry groups and companies are working hard to allevi-ate this issue and are confi dent more labs will come online later this year.

Overall, legislation and investment have made the future for solar thermal in the US promising, which is espe-cially true because many new technolo-gies and companies can leverage best practices from their European counter-parts to more quickly take advantage of this growing market. The next year should prove to be a remarkable one for the North American solar thermal industry.

Stefan Braendle is Director of Solar Applications at Alanod-Solar, the solar surfaces company. He has 20 years of solar experience in developing and building renewable energy technologies and businesses.

Alanod-Solar | www.alanod-solar.com

Solar cells protectionDuPont announced the commercialization of two new families of photovoltaic encapsulant sheets that are expected to improve durability and effi ciency of PV modules. The new DuPont PV5300 Series and DuPont PV5200 Series deliver long-term protection for the most sensitive part of PV modules—the solar cells. They contribute to longer life and reduced cost-per-watt, helping system manufacturers de-liver more reliable and cost-effective solar power. DuPont PV5300 Series sheets are fi ve times tougher and 100 times stiffer than materials typically used as encapsulants. Their structural properties make

possible new module designs such as building integrated PV (BIPV) tiles that can be installed on building roofs. The DuPont PV5200 Series sheets are based on polyvinyl butyral polymer technology and offer high performance in physical processing. DuPont | www2.dupont.com

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Solar modulesSiliken Renewable Energy has expand-ed their product line to include the SLK48P6L, which offers yet another option for solar system designers.

Siliken solar modules range in power, from 170 W to 240 W, and have an excel-lent Power Tolerance of +3/0% with out-standing low-light performance. In 2008, Siliken opened a North American head-quarters and solar panel manufacturing facility in San Diego to meet the demand of the US market. With over 162 MWp of solar energy installed worldwide, Silik-en has become a benchmark in terms of product quality and performance. Siliken now offers these “Made in the USA” solar panels to installers, designers, contrac-tors, and developers who are looking to provide their customers with “Real World Tested, Globally Trusted” solar modules. Ask about Siliken’s Black Framed mod-ules, which are coming soon. Siliken Renewable Energywww.silikenusa.com



solar energy

Although there remains uncertainty about the state of the North American economy, those in the solar thermal industry are proud to see markets continue to grow and

fl ourish. Residential solar thermal installations have been on the rise in the US, as they are more effi cient and economical than other renewable energy technologies at converting the sun’s energy to heat. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) “US Solar Industry 2008 Year in Review,” an estimated 20,500 solar water heating systems were installed last year in the States. Funding from federal stimulus programs distributed to states and communities will be reaching the marketplace over the next several months, and the industry is more than ready to handle the increased visibility and demand.

Now more than ever, solar thermal is prepared to stand up and be compared to other solar technologies, due in large part to the positive features that advanced controllers and

system monitoring can provide for installations. The combined demand, fi rst in Europe and now in North America, has pushed the solar thermal market to develop and deliver improved controllers with several new features including advanced monitoring capabili-ties. Controller and monitoring components are simple in theory for solar thermal systems. However, being able to determine how a system is performing is essential to having an effi -cient system. Display monitors can show exactly what is running and what the temperatures are at the sensors. Advanced controllers can also modulate the fl ow rate accordingly for more effective operation. Many controller systems include fault indicators if a component or a sensor is not reading accurately.

Breakthroughs in digital technology have enabled improvement of these components and provided increased features and higher reliability for solar thermal technology. Advanced solar thermal controllers allow systems to offer various features that were considered im-possible until now. First and foremost, combining the advanced controller with a complete pumping station allows contractors to complete a system installation more quickly and ef-fi ciently; thereby, reducing installation callbacks and the need for ongoing maintenance. Pumping stations and other system components now come pre-assembled with monitoring hookups, allowing thermal components to have ‘plug-and-play’ fl exibility.

Secondly, advanced controller systems offer less opportunity for user error. For example, the Watts Radiant Panel that Apricus Solar recently began installing in their systems offers users a secure digital (SD) card. With this feature, the system performance data will be acces-sible and downloadable by computer. The SD card will save up to a year of system data and can be reused over again in the advanced solar controller. Watts Radiant and other manufac-turers can now offer customers optimized energy collection by reducing pump speed in low light level or, once a system is fi lled and pumping needs are reduced, a slower pump speed can improve system performance. Some controllers even feature a setting for a vacation-ing family to prevent excessive energy collection and storage when the home is unoccupied. By providing these features, users are less likely to tamper with the system or attempt to fi x problems themselves, reducing the opportunity for user error and unnecessary maintenance.

Thirdly, advanced controllers can monitor and prioritize multiple loads. With these con-trollers, users can customize their system performance depending on their needs. For exam-ple, a user may decide to fi rst optimize their fl oor heating unit and then use the remaining energy for their hot water needs. The ability to customize the system by prioritizing loads is a huge step in providing solar thermal systems that truly fi t customers’ needs.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, advanced controllers can be coupled to a fl ow meter and collect accurate system performance data by metering the energy delivered to the home. This data is needed for solar thermal to qualify for the various renewable energy incentives that are currently available in some states to comply with state renewable energy standards. System performance data is vital for solar thermal systems to qualify to receive renewable energy credits (RECs), which can be sold or traded for participation in state pro-grams that include solar thermal systems as qualifying technology. As these features gain vis-ibility, more programs will develop that include solar thermal systems for the benefi ts they provide, such as reduced combustion of natural gas that produces carbon dioxide.

Moving forward, advanced controller monitoring will help shape the North American solar thermal market. The performance data captured and reported will help positively infl uence future legislation and the public’s view of the solar thermal industry. The data will also reveal how effi cient and practical solar thermal systems are—something the in-dustry has been trying to demonstrate for years will now have the platform to prove. As the advanced controller and monitoring technology becomes standard in residential installa-tions, hopefully it becomes more common in the commercial solar thermal sector as well. The technological benefi ts of packaged components in pumping stations with integrated advanced controllers far outweigh the inconvenience of controller installation and manage-ment on a commercial installation. Advanced controller monitoring will be instrumental in driving this industry into the future.

Michael Humphreys is the founder and CEO of Apricus Solar.

Apricus Solar | www.apricus.com

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Eco-friendly solar energy solutionsUS Prefab offers a variety of solutions to make any building or structure with eco-friendly solar energy. By utilizing the latest solar panel technology, US Prefab can provide free energy for lighting, parking lots, video security, or simply provide a mounting location for any solar energy specifi cations. For example, the Phoenix-based, design-build national steel fabricator recently completed installation of its newly designed Solar Carport at Cox Communications in Phoenix, Arizona. The 150-kilowatt system will have the added benefi t of providing a covered parking for its employees.

Now is the time to join in the efforts in creating a more ecological-friendly environment for all by taking advantage of the tremendous tax credits and sav-ings. By using renewable energy, the ultimate goal is monthly savings on energy bills while reducing the share of the world’s energy consumption. US Prefab Inc. | www.usprefab.com

Heat pump water heatersThe new concept Accelera 300 reduces hot water costs up to 80% and works like an air conditioner but, instead of dumping the heat outdoors, it puts it into the 80-gallon tank of water. The beauty of heat pump water heating technology is that the electrical energy needed to create hot water is greatly reduced com-pared to a conventional electric tank type water heater. The Accelera 300 can extract up to 80% of its energy requirements from the energy in the air around it. Accelera’s compressor and fan consume only 1kWh of electricity to generate the heat equivalent of 3 to 5kWh. It is also eligible for federal government Renewable Energy Certificates and state based rebates. There is an industry leading fi ve-year warranty on all Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 heat pump water heaters. Stiebel Eltron USA | www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com

Tile Mount Hardware meets IBC CodeQuick Mount PV releases new mount utilizing proprietary technology to ensure secure waterproofi ng and structural at-tachment to the roof. The QMTMH Tile Mount Hardware meets and exceeds the IBC code requirements for securing any-thing through a curved or fl at tile roof. The QMTMH Tile Mount Hardware incorporates a base layer waterproofed into the tar paper substrate ensuring waterproofi ng where it is needed, at the substrate. Another addition to the Quick Mount PV product line that does not void the roofs warranty is labor saving, quick and easy to install, it is also IBC code compliant. See the full Quick Mount product line at the company’s website.Quick Mount PV www.quickmountpv.com



solar energy

Since 1980, signifi cant improvements have been made on DC fi lter capacitors us-ing a combination of metallized plastic fi lms and different segmentations of the

metallization on those fi lm dielectrics. Volume and weight have been reduced by a factor of three or four over the last few years. Film manufacturers have also developed thin-ner fi lms and have improved segmentation techniques used on the metallization, which greatly improves the performance of such capacitors.

Using non-gas impregnated designs, the voltage ranges between 600VDC and 1200 VDC, and can be more economically covered by fi lm capacitors rather than electrolytic. Depending on the application, over 1200 VDC, vegetable oil-fi lled versions are recom-mended. Consequently, the trend of industrial and traction market for power conver-sion is to replace electrolytic capacitors with fi lm technology. This trend is generated by many advantages that fi lm technology offers.

These include: • high rms, current capabilities up to 1ARMS per μF; • over-voltage, withstanding up to two times the rated voltage;• handle voltage reversal;• high peak current capabilities;• no acid inside;• longer lifetime; and• no storage problems.

However, this replacement cannot be done “microfarad for microfarad,” but for the total function. Indeed, despite the large improvement of fi lm technology, replacement solution won’t be possible for each application. Here are some concrete fi gures where fi lm gives major benefi ts over electrolytic technology.

Metallized technologyPrincipleThin fi lm technology is developed by coating a dielectric fi lm with metallic layers that are thin enough to allow them to volatilize and, consequently, isolate the defect. This phenomenon is called self-healing.

Technique of metallization As the fi rst step, polymer fi lm (polypropylene) is treated (corona or other) so that molecular metal can be attached. Metallized layers are formed by metal evaporation under vacuum (1200°C for aluminum) that condenses on the treated surface of fi lm (the fi lm is cooled to a temperature of -25 *C to -35*C).

This metallized fi lm results in the principle of self-healing, which is the major reason for the increase in gradient of voltage. Even if polymer quality improves signifi cantly, main developments are done on metallization. Today, with a total dry technology, gradient of voltage can reach more than 500V/μm for discharge ap-plication, and 250V/μm for DC fi ltering appli-cation. As these capacitors are designed to with-stand CEI 1071 standard, they can withstand

several voltage surges of up to twice-rated voltage without signifi cantly decreasing lifetime. Therefore, the user only needs to take into account the nominal voltage that is required.

Electrolytic capacitors technologyElectrolytic capacitors use dielectric properties of aluminum corrosion, which is alumina. The dielectric constant of aluminum is between 8 and 8.5, and the working gradient of voltage is about 0.07V/Å. Consequently, for 900VDC aluminum thickness of 12000A or 1.2μm would be required; however, it is not possible to reach such thickness because to have a good specifi c energy, aluminum foil has to be pitted. And, clearly, there is a ratio between aluminum engraving and aluminum thickness. Thickness of aluminum reduce capacitance coeffi cient of aluminum engraving and, for example, for a 500V capacitance gain is divided by two compared to a low voltage capacitor.

On the other hand, with high voltage (500V) electrolyte conductivity reach 5 kΩcm compared to 150 Ωcm for low voltage, which limits rms current value at about 20mA per μF. For these rea-sons, maximum nominal voltage for this technology is typically 500 to 600Volts. Therefore, the user must connect several capacitors in series for higher voltage applications. As the insulating resistance of these capacitors can vary from capacitor to capacitor, the user must connect a re-sistance to each one to balance the voltage. In addition, if a reverse voltage higher than 1.5 times the rated voltage is applied, a chemical reaction will occur. If this reversal of voltage lasts long enough, the capacitor will either explode or the electrolyte will leave by an eventual pressure release. To avoid this risk, a user has to connect a diode in parallel with each capacitor.

The last point, which for certain applications is one of the most important factors, is the surge voltage withstanding capability. The maximum permissible surge voltage for electrolyt-ics is 1.15 or 1.2 (for the better) VnDC. This obliges the user to take into account not the nominal voltage, but the surge voltage.

Solar energyDue to the depletion of fossil energy and in-creases in consumption of power, renewable energy is a viable and a necessary power solu-tion for the future. Among these renewable energies, two are experiencing considerable growth. Wind energy is growing in the range of 25% per year, and solar energy is grow-ing at an approximate rate of 30% per year. The wind power industry has already utilized power capacitors, such as AVX’s DC fi lter, which uses controlled self-healing metallized fi lm technology to improve performance, reliability, operating lifetime, and rms cur-rent capabilities. Taking the wind industry’s acceptance of the technology into account, it is logical to implement the thin fi lm technol-ogy in solar applications as well.

A solar panel catches solar rays and gen-erates DC voltage. To optimize the power,

Power ConversionFilm technology replacing electrolytic

technology in solar applicationsBy Gilles Terzulli



theoretical end-of-life because the capacitor can still be used beyond this point. If the application can allow a 5% capacitance decrease, lifetime will be widely increased. Hot spot temperature will be determined with the following expression:

with θmax hot spot : the maximum hot spot temperature tgδ0: dielectric lossesRth: Thermal resistance Rs: Serial resistance• θhot spot will 85°C or 105°C function of the applica-

tion and the technology

there will be an optimum voltage and cur-rent as shown on the following graph:

The power inverter transfers the gener-ated DC power to the AC power grid.

In this confi guration, the solar panel de-livers low DC voltage. A chopper is needed to increase the DC voltage level before transforming it into AC voltage. The sche-matic uses two DC fi ltering capacitors, the fi rst being a 10-volt and the second being a 100-volt capacitor. The fi rst capacitor is used to store energy (C x V2 / 2), which will be transferred into the inductance (LI2/2) by commuting the MOS FET transistor or IGBT, and then when the transistor opens, peak voltage will be generated (E = Ldi/dt) and will charge the second capacitor through the diode. Choice of capacitance value and inductance is a function of needed voltage at the input of DC/AC inverter. The capacitors will also have to handle high peak current level with high recurrence and reliability.

Function of the confi guration of solar panel, DC voltage can be higher and, in that case, only one DC fi ltering capacitor will be needed between solar panels and DC/AC inverter. Also, output can be 1 phase + neu-tral or 3 phases. Three phases inverter will be used for the highest output power level, generally over 50 to 100 KVA.

Whatever is the schematic, the common points of inverters for solar power is reliabil-ity and long lifetime expectancy. For profes-sional applications, requested lifetime expect-ancy can go up to 30 years. The capacitors value range is a function of the circuit topol-ogy and will have a range from 1uF to 2 mF at a voltage range of 100Vdc to 1100vdc.

Lifetime calculationThe fi lm technology allows a long lifetime expectancy, depending on voltage load con-ditions (working voltage) and hot spot tem-perature. For DC fi ltering, lifetime meets the following curves:

On these curves, design is done for a lifetime of 100,000 hours under the rated voltage and 70°C hot spot. End-of-life criteria is a decrease of capacitance value of 2%. However, this is a

Solar mounting systems

In recent years, great improvements have been made on DC fi lter capacitors using a combination of metallized plastic fi lms and different segmenta-tions of the metallization on those fi lm dielectrics.

Gilles Terzulli is the global marketing manager for Power Capacitors. Manufacturers such as AVX have expanded their product portfolio to include a wide range of sizes, capacitance values, voltages, peak current capabilities, etc.

AVX Corporation | www.avx.com



Solar power is one of the

most ubiquitous and commonly understood forms of renewable en-ergy generation.

However, the limitations of this technology are obvious, and persistent solar power is unreliable as the sun does not shine at night. Our planet not only has this intractable habit of rotating and hiding the sun, but the atmosphere also screens out 30% to 60% of the energy provided from the sun. Few of the modern strides in solar power technol-ogy have addressed these fundamental weaknesses. Though back in 1968, someone had a rather revolutionary idea. Why not put the solar collectors where the sun shines, full power, 24/7? Why not put solar cells in high orbit?

solar energy

An idea before its timeTo understand just how revolutionary this idea was, think back to the way things were in 1968. Cell phones didn’t exist. Man had not yet landed on the moon, and science fi ction writers thought computers needed to be as large as a room to do anything useful. The idea of transmitting solar power from space back to earth was simply revolutionary.

Dr Peter Glaser invented the powersat in 1968. He envisioned a large solar power generating system in space that sent its electricity to earth via radio waves. Today, such transmission devices are commonplace—communication satellites, GPS units, and DirectTV. Unfortunately, Dr Glaser’s idea far exceeded the technology of the time. Launches cost billions of dollars, PV cells were large, heavy crystalline devices, and the idea of robotics doing useful work in space was even more science fi ction than power-sats themselves.

The powersat concept was carefully evaluated, and its economics analyzed in the early 1970s by NASA and the Department of Energy. Technology at the time made the

economics untenable in the extreme, re-sulting in the abandonment of the idea—except for a few ardent supporters.

Changes in technologyIt goes without saying that much has changed since 1968. Most of us carry computers in our pockets that have more power than all the computers that put men on the moon combined. The concept of doing things wirelessly is second nature. So, the idea of powersat is much more re-alistic, both from a technological perspec-tive and from a cultural perspective.

One of the limiting factors in the economic viability of powersats is the price to launch a pound of material into orbit. One can attack this problem in two ways: make the powersat lighter, or make the price per pound lower; both of which have occurred. Thin fi lm PVs, especially CIGS technology such as those manufactured by Skypoint Solar, deliver over 1,000 watts per kilogram. When powersats were initially evaluated, the specifi c power was closer to 50 watts per kilogram, which means modern technology permits a powersat that is 20 times lighter than what Dr Glaser had to work with.

At the same time, private companies have stepped up, developing rockets and other launch technology that operate at a tiny fraction of the cost of the old Apollo program. The Saturn V delivered payloads to orbit at about $10,000 per pound. The current Space Shuttle is roughly the same cost. However, Russian Zenit launchers fl y loads at $1,400 per pound. SpaceX Corporation is preparing their Falcon 9 rocket, which carries loads to orbit for $500 per pound. With the improvements in energy collection technology, and the reduction in the price of launches combined, powersats today are 400 times less expensive to build than when they were fi rst conceived.

NASA has played a major role in developing key technologies for powersats. Ultralight infl atable spacecraft were tested in 1996. Using the infl atable

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technology dramatically reduced the mass, making a powersat launch even more viable. When Dr Glaser invented powersats, spacecraft could not automatically dock with each other, requiring the addition of humans in space to build the powersat. This is a huge cost driver. In contrast, autonomously docking spacecraft regularly service the International Space Station these days and there is no need for astronauts turning wrenches in orbit, which again cuts the cost of the powersat.

One of the last pieces of the powersat puzzle has been wireless power trans-mission. NASA performed a successful large-scale test in 1975, sending 30kW a distance of 1.6 kilometers with 84% effi ciency. Technology has since gotten so small and effi cient that desktop dem-onstrators are common. A large, utility level demonstration still remains to be accomplished, which is due to regula-tory issues more than to technical ones. The Federal Communications Com-mission (FCC) in the US has authority over all radio transmissions, and has yet to allocate frequencies for power beam-ing at any level. Internationally, the International Telegraph Union (ITU) has the same authority, and has had the same lack of progress.

Current activityWith the change in administration, the government seems open to new ideas in energy generation. In fact, the Obama-Biden transition project specifi cally requested input on powersats. A posi-tion paper was prepared and published regarding the project (www.change.gov); however, the admin-istration has yet to issue any defi nitive statement regarding powersats as a new energy source. The current focus on human activity as a driver of increased CO2 levels and their effect on global warming also provide impetus behind all sorts of carbon neutral generation, powersats included.

Much of what we now take for granted began life as speculative science fi ction ideas. Everyone who remembers the old Star Trek communicator can now look at their cell phone as a realization of a vision that was 20 years before its time. The convergence of technology and demand for energy, combined with the political will to get us off of fossil fuel, makes Dr Glaser’s prescient vision practical today. PowerSat Corporationwww.powersat.com

Thin fi lm PV modulesAscent Solar Technologies thin fi lm photovoltaic modules are being used in the development of a hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle, named the Silent Sentinel, developed by Bye Aerospace Inc. The Silent Sentinel is intended to be used for military missions such as border patrol, search and rescue, visual and thermal reconnaissance, and forward air control. It

also could be used for civilian purposes such as traffi c control, pipeline and power line inspection, aerial law enforcement, forest fi re detection, and aerial photography. Ascent’s PV modules and other technologies will help the Silent Sentinel operate quietly, with low emissions and enhanced endurance. A Williams International FJ33 turbofan will be used to provide primary propulsion.Ascent Solar Technologies | www.ascentsolar.com

Solar energy solutionsAluminum extrusion support structures, frames, andmounting components for the renewable energy sector

Aluminum extrusions offer a high strength-to-weightratio, excellent formability, good corrosion resistance,and design flexibility. And Hydro extrusions are madefrom our own primary-grade billet which contains morethan 70% recycled content.

Hydro is the leading supplier of extrudedaluminum support structures for utility-scale CSPplants and manufactures a variety of components forPV mounting solutions. Because project successrequires more than just high-quality components and areliable supply, our dedicated solar unit can provide:

• Technical, design, and concept prototyping support• Extrusion, fabrication, and finishing• Raw material management and component

procurement• Warehousing, kitting, and JIT delivery• Assistance with on-site installation and

on-going support

Whether you need complex framing systems for utility-scale CSP plants or frames and mounting componentsfor PV units, Hydro can deliver.

Partner with Hydro, a global leader in renewable energystructural components, and take your next solar projectto a new level.

HydroSolar Solutions249 S. 51st. Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85043Phone: (800) 459-3030 • Fax: (602) 269-0220E-mail: [email protected]/northamerica/solar

Bottom photo courtesy of Envision Solar



solar energy

Solar mixing system Taco, Inc. has expanded its all-in-one X-Pump Block for solar thermal applications. The patent-pending Taco Solar X-Pump Block (SXPB) is a complete solar mixing system, combining a variable speed solar mixing control, heat source circulator, and heat exchanger into a single unit. Its stain-less steel, brazed plate counterfl ow-style heat exchanger provides complete system isola-tion between the heat creation source side of the system (solar collector) and the heat sink side (storage tank).

The versatile, bronze cased SXPB can be set up to maintain a set-point differential between the solar collector and a primary and optional auxiliary storage tank; it can support a booster pump as part of a drain-back system and features an intelligent heat dump option and freeze protection for open systems. Its variable speed circula-tor control package controls the speed of the water fl owing through one side of the heat exchanger to satisfy the heat transfer requirements between both sides of the heat exchanger, while maintaining proper delta T over an extended period of time. Taco, Inc. | www.taco-hvac.com

Dual spectral-band thermal imaging camerasLumaSense Technologies’ Mikron M7604 thermal imaging cameras are actually two cameras in one. In addition to low-temperature radiometric imaging in the 8- to 14-micron wavelength range, each camera has its own specialized bandpass fi lter that enables accurate imaging through fl ames or of glass surfaces. Both the M7604F (for through-fl ame imaging) and M7604G (for glass surface imaging) have this capability. The Mikron M7604 is also a versatile, fully radiometric camera with high-temperature functionality, making it the perfect tool for preventive maintenance inspections, radiometric inspections of internal furnaces and boilers (M7604F), or temperature measurements of glass surfaces (M7604G) for improving process control and product quality. LumaSense Technologies | www.lumasenseinc.com

PV system monitoringThe IBC SOLAR SolControl line can carry out a target/actual analysis of up-to-date weather data. Optionally, sensors can be attached to measure the current weather data and irradiation values. With this data, SolControl simulates how much electric-ity the system should theoretically produce and recognizes each variation in the actual system performance from the target value. If the output should lapse, the monitoring system sends a text message to trade part-ners, so they can automatically search for the error. With SolControl, maintenance teams worldwide can access the system data from anywhere over any standard web browser, and can then identify possible sources of er-ror such as a cable failure, dirty module, etc. Downtime is minimized and constant high-yield from the system can be guaranteed. SolControl is compatible with all current in-verters and has a variety of implementation options. The SolControl product line offers three designs for different system sizes. IBC SOLAR | www.ibc-solar.com



All-thermoplastic heat exchangersAsahi/America has expanded their line of engineered high-purity and industrial fl uid fl ow products to include Polytetra Series shell and tube heat exchangers. Polytetra Series are all-thermoplastic, corrosion-resistant heat exchangers that are designed and built per customer specifi cation, and are fully customizable. Polytetra Series heat exchangers feature a design that diverts fl ow to the side of the shell, avoiding high-fl uid fl ow forces that may damage the thin wall

internal tubes of the shell and tube-style heat exchanger. This design provides longer life and more even heat transfer by spreading the temperature control media beyond the point of its initial concentrated contact area. Available in PFA, E-CTFE, PVDF and PP, the all-thermo-plastic Polytetra tube and shell heat exchanger is ideal for clean chemistry applications such as PV and semiconductor processes. Asahi/America, Inc. | www.asahi-america.com

Large-scale dual axis trackerOPEL International Inc.’s new TF-500 solar tracker is the larg-est dual axis tracker system in the OPEL product line. Along with the company’s full solar tracking product line, TF-500 of-

fers signifi cant advantages in effi ciency and production. By using tracking systems, solar panels can gen-erate up to 40% more electricity in the same location because the tracker allows the solar panel to follow the sun across the sky, maintaining the ideal 90-degree angle between the sun’s rays and the panel’s face. OPEL’s TF-500 is designed for large-scale applications such as utility grade solar farm installations. OPEL International Inc. | www.opelinc.com

Optical-sensing systems and componentsOcean Optics offers a complete line of optical-sensing sys-tems and components that address the needs of the growing market for PV solar cells—from characterization of the thin fi lms comprising such cells to measurement of the spectral output of solar simulators. Ocean Optics is the creator of the

world’s fi rst miniature fi ber optic spectrometer. Its extensive line of low-cost, small-footprint modular spectrometers and accessories can be confi gured for millions of different UV-Vis-NIR applications. In particular, users can mix and match spectrometers and accessories to monitor PV thin fi lms used in the manufacturing and assembly of solar panels, and in measuring the spectral output of both sun and radiant sources such as solar simulators. For solar cell produc-tion, Ocean Optics spectrometers can be confi gured for thin fi lm thickness measurement and endpoint detection; important quality control parameters that, if managed well, can help manu-facturers reduce waste, eliminate off-specifi cation product, and increase yield. Ocean Optics | www.oceanoptics.com

Solar boxes for module manufacturersHUBER+SUHNER offers a wide range of tailor-made connectivity systems for solar module manufacturers. These consist of pre-fabricated junction boxes with cables and connectors, which are fi xed to the rear side of the modules and connect them to the inverter. Solar boxes HA3 and RH3 have been developed especially for high-performance modules. Thanks to thermal insulation be-

tween the junction boxes and the modules, constant high power is guaranteed. The junction boxes are characterized by a high degree of functional safety over their entire lifetime, as well as by extremely low power dissipation. They are designed for both manual and auto-mated production and optimized in accordance with customers’ requirements.

The RH3 box is designed in a space-saving way; the contacts can be soldered or welded, guaranteeing high connectivity quality. In addition, the HA3 box is equipped with brackets to accommodate the connectors. This simplifi es transportation and logistics considerably. The HA3 connection system has already been certifi ed by CSA and TüV, and the RH3 box is now certifi ed in accordance to UL 1703 as well. HUBER+SUHNER | www.hubersuhner.com

Elevated ground mountedsolar arraysA new renewable energy company, with headquarters in Enterprise and manufacturing facilities in La Grande, is manufacturing solar arrays designed so the arrays are elevated off the ground for better solar access and so that the ground space below can still be utilized. Sun Storage sells the pre-engineered structures in complete, easy-to-assemble kits.

The structures feature an architecturally appealing design with fi nished aluminum posts that are powder coated for a sleek, modern

look. The units are sized to serve a secondary purpose, in addition to providing solar power, and can be used as carports to provide backyard shade, store lawn and garden equipment, bikes, or other sporting gear. Large commercial structures can be custom designed for parking covers and agricultural or industrial uses. The units are ready to plug into an existing power grid. Sun Storage | www.sunstorage.org



solar energy

Greener solar energyBioSolar developed a breakthrough technol-ogy to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources reducing the cost of PV solar cells. The line of proprietary BioBacksheet protective coverings are de-signed to replace expensive and hazardous petroleum-based fi lm with a bio-based one derived from cotton and castor beans, creat-ing a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective solar panel component. Bio-Solar is the fi rst company to introduce this new dimension of cost reduction in solar cell components, and the BioBacksheet-C will be BioSolar’s fi rst product commercially avail-able during the third quarter of 2009.

BioBacksheet-C is a two-component sys-tem. The substrate is a cellulosic material coated with a propriety material to reduce the water vapor transmission rate and to increase abrasion resistance. Undergoing rigorous testing and adjustments over the past months to ensure its functional durability and cos-metic consistency, BioBioBacksheet-C will go through one additional full cycle of vigorous tests before commercial production begins. BioSolar | www.biosolar.com

Solar trackers for medium-sized systemsSunArx Trackers, a division of Colorado So-lar Inc., recently announced the T-21 single axis tracking mount and the C-6 control board. The T-21 is available in one standard confi guration, eliminating custom fabrica-tion and long lead times, yet working with any conventionally framed PV modules. Op-timum confi gurations are possible with most large modules on the market. The T-21 fi ts on a standard 6" pipe base and holds 1600 to 2200 Watts, depending on module. Seasonal adjustment can be made without wrenches.

The C-6 is a digital timer-based control board, which can control up to six T-21 mounts, minimizing cost and installation time. No sensors are required and set up consists of simply setting the time. The C-6 is provided with weatherproof enclosure and power supply. Many C-6s can be used in one installation, so there is no limit to the size of project that can be accomplished. SunArx Trackers | www.sunarx.com

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BIPV roofi ng solutionThe Eagle Solar Roof with SolarBlend from Suntech is an innovative building integrated PV (BIPV) roofi ng solution. SolarBlend solar roofi ng tiles are available in three colors (gray, brown, and ter-racotta), and install along with Eagle’s concrete roof tile to create a roof that protects while creating energy for a home. With a 25-year power output warranty, Class A fi re-rated installation, up to 125 mph wind rating (with wind clip), 200 pounds per square foot snow load, and resistance to one-inch hail stones, these solar roofi ng tiles are durable as well as functional. Eagle Roofi ng Products | www.eagleroofi ng.com



NEED TRAINING?

DC Power Systems is a full service distributor of renewable energy solutions. Working with our national network

of qualified dealers and installers, we design and supply solar electric systems for business, residential and

government applications. We offer training programs for renewable energy dealers and contractors with support

from our manufacturing partners. The training sessions include seminars at supplier facilities, at our headquarters

in Northern California, and at various locations across the country.

WWW.DCPOWER-SYSTEMS.COM/TRAINING I 800-967-6917

DC Power Systems trains more installers than any other solar distributor nationwide.

VISIT US AT INTERSOLAR: BOOTH 9111

Effi cient PV modules Trina Solar Ltd.’s in-house production of crystalline ingots, wafers, cells, and modules ensures customers are getting reliable and quality products. Trina Solar PV modules, with power output up to 240Wp, provide a highly effi cient and environmental friendly electric power for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility scale applications. Founded in 1997, Trina Solar is a PV company based in China. Fully vertically integrated, from ingots to modules in both mono and multicrystalline technologies, the company produced more than 200 MW of modules in 2008. Listed on the NYSE, the company operates worldwide to de-liver the best value to its customers.Trina Solar Ltd. | www.trinasolar.comBooth 8523

Complete line of vacuum valvesVAT’s new catalog “Vacuum Valves 2012” is a full color, hardbound book that details a complete line of vacuum valves, pressure control systems, and ac-cessories for applications ranging from rough vacuum to extreme UHV. VAT’s “Vacuum Valves 2012” catalog is con-veniently organized by valve type and provides customers with an excellent reference source for technical informa-tion and drawings for 1,000-plus stand-ard valves. The catalog is complemented by the company’s website, where up-to-date information about VAT and VAT products can be found, in addition to placing orders and downloading draw-ings and operating manuals. VAT | www.vatvalve.com | Booth 8233

Intersolar North AmericaJuly 14th to 16th, 2009 Moscone Center—San Francisco, Californiawww.intersolar.usAs the only solar exhibition in North America dedicated to recruiting companies across the solar supply chain from around the world, Intersolar North America helps the industry improve global supply, distribution, training, regulation, and business issues to accelerate market transformation and advance solar as a signifi cant part of the global energy supply.

Intersolar North America 2009 has tripled its fl oor space and features an expected 500 exhibitors and 15,000 trade visitors in San Francisco’s Moscone Center West. The conference, held at the InterContinental Hotel next door, also increases its size and program to over 25 tracks, circa 150 speakers, and 1,600 expected attendees.

Show in PrintFeatures just some of the companies and technologies attendees will see at this year’s show.

intersolarNorth America



S17

LEONI Studer AG · Herrenmattstrasse 20 · CH - 4658 Däniken, Switzerland · Phone +41 (0)62 288 82 82 · Fax +41 (0)62 288 83 83 · www.leoni-wind-solar-power.com

BETAfl am® SolarClean cables for clean energy

BETAflam® 125 Solar is a label of our Wind & Solar Power Business Unit. These cables are

halogen free, flame retardant and electron-beam cross-linked. With TÜV PFG 1169/08.2007

approval and UL listed as PV wire and USE-2, the wires are suitable for worldwide applications.

The Quality Connection

Intersolar San Francisco (USA)14. - 16. July 2009

Visit us at booth 9459

Solar tray collectorKIOTO Clear Energy’s AI tray collector FP 7.25.0 is both silicone-free and dry-sealed. The positive-fi t compression bond of the glass cover strips with the trough, and the circumferential EPDM rubber element guarantees 100% tight-

ness and a long service life. Product benefi ts include: a compact, intelligent product design with deep-drawn, aluminum tray, combined with a sealing free of silicone; maximum heat transfer between the full-surface absorber sheet and the copper grid, as a result of optimized ultrasonic welding technology; tempered, low-iron solar glass; and, no heat loss due to 50mm back and additional 15mm side insulation. The AI tray collector is suitable for in-roof and on-roof installation and has an installation-friendly mounting system with roof brackets or bench screws for all standard roof types.KIOTO Clear Energy SA de CV | www.kioto.com | Booth 9916

In-line Diffusion System BTU International’s MERIDIAN In-line Diffusion System features the MERIDIAN phosphorus coater, which includes key advances such as backside and top-side coating and integrated wafer drying. The system can be confi gured to achieve up to 1500, 156mm wafers per hour. The in-line process offers reduced wafer han-

dling and greater throughput than traditional batch processing. Reduced handling trans-lates into lower breakage rates, improved yield, and lower cost of ownership. BTU offers solar processing equipment for silicon and thin fi lm photovoltaics. In thin fi lm PVs, BTU’s equipment is used for both the CIGS and the CdTe processes. Silicon PV applications are served by BTU’s metallization furnaces and in-line diffusion systems. BTU International was recently awarded the ‘Industry Choice’ International Solar Technology Award.BTU International | www.btu.com | Booth 8157

Micro-abrasive blasting applicationsComco specializes in micro-abrasive blasting technol-ogy and is the creator of the award-winning Micro-Blaster. Micro-abrasive blasting is a technology that uses micro-sized particles of high-grade abrasives propelled out of a small nozzle tip at high velocity to

clean, cut, deburr, and texture a variety of surfaces. This technology offers the ac-curacy and control needed to effectively process small parts, providing solutions for the semiconductor and solar industries. Fast and consistent results can be ob-tained with manual or semi-automated micro-abrasive blasting solutions.

Comco’s Applications Lab welcomes sample parts for testing to determine the most effi cient method. All Comco micro-abrasive blasters are equipped with their patented modulator system that delivers a steadier, more consistent powder fl ow than any other blaster. The regulated blast ensures exacting results and unequalled precision. Comco Inc. | www.comcoinc.com | Booth 8463

Solar water heatersPremium Solar LLC has signed a long-term agreement with Ezinc for the distribution of Ezinc Solar Water Heating equipment and solu-tions, mostly in the southern states of the US. Ezinc has been working for more than 25 years

to offer the Thermosipohon systems, used in 58 countries and now in the US. The system is FSEC and SRCC certifi ed.

Premium Solar import the Thermosiphon Closed-loop Systems, which prevents freezing and scale built-up. A heated anti-freeze solution from the collector fl ows into the tank’s heat exchanger, and then returns to the collector. Ezinc systems do not require an external expansion tank. An optional electrical back-up supplies en-ergy continuity even during periods of cloudy weather. Systems are 46 gallons and 80 gallons. Premium Solar is actively seeking for territorial distributors in the US, Aruba, the Caribbean, Granada, Puerto Pico, and Hawaii.Premium Solar LLC | www.presolarnet.com | Booth 9722 (with Ezinc)

High refl ectance mirror fi lmRefl ecTech, Inc. makes the only high refl ectance (94%) mirror fi lm proven for outdoor use in solar concentrators. Commercially proven, lightweight, and UV resistant, the unbreakable Refl ecTech Mirror Film makes fragile glass mirrors obsolete. Refl ecTech Mirror Film comes with a peel-

off liner to protect the mirror surface during processing, handling, transportation, and installation. The fi lm is self-adhesive for easy application to many substrates and is avail-able in three widths: 48", 59", and 60". Refl ecTech Mirror Film was developed through cooperative research with the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).Refl ecTech, Inc. | www.refl ectechsolar.com | Booth 9812

High-performance renewable energy technologiesSamlex Solar, a division of Samlex America Inc., is a diversifi ed high-technology company manufacturing and distributing re-newable energy products including inverters, battery chargers, charge controllers, dc-dc converters, and solar panels. Known for having a signifi cant and in-depth line of high-performance

technologies, Samlex is one of North America’s fastest growing suppliers of alternative energy products. With locations in Canada, the US, and Europe, Samlex Solar is able to reduce lead times and provide better shipping options to domestic and global clients. Samlex Solar, a division of Samlex America Inc. | www.samlexsolar.com | Booth 9214

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Printer for selective emitter, MWT, and ribbon material ASYS’s new XSR1 Solar Printer is a rotary table printer that has specifi cally been devel-oped for demanding applications in the solar industry. Typical applications are selective emitter, metal wrap through technology, rib-bon material and ultra-thin wafers, as well as the whole range of standard metallization applications. The XSR1 also features a paper interleaf between the print nest and the sub-strate, which makes cleaning easy and avoids any print nest contamination. Throughput is currently rated at 1,600 cells per hour with a repeatability of +/- 10 micron.ASYS Group | www.asys-group.comBooth 8333



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Day-in & day-out dependability — Heliodyne systems installed in the late 1970's are still running smoothly, providing greater energy output (dollar for dollar) than any other renewable energy form. Our featured GOBI® solar collectors are made in the USA, andcome factory-tested to 300 psi, with standard American fittings for hassle-free job-site installation. And with our proven designs and dedicated service & support, we’re a dependable leader you can trust. Learn much more about our innovative “plug & play” systems by calling today. We’re the smart design choice for a green future.

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Visit us at www.heliodyne.com, or call 1.888.878.8750 for information about us, and our products.

Reliable solar hot water performance,sunup to sundown.

Face-fastened metal roof mounting bracketsVersaBracket-47 by S-5! is a stronger, more versatile, and lower-cost bracket option that allows for easy application to a face-fastened metal roof profi le. The patent-protected, encapsulated butyl sealant design virtually eliminates the possibility of leaks and corrosion. Extensive load testing research during development and testing confi rmed VersaBracket-47 load strength to 1283 pounds ultimate—an increase of 863 pounds over previous solutions when tested on standard 16 gauge purlins. The impres-sive holding strength makes it a much more cost-effective solution because users do not need to install as many to withstand design loads. The VersaBracket-47 can also be ordered with custom attachment holes for specifi c applications. It easily supports heavy duty applications like snow retention and solar panel installations. S-5! | www.S-5.com | Booth 9655

Flexible PV cables for harsh environmentsAmerCable is a North American manufacturer of fl exible photovoltaic cables for use in harsh, isolated operating environments frequently associated with solar installations. AmerCable’s Type USE-2 (UL Approved / TUV Pending) single conductor cable is designed to meet the evolving needs of the solar industry. Applications include “pigtail” connections on the backside of PV pan-els; “homerun” connections between PV panels, collector boxes, and inverters; as well as where allowed by the NEC. The company’s Type PV UL4703 single conductor cable meets the new-est National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 690 standards. AmerCable offers excellent customer service, short lead times, and on-time delivery.AmerCable | www.amercable.com | Booth 9463


Silicon thin fi lmPV modulesENN Solar Energy has announced the launch of silicon thin fi lm photovoltaic modules with tandem junction technology. With 8% stabilized conversion effi ciency, the modules are ideal for utility scale ground mounted solar parks, integrated roof or façade solutions, and large rooftop installations. The modules have received IEC and TÜV certifi cation.

A subsidiary of ENN Group, China’s largest private clean energy provider, ENN Solar produces its PV modules with sizes up to 5.7m2 and 460 Watt power output, pro-viding signifi cant cost benefi ts. Two layers of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon are applied to the glass substrate. One layer absorbs visible light, the other layer absorbs IR light. The PV cells are able to effi ciently convert solar energy into electricity even in less-than-perfect weather conditions, such as low or diffused light and hot climates. The energy payback time of the new modules is one year—signifi cantly lower than that of crystalline silicon modules. ENN is produc-ing the modules on the SunFab production line supplied by Applied Materials to reach 60 MW capacity by the end of the year.ENN Solar Energy | www.ennsolar.comBooth 8745



PV panels and packaged PV systemsCENTROSOLAR D-Series and E-Series PV panels, available in North America as of July 2009, will span a wide range of performance, ranging from 165 Wp to 280 Wp. CENTROSOLAR C-Series panels, which are

made in Germany, will also be available in late 2009, equipped with patented nano-coated glass for higher effi ciency. The company further offers packaged PV systems including panels, inverters, and racking, engineered and ready for shipment to resi-dential installers and commercial integrators.

CENTROSOLAR America has expanded its sales and distribution operation with a full-scale warehouse and engineering center in Scottsdale, Arizona. CEN-TROSOLAR is a publicly traded solar company in Europe with over 800 employ-ees. Their product range includes PV modules, as well as components like solar glass, mounting systems, and solar cells.CENTROSOLAR | www.centrosolaramerica.com | Booth 9211

Commercial inverterPV Powered continues its reputation for reliability with the new 260kW commer-cial inverter. With industry best up-time, ease of installation, and lifetime main-tainability, the 260kW features busbar power connections, redundant cooling system, card cage circuit board design, and the widest temperature rating of any inverter in its class. This highly in-tegrated system saves installers time and money by including load-rated AC and DC service disconnects, neutral-free in-stallation, oversized busbar landings, and generous cable bending area for top, bot-tom, and side cable entry options.

The PVP260kW has a standard 295VDC minimum MPPT and an op-tional full-power 265VDC minimum MPPT—the lowest MPPT voltage of any commercial inverter in the industry, which enables exceptional stringing ca-pability with all PV module technologies including new thin fi lm modules. PV Powered backs all its commercial invert-ers with a 10-year warranty and an un-precedented optional 20-year warranty.PV Powered | www.pvpowered.comBooth 9047

Poly-crystalline solar module Cuantum Solar has announced the state of Florida as the nest of their next photovoltaic manufacturing plant. Cuantum Solar, manufacturers of PV panels with ample experience to provide customers with top-quality, high-effi ciency solar products, from solar modules to trackers. They have successfully combined sci-ence, research, technology, and design for the elaboration of their fi nal product.

Cuantum Solar, operating in Spain since 2005, has achieved a recognized position in the PV industry, well-known for its high effi ciency and sturdy 275 W modules. Their Sunport 275 P, poly-crystalline solar module is currently going through the process of

UL 1703 certifi cation and is expected to be launched on October 2009 for the US market. The Sunport 275 P is a multi-use module designed with rugged construc-tion to withstand high wind forces typical of the southeastern states.Cuantum Solar | www.cuantumsolar.com | Booth 8729

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Spectral refl ectometer for thin fi lm solar PV metrology Spectral refl ectometer MProbe system, introduced by Semiconsoft, Inc., offers quick, non-destructive meas-urement of the thicknesses and compositions/optical properties of thin fi lm PV stacks. Measurements can be done in-line or in R&D. Typical materials include: CIGS,

CdS, TCO (ZAO, ITO), aSi. System software includes an extensive materials library (500+ materials), supports creation of parameterized materials, and can be used in desktop or server mode. MProbe system features a broad spectral range: 200 to 2300 nm, high precision, and affordable pricing. Semiconsoft, Inc. provides custom sys-tem confi guration and integration with other metrology or production systems.Semiconsoft, Inc. | www.semiconsoft.com | Booth 8460

Fully integrated solar carport iParkSolar, Inc. in conjunction with Baja Con-struction, introduces the iParkSystem—a new concept in PV systems for the commercial market. The iParkSystem is a fully integrated solar carport that untaps the power of a

company’s parking lot to produce clean energy to power America’s businesses and the emerging electric vehicle market.

iParkSolar recently introduced the iParkSystem to the commercial marketplace. It utilizes Baja’s Solar Support System to carry PV modules, which enable the conversion of the sun’s power to clean energy that can be used to power the host’s business while providing the necessary infrastructure to power the emerging electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid/electric vehicle (PHEV) market segment. The iParkSystem differenti-ates itself from rooftop solar installations in that it has the secondary benefi t of provid-ing shaded parking, which may be a recognizable revenue source. It also showcases a company’s solar initiative with a true “fi rst to market” advantage of participating in an infrastructure to support fossil-free fuel for the emerging EV and PHEV market. iParkSolar | Baja Constructionwww.iparksolar.com | www.bajacarports.comBooth 9750



Europe‘s PV Choice...Now on America‘s roof tops

CENTROSOLAR America Inc.8350 E. Evans Road, Suite E-1Scottsdale, AZ 85260 [email protected]

CENTROSOLAR America Inc. now has a strong offer in the US market:

CENTROSOLAR brand for PV modules and other module brands

balance-of-system components like brackets and inverters

full-scale distribution facility in Phoenix, Arizona

access to a robust dealer network for the residential channel

support for commercial projects through partnerships with integrators and

financial providers

CENTROSOLAR America Inc now has a strong offer in the US market:

CENTROSOLAR is one of the leading publicly-traded solar companies in Europe. CENTROSOLAR has production facilities in Germany and Netherlands for its PV modules and components like solar glass and mounting systems. With over 60% of sales revenues from outside Germany, CENTROSOLAR is continuously globalizing its business with presence in 11 countries already.

CENTROSOLAR America IncSuite E

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financial providers

CENTROSOLAR Ame8350 E. Evans Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260info@centrosolaram877-348-2555Meet us at Intersolar North America, July 14 -16, 2009

www.centrosolaramerica.com

Going solarThousands of homes and businesses are Going Solar with cash incentives from the California Solar Initiative, and to-day California boasts over 500 MW of distributed solar generation—and growing! Thanks to clean energy from the sun, California is creating power, skilled jobs, and a legacy of sustainable infrastructure. Cash incentives can offset up to 20% of the cost of an eligible solar system. Visit Go Solar, California! where experts are on hand to demonstrate how to make solar a smart, affordable choice for lowering utility bills and providing clean renewable energy. Go Solar, California! | www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov | Booth 3280

Silicon carbide coating facility Carbone of America - Ultra Carbon Division (“UCD”) has announced the commissioning of its state-of-the art facility for advanced silicon carbide and pyrolytic carbon coatings. This new facility covers over 35,000 square feet of manufacturing space and combines precision-controlled coating equipment to produce proprietary silicon carbide “SiC” coatings.

“SolarMaxx 7000” is one of the com-pany’s newest grades of SiC coatings for photovoltaic wafer processing. This coating is specially engineered for plas-ma enhanced/assisted chemical vapor depositions or “PECVD/PACVD” type reactions. UCD is capable of providing these types of coatings with control-led deposition uniformity on complex shapes with micron layer precision. These innovations have given UCD the competitive advantage to compete in the global arena of semiconductor and photovoltaic wafer manufacturing. Carbone of America-UltraCarbon Divisionwww.carbone-ht.com | Booth 7417


Cable sets and junction boxesLumberg Connect announces the UL approval of the company’s LC3 over molded Cable Sets and Junction Boxes. The LC3 cable harnesses have already been proven in multiple installations in Europe, including a 40 MW installation in Germany, which was completed in late 2008. The UL recognition together with TÜV recognition will now allow the integration of these products in solar panels for installations throughout the world. Lumberg Connect GmbH, head-quartered in Schalksmuehle, Germany, has been supplying quality products since 1933 and has operations in multiple in-ternational locations. They have supplied products to the Solar Market since 2007. Lumberg | www.lumberg.comBooth 9558



www.voestalpine.com/rfc

tel: 502-633-4435 fax: 502-633-5824email: [email protected]

Powered by the Sun.Supported by RFC.

Roll Forming Corporation

Strong. Durable. Cost-effective. These are the characteristics you need in solar panel mounting systems — and RFC can deliver like no one else in the industry. As part of the world’s largest custom roll forming group, with 11 affiliate companies in 10 countries, we leverage the very latest technologies and innovations from around the world to transform your unique vision into reality.

RFC has all the capabilities to deliver above and beyond your expectations.

• Custom roll formed and welded shapes

• Galvanized, pre-painted & powder coated steel

• Simple to complex shapes to fit your exact specifications

• Design consultation to develop new solutions or improve existing ones

Rollforming technology Rollforming is a continuous bending operation in which fl at-rolled steel or aluminum is passed through a series of power-driven rollers each perform-ing only an incremental portion of the bending until the desired cross-sectional profi le is obtained. Because rollform-ing utilizes coiled metal, it can be ac-complished at high speeds with virtu-ally unlimited product lengths. This cold-forming process produces stronger more structurally rigid products than extrusions of similar profi les.

Advancements in technology have allowed rollforming to evolve to a new level of effi ciency. Servo-operated equipment and computer controls allow Custom Rollforming Corp. to accurate-ly punch holes and slots in-line during the forming process, and cut-to-length “on the fl y,” eliminating laborious sec-ondary operations saving time and mon-ey. By its nature, the rollforming process produces a high-quality, uniform, and consistent product with close tolerances and a superior surface fi nish. Custom Rollforming Corp.www.customrollformingcorp.comBooth 9663

Spectrometer systemThe tec5 MultiSpec is a versatile UV-VIS-NIR spectrometer system with high reproduc-ibility and fast data acquisition. Up to 32 channels are supported. All kinds of fi ber-optic accessories, such as immersion probes, can easily be attached. Software tools from devel-opment kits to complete laboratory applications are available. Various applications can be covered by the tec5 MultiSpec systems: wet chemical analysis, detection of solar irradiance and fl ash simulators, diffuse and direct refl ection of panes including color analysis, thick-ness of thin layers and coatings, and transmission.tec5USA, Inc. | www.tec5usa.com | Booth 8144

Solar energy partnerUnistrut Energy Solutions is poised to become an essential partner to solar integrators, solar panel manufacturers, and mounting systems providers. The brand is part of the Tyco International family, blending best-in-class galvanized steel products from Allied Tube & Con-duit and Unistrut. In addition to metal products, the aggregate capabilities include a full range fabrication facil-ity, a technical services group capable of delivering engineering expertise and conceptual design, along with an instal-lation services division with over 60 years experience. The brand has three primary goals: achieve the lowest cost-per-watt installed solution, simplify installation to reduce labor costs, and provide highest quality components fi t for the project.Unistrut Energy Solutions www.unistrutenergy.comBooth 9758

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PV system monitoring SolarBOS is pleased to announce its PV System Monitoring solution for commercial and residential solar installations. SolarBOS provides both the hardware and software, as well as data management. Users can track systems performance, using web and kiosk views, and be alerted to potential system problems and outages. The developer can benchmark the per-formance of their systems, and compare the output of systems. SolarBOS’ graphing center allows customizable visualization of any data points captured on site. SolarBOS | www.solarbos.com | Booth 9450Rooftop PV systems

Carlisle Energy Services, a new division of Carlisle Construction Materials, provides rooftop photovoltaic systems for the commer-cial roofi ng market. Carlisle Energy Services recently introduced two solar PV systems to the commercial roofi ng industry: Spectro360 and SpectroFlex. Consisting of cylindrical solar tubes and Carlisle’s ENERGY STAR-qualifi ed roofi ng membranes, the Spectro360 PV system brings a third dimension to the rooftop PV world where up to 20% of the energy production is attributed to light that is refl ected off the roofi ng membrane onto the underside of the cylindrical tubes.

SpectroFlex is a unique PV system that combines amorphous silicon, thin fi lm PV laminates with time-tested single-ply roof-ing membranes. Featuring an extremely low profi le that provides superior wind resistance and durability, these lightweight and fl exible PV laminates are ideal for use in high-wind and hail zones. SpectroFlex PV laminates can be used on fl at, steep, or curved roof surfaces, as well as other unique applications where traditional rooftop PV systems are not suitable. Carlisle Energy Services offers a variety of comprehensive systems for supe-rior rooftop energy production. Carlisle Energy Services www.carlisleenergy.comBooth 9323


Radiant heaters for large PV cells Tyco Thermal Controls presents the Isopad Radiant Heater for large PV cells. With a recent factory expansion, Isopad (a specialist provider of customized heating solutions) and Tyco Thermal Controls brand, now have the capacity to produce the largest heating platens for PV cells. This enables manufacturers to lower the cost per watt of energy generated. This innovative solution is achieved by embedding mineral insulated heating cable into panels onto which the substrate is positioned. The cable delivers reliable and uniform heat under vacuum for deposition and lamination processes. Isopad’s heating solution has been widely welcomed, and 43 ft2 (4 m2) platens have already en-tered service with major manufacturers of PECVD and lamination equipment.Tyco Thermal Controlswww.tycothermal.comBooth 8251



16100 S. Lathrop Ave. | Harvey, IL 60426 | [email protected] | www.unistrutenergy.com

Visit us at Intersolar NA July 14-16, 2009Booth # 9758 Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA

A N E S S E N T I A L P A R T N E R

Unistrut® Energy Solutions, focuses on the balance of the system; we treatthe mounting structure as one of the key components of a solar installation.

Our full-range of capabilities includes: • Strong product portfolio• Experienced engineering resource• Proven project management and installation• In-house parts fabrication

Visit us at Intersolar NA booth # 9758 to find out how we can optimize yourdesign and create a durable structure that reduces material and labor costs.

Closed-loop heat transfer solar applianceThe Heliodyne Commercial Station (HCOM) is a packaged closed-loop heat transfer appliance for accom-modating large solar hot water projects of up to 100 fl at plate col-lectors with a single module, while still larger projects can combine modules in parallel for limitless siz-

ing potential. The HCOM was engineered by Heliodyne to offer installers a factory assembled, plug-and-play appliance that can work universally with any commercial project, reducing all the design complications associated with larger installations. The HCOM operates on the same principles as Heliodyne’s line of Residential closed-loop heat transfer appliances, the Helio-Pak. Some notable features of the HCOM include easy “out of the box” installation, touch screen interface, advanced controller for remote wi-fi based monitoring/data storage, and integrated variable speed pumps for system energy optimization. The Commercial Station will be available from Heliodyne late July 2009.Heliodyne | www.heliodyne.com | Booth 9529

Single-axis solar moduleThe DEGER TOPtraker 40NT is a single-axis, low-cost model developed for the US market. The system is designed for a module area up to 40 square meters and generates 4,000 to 6,400 Wp. It has improved engineering, markedly larger dimensions, and better effi ciency than the previous models from DEGERener-

gie in the low-cost segment. The system achieves an energy yield that is up to 30% greater than static installations of solar modules. It is designed for mounting in open spaces in medium to large solar parks, and is suitable as a support and tracking system for all standard photovoltaic modules. Different versions are available that can be used from the equator to the 60th parallel—most regions of the earth are covered. The DEGER TOPtraker 40NT was certifi ed in March 2009 according to the CANADA Standard CSA 22.2 No. 61010-1 and the USA Standard UL 61010-1 and is, therefore, authorized for the US market.

DEGERenergie has also applied for a patent for a new development—an align-ment tool that allows the fi ne adjustment of the DEGERconecter control module after installing solar modules with DEGER tracking systems. DEGERenergie GmbH | www.degerenergie.de | Booth 9759

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Developed in Partnership with theU.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory

The Only High Reflectance Mirror FilmProven for Use in Solar Concentrators

www.ReflecTechSolar.com



Mounting system for pitched roofs Schletter, Inc. has developed an uncomplicated, easily installed mounting system for pitched roofs that reduces mounting times by as much as 70%—the Rapid2+. The system’s attach-ment to the roof is height adjustable and requires only one tool for the complete installation. The Rapid2+ pre-assembled clamp clicks into the mounting rail without installing the tradi-tional nut to secure the clamp to the rails. The Rapid2+ clamp may be used for all thicknesses of framed modules and can be combined with all of Schletter’s standard mounting rail profi les for use in any mounting solution. With industry leading design innovations and standard pre-

assembly of mounting system components, Schletter’s commitment and primary focus is to reduce installation costs. Schletter, Inc. | www.schletter-inc.us | Booth 9747

Cross-linked solar cablesLEONI Studer AG is part of the LEONI Group, which operates globally. At the company’s Swiss facility, they are using highly spe-cialized compounds developed and manufactured on site. The radiation processing utilizes probably the most progressive cross-linking technology for plastic insulation. Their double insulated, electron-beam cross-linked solar cables are meeting the highest requirements for solar products in the most important photovoltaic markets of Europe and the USA, and can be used unrestrictedly as a module or installation cable. LEONI’s products have both TÜV (2Pfg1169 08/2007) approval for the European market and the UL listings (PV WIRE and USE-2) according to the latest NEC speci-fi cations (National Electric Code 2008 / UL Outline 4703).LEONI Studer AG www.leoni-wind-solar-power.comBooth 9459


Grounding solutionsA new grounding connector from Tyco Electronics shortens the installation time of a ground wire to a solar panel frame. The connector handles 6 and 8 AWG (13.3 and 8.4 mm2) solid, unin-sulated copper wire. In connecting to the frame, the connector body and the one-piece lock washer nut penetrates the surface of the aluminum frame to help create a reliable ground path. The connectors meet the requirements of UL 1703 for safety in fl at-plate photo-voltaic modules and panels, UL 467 for grounding and bonding equipment, and UL 486A/B for wire connectors.

In the six-second short-term current test, the connector handles 1530 amps with 6 AWG ground wire. In the four-second short-term current test, the con-nector handles 1180 amps with 8 AWG ground wire. The connection is me-chanically robust. In UL 486A/B pull-out testing, the connector provides 100 pounds (45.3 kg) with 6 AWG wire, and 90 pounds (40.8 kg) with 8 AWG wire.Tyco Electronicswww.tycoelectronics.com Booth 9551

R

Bright Thinking in Solar



UNLIMITED

NOW!POWER

[email protected]

SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTORS

Los AltosCarretera a El Castillo 2200, Building 1Col. Las PintasCP-45680 El SaltoJalisco, Mexico

Latest European State Of The Art Technology – Now Also Available In Northern America!

Solar collector with patented heat pipe systemZhenjiang Tianlang Luminous Energy & Photo-electricity Co., Ltd.’s new solar collector is available for the North American market. This collector uses the highest quality borosilicate evacuated glass tube design containing a patented heat pipe system. Wa-ter does not fl ow through the vacuum tube, so there

is no chance of freezing. The collector has been designed to withstand the harsh cli-mate found in the northern latitudes of the US and in Canada, which includes low temperatures, ice, snow, and hail, as well as the extreme high temperatures found in the desert southwest. It is designed for maximum heat transfer effi ciency and ex-tended life, and will be submitted to SRCC for certifi cation. Units are available for immediate shipment and may be ordered through Hyperion Solar Energy Co. Zhenjiang Tianlang Luminous Energy & Photoelectricity Co., Ltd.Hyperion Solar Energy Co. | www.hypersolar.us Booth 9611B

Utility grade renewable power solutions Satcon Technology Corporation is a manufacturer of advanced, utility grade renewable power solu-tions, enabling the industry’s most advanced, relia-ble, and proven solar and fuel cell power condition-ing systems. With 11 solar inverter power ratings, ranging from 30 kW to 1 MW (UL and CE certi-fi ed), Satcon PV inverters feature an outdoor-rated enclosure, the industry’s widest operating range, and highest effi ciencies for all panel technologies,

as well as advanced monitoring and control capabilities—and Edge, Satcon’s next-generation MPPT solution.Satcon Technology Corporation | www.satcon.com | Booth 9247

Renewable energy distributor DC Power Systems, the nation’s largest dis-tributor of renewable energy equipment, trains more solar installers than any other dis-tributor nationwide. With both introductory and advanced classes, and hands-on training opportunities, DC Power Systems conducts

classes in cities throughout North America, with upcoming classes in San Diego, Salt Lake City, Toronto, Boston, Santa Rosa, and Seattle. In addition to solar in-stallation classes, DC Power Systems recently added classes covering the installa-tion of wind turbines, energy auditing, and the marketing and selling of solar. DC Power Systems | www.dcpower-systems.com | Booth 9111

Connectors for pluggable solar solutionsWieland’s new family of PST 40i1 con-nectors provides pluggable connections on the solar inverter’s DC side over ex-tended cable runs. Featuring a 40A DC capability and superior contact conduc-tivity, these connectors satisfy the trend toward increased input on solar string in-verters. The IP 68 ingress protection rat-ing ensures operation in harsh conditions.

Pre-assembled either at the factory or quickly on site, these connectors feature easy handling, mate compatibility with industry standard types, resistance to UV, and high conductivity. The pre-assem-bled, cut-to-length, over-molded cable assemblies are tested and delivered ready to install. These cable assemblies replace conventional on-site requirements in-cluding cutting cables to length, strip-ping cable sheaths and wire insulation, and component connection. Elimination of these time-consuming operations re-duces errors and speeds installation. Wieland | www.wielandinc.comBooth 9547

Solar batteriesTelSuppliers provides a full line of solar batteries for various applications, and can assist with the selection and deployment of appropriate equipment. TelSuppli-ers is positioned and committed to partnership with customers from planning through deployment and support. For superior quality and price, CITIBAT Batteries are the recommended choice. TelSuppliers | www.telsuppliers.com | Booth 9153

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Protecting solar panels from theft The patented Key-Rex and Penta Nut high-security locking system offered by Bryce Fastener Inc., of Gilbert, Arizona, effectively protects solar panels from theft and tampering. Every customer has the option of receiving a privately owned geometric shape on the screw head (button/fl at) and key. Used in place of standard installation fasteners, screws are made to ASTM F879 and 316 Stainless Steel. With a wide range of diameters and lengths available, Bryce Fastener’s provide effective and economical security for any solar investment. Bryce Fastener Inc. | www.brycefastener.com | Booth 9652

Roll forming operationsRoll Forming Corporation (RFC), with headquarters in Shelbyville, Kentucky, is one of the largest and diversifi ed roll forming operations in North America. Serving the market leaders in a wide va-riety of industries that include solar tech-nology, RFC is part of the largest custom roll forming group in the world—the Profi lform Division of voestalpine AG. RFC has 11 affi liate companies in 10 countries around the globe, forming an alliance that allows them to leverage the world’s latest technologies, innovations, and benchmarking tools. Roll Forming Corporation www.rfcorp.comBooth 9651

Customized,large-scale sealing solutions Greene Tweed & Co. has worked closely with the rapidly expanding solar industry, leveraging their Voraz elastom-ers and proprietary extensis technology to offer highly effective, customized, large-scale sealing solutions. These products have provided solar customers with signifi cant benefi ts including good plasma resistance, enhanced chamber effi ciencies, and reduced stiction. They have also established a global alliance with Petrus Industries, a company spe-cializing in quartz manufacturing, to offer near-net, complex quartz solutions for the most specifi c solar needs.

Greene Tweed is now leveraging this industry experience and their latest technological innovations to expand their portfolio of solar capabilities. By combining high-performance materials, such as elastomeric seals, and quartz wa-fer boats and tubes, with new bonding and coating techniques, the company is creating integrated solutions that improve component reliability for cus-tomers. These integrated materials also offer optimized chamber operations and extended product life. Greene Tweed & Co.www.gtweed.comBooth 8061




High efficiency &long durability

Master Distribution:Premium Solar4808 Woodland Circle, Tallahassee FL 32303(850) 425 2823 Phone | (850) 425 5776 Faxwww.presolarnet.com

• Ezinc Thermosiphon Solar Water Heating systems are available in46 gallons and 80 gallons

• Closed loop, passive system,pump not required

Central Florida Distributor:Solaris Energy3195 S.E. Lionel Terrace, Stuart, FL 34997(772) 219-3245 Phone | (772) 219-3246 Fax

Seeking distributors and dealers for the Southern US areas.

Solar-resource assessment and PV performance monitoring systemsCampbell Scientifi c is now offering pre-wired packages for solar-resource assessment and photovoltaic perform-ance monitoring. These systems can accurately and reliably measure a variety of on-site meteorological parameters, power generated and consumed, and the temperature of PV panels. Couple this measurement capacity with their ability to read industry leading inverters and power meters to pro-vide a single data-access point.

Use Campbell Scientifi c’s LoggerNet software with these pre-wired assessment systems to facilitate automated data collection, or integrate them into existing SCADA or PLC system via ModBus or DNP3.0. Campbell Scientifi c designs and manufactures measurement and control instruments, specializing in programmable, fi eld-based dataloggers for environmental and industrial applications. Backed by 35 years of experience and more than 150,000 units sold worldwide, Campbell data-loggers are well-known for quality measurements, versatility, and reliable perform-ance—even in harsh, remote environments. Campbell Scientifi c | www.campbellsci.com/renewables Booth 7627 (with Draker Laboratories)

Non-EVA thermoplastic encapsulant For thin fi lm solar module manufactur-ers, Specialized Technology Resources, Inc. (STR) has introduced a non-EVA thermoplastic encapsulant to be used behind superstrate-deposited PV devic-es, called Photocap 25539. The superior moisture barrier properties of Photocap 25539 coupled with the ‘melt, press, and go’ nature of the thermoplastic gives thin fi lm customers something they’ve never seen before: laminations times un-der 10 minutes without the fuss of edge tape or autoclaves.

Photocap 25539 signifi cantly expands the capability of solar products and represents a considerable differentiator in the industry. Photocap 25539 far ex-ceeds expectations in numerous areas of testing including: adhesion to glass, me-chanical properties, electrical properties, MVTR, wet IR, and accelerated aging. Specialized Technology Resources, Inc.www.strsolar.com | Booth 8657

Yield analysis and process management softwareSpire Corporation, a global solar company provid-ing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide, and Rudolph Technologies, Inc., a company spe-cializing in process characterization solutions for semiconductor and PV manufacturing, announced they have reached an agreement to include Ru-dolph’s Discover Solar yield analysis and process management software as part of Spire’s turnkey manufacturing product lines.

Rudolph’s Discover Solar Software provides all the process information to Spire’s solar cell production lines. It will allow Spire customers to bring new lines up to profi table yields and volumes even faster. Customers will be able to achieve higher average cell effi ciencies and reduce manufacturing costs. Discover Solar software will give Spire customers a greater competitive edge since it is the fi rst yield man-agement tool specifi cally designed to help PV manufacturers maximize the effi cien-cy of cell devices, as well as optimize production processes.Spire Solar, Inc. | www.spirecorp.com | Booth 8223

Fixed structures andsingle-axis solar trackers Exclusively supplied by PROINSA, the differential advantages of the designed and manufactured Fixed Structures are their fast assembly and reduced instal-lation time. Maximum durability of the hot-dip gal-vanized steel structure and only minimum volume is needed to transport, as it is supplied in bar sections.

They adapt to any type of terrain. Maximum resistance to inclement weather de-signed for winds exceeding 150 km/h, compared to traditional single-axis Azimuth trackers, and they take up less ground: 1 MW in a maximum of 2.95 hectares. It al-lows manual adjustment from 25º to 35º of the tilt on the polar axis.

The distribution of both the Fixed Structure and the Seasonal Azimuth single-axis will be exclusively conducted by PROINSO, the engineering and distribution company in the OPDE Group, who were already distributing the MECASOLAR double-axis.PROINSO | www.proinso.com | Booth 9753

Funds for fi ber lasersIPG Photonics Corporation announced the availability of government programs that provide fi nancial incentives for customers to purchase fi ber lasers. Fiber lasers, which are vastly more energy effi cient than conventional YAG and CO2 gas lasers, are well suited for the new fi nancial assistance programs which promote the de-ployment of energy effi cient technologies. One such program is the Clean Energy and Industrial Effi ciency Program of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). The DOER is now accepting applications for proven commer-cially available technologies with a minimum effi ciency improvement of 25% into the industrial sector.

Fiber lasers, a proven commercially available technology, convert electrical en-ergy to optical energy two to three times more effi ciently than diode-pumped YAG lasers, three times more effi ciently than CO2 lasers, and 15 to 30 times more ef-fi ciently than lamp-pumped YAG lasers. Because fi ber lasers are much more energy effi cient and place lower levels of thermal stress on their internal components, they have substantially less electrical requirements than compared to conventional lasers.IPG Photonics Corporation | www.ipgphotonics.com | Booth 8250

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2 45

2 4

3

1

DS60PV

DS50PVV

DS50PVDS50PV

DS

DLA

DS40S/G

DS150E

M200

1 AC Distribution Panel

2 Inverter AC Output

Inverter DC Input4

PV Array Combiner 5

3 Data/Signal Lines

Reliability In Surge Protection

Intersolar NA | San Francisco, CA

July 14-16 | Moscone Center

Visit CITEL Booth# 9351

800.248.3548 | www.citel.us

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

Surge Protection Since 1937

CITEL INC. - 11381 Interchange Circle SouthMiramar, FL 33025 USA

Toll Free 1 800.248.3548 | Ph: 954.430.6310 | Fax: 954.430.7785

www.citel.us | [email protected]



K-FLEX SOLAR™

Your Simpler Insulation Solution for Solar Hot Water

Residential: Commercial:

© May 2009 K-Flex USA. All rights reserved. K-Flex is a registered trademark of K-Flex USA.

1-800-765-6475 www.kfl exusa.com

KFAD-0032

INNOVATION IN INSULATION

Insulation system for solar hot water marketK-Flex USA has products ideally suited for residential and commercial solar hot water applications. K-Flex Solar Systems are designed to provide both high-temperature performance and UV resistance. The K-Flex Solar Twin System—ST provides a complete loop system for residential solar hot water applica-tions, and includes fl exible stainless steel tubing for the supply and return lines, high temperature insula-tion rated to +300°F, a UV/abuse-resistant jacket and thermostat wire package in 50' and 75' length coils. In addition, supply and return lines are joined together with a hot melt adhesive, thereby providing a

quick and easy way to connect the solar panel with the storage tank. Quick connect compression fi ttings make installation a snap and no brazing of copper elbows is required. Standard ID’s are 1/2", 3/4", and 1" ID by 1/2", 3/4" and 1" wall thicknesses.

Other products include K-Flex Solar—R, which is designed to be used with copper tubing and comes in tubes 6' in length or coils 50' in length. Standard ID’s and wall thicknesses are available. K-Flex Clad AL and K-Flex Clad WT are also available in larger ID’s up to 8" wall thickness, and are designed for commercial systems where mechanical abuse and UV resistance may be more severe.K-Flex USA | www.kfl exusa.com | Booth 9814

Solar panel/tank water heating systemStiebel Eltron manufactures components and thermal solar systems for domestic hot water, consisting of a well-insulated storage tank with heat exchanger(s) and fl at plate collector panel(s). They con-stitute an economical and reliable solar domestic hot water (DHW) system for commercial and residential applications, including space heating and swimming pools. The solar closed-loop system in-cludes fl at plate collector panel(s) and mounting hardware, a storage tank with heat exchanger(s), a pump station with expansion tank, and various temperature/pressure gauges, pressure relief and check valves, and a controller unit with cor-responding sensors. There is an industry leading fi ve-year warranty on all Stiebel Eltron solar equipment.Stiebel Eltron www.stiebel-eltron-usa.comBooth 9523


Racking and mounting solutionNext Generation Energy’s Zilla is a pat-ent pending, multi-component system incorporating a superior fl ashing as-sembly, adjustable standoffs, and other mounting hardware, as well as rails interfacing with an integrated raceway concealment system, all designed to out-last the solar system and roof it’s built on. Utilizing a one-of-a-kind threaded double-stud bolt with a high temperature treated Silicon washer encapsulated in a compression zone, Zilla’s fl ashing assem-bly exposes no parts for degradation and allows no water infi ltration—no sealant or caulking needed. Paired with any of the versatile Zilla mounting options, installation is as simple as fabricating an array on the ground, fl ying it up, and snapping it into place. Using less total material than any other system, Zilla exhibits a fi ner, stronger product at the highest standard of craftsmanship. Next Generation Energy, LLCwww.ngeus.comBooth 9117



New inverter for residential and light commercial applicationsKACO Solar has announced the offi cial release of a new breed of inverter—the highly anticipated 02xi series inverter line. Perfectly suited for residential and light commercial applications, in power sizes of 1500 watts and 2500 watts, the KACO 02xi series features enhanced and technologi-cally advanced features that will make installation of the next KACO inverter that much more exciting. Enhancements include the introduction of a patented digital signal process-

ing technology to increase overall output, CEC effi ciency of 95.5% on both sizes, and integrated and fully NEC compliant AC/DC disconnects. The inverter can be fully detached from the DC disconnect after it is installed if problems arise, which makes replacement much easier than competitors products that must be completely removed when failures occur.

Grid voltages of 240 and 208 Vac can now be connected to the KACO inverters. Positive or negative grounding of the inverter makes the units compatible with all solar panels currently available on the market. The inverters are lightweight and convection cooled to ensure maximum effi ciency and reliability. They are more neutral in color and will please more end-users than ever before. The aluminum enclosure is NEMA 3R rated and increases the convection cooling effect that makes the KACO inverters work well even in hotter climates.KACO Solar | www.kacosolar.com | Booth 9447

Utility/commercial ground mount solutionUnirac Inc., a North America manufacturer of solar pho-tovoltaic mounting solutions, announced the launch of the fi rst modular framing system utilizing modern techniques for large-scale utility and commercial projects. Designed

to deliver the most cost-effective system with the most responsive and scalable supply chain, Unirac’s new ground mount has a total installed cost as low as $0.40 per watt with an installation rate of more than 10 modules per man-hour. The extreme strength to weight ratio of components and delivery capabilities of 5 MW per week make Unirac’s new ground mount a clear choice for large scale PV projects. Unirac’s ground mount provides the fl exibility to select the most cost-effective foundation option and eliminates costly on-site fabrication, fi eld drilling, cutting, or welding. The new utility and commercial ground mount is supported by Unirac’s Custom Solutions Division, a team devoted to supplying a complete suite of services, including design, engineering, and installation support.Unirac Inc. | www.unirac.com | Booth 9647

Washed panel inspection and integrated warp metrologyDark Field Technologies has drawn on its two decades in the glass industry to develop a new metrology tech-nique for washed panel applications. NxtGen-Wash is a part of the new NxtGen family of inspection and

metrology systems. NxtGen-Wash embodies a host of unique benefi ts and performs all these functions 100% on-line and in real-time.

Special dark fi eld optics detect defects much smaller than the optical pixel while high throughput rates and large depth of fi eld are also achieved. Plus, there is fur-ther detection of fl oat glass defects, edge chips/cracks and broken corners/fl airs, and TCO coating defects and washer residue. Both types of defects are normally invis-ible to the eye, but cause downstream coating defects and reduced panel effi ciency. Further features include: integrated panel thickness and warp measurement; an ability to measure panel warp/thickness or concentrator profi le ±15 microns; auto-matic panel rejection if the panel falls outside of prescribed length, width, square-ness, defect levels, or warp specifi cations; and low capital cost.Dark Field Technologies | www.darkfi eld.com | Booth 8258

Surge protection deviceRaycap Inc.’s Strikesorb surge suppression modules are designed to protect both AC and DC power circuits on a solar inverter’s input and output stages against lightning and non-lightning induced power surges. Strikesorb mod-ules are unique in that they offer continuous protection without suffering the performance degradation character-istics plaguing conventional surge suppressors. These ro-bust modules are available in a wide range of voltage and

packaging confi gurations for integration within any sized solar generator. Strikesorb modules are performance tested to the parameters set forth by IEC

61643-1, meet the performance and safety requirements demanded by Germany’s VDE Institute, and they are fully recognized by the ANSI/UL 1449 - 3rd Edition safety standard. The Strikesorb’s fuse-less design, along with its capability to with-stand high short-circuit currents, allow for direct installation on power busses to provide the highest possible levels of surge protection. Raycap Inc. | www.raycapinc.com | Booth 9762

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Inverters for commercial and residential systemsFronius USA, LLC’s next generation line of inverters for commer-cial and residential systems, the IG Plus, builds on the solid design of the Fronius IG inverter with multiple improvements including: an expanded line with models from 3 to 12kW in a single inverter; lighter weight, even for the commercial size inverters; smart, inte-grated MIX technology to maximize energy harvest even on cloudy days; signifi cantly improved effi ciency; integrated DC disconnect; and a built-in six circuit string combiner. The IG Plus line of invert-

ers are also fi eld programmable to 208, 240, and 277 volts with no loss in output power; fi eld programmable to positive or negative ground; offer a removable power stage for fi eld service; and come with a standard 10-year warranty, upgradable to 15 years.Fronius USA, LCC | www.fronius-usa.com | Booth 9255



Giant wind turbines look vivid on the horizon and solar panels

make striking statements on a rooftop in relation to conserving energy while decreasing environmental impacts. Geothermal, however, has none of these visual indicators, yet it yields a more dramatic savings to any bottom line. The best part: there is no requirement of wind or sun to operate geothermal; only the earth beneath your feet.

The earth absorbs almost 50% of all solar energy and remains at a nearly constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F, depending on the geographic location. Working with an underground loop system, a geothermal unit utilizes the constant temperature of the earth to ex-change energy between a home and the earth as needed for heating, cooling, and hot water.

In winter, water circulating inside a sealed loop absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the unit. Here, it is compressed to a higher temperature and sent as warm air to an indoor system for distribution throughout a home. In the summer, the system reverses and expels heat from the home to the cooler earth via the same loop system. This heat ex-change process is not only natural, but is an earth-friendly and highly effi cient way to create a comfortable climate.

With a geothermal heating and cool-ing system, the front lawn becomes a permanent power plant for any home or business. It is tried and true, can cut utility bills more than half, and does away with noisy air conditioning con-densers. Users enjoy the benefi ts of comfortable and reliable energy, as well as the most cost-effi cient heating, cool-ing, and water heating systems available on the market.

Depending on property size, under-ground loops can be installed in a vari-ety of ways including horizontal, verti-cal, or within a lake as a closed loop or, if an aquifer is present, as an open loop, virtually suiting any property confi gura-tion. Horizontal loops are installed in areas where the soil conditions allow for

Warming Up to GeothermalUnderstanding ground loop heating and cooling systemsBy Bridgette Oliver

geothermal energy

Continued on page 48…



economical excavation. Taking up more land area than any other loop type, they are used where space permits. Trench-es are normally fi ve feet deep and several hundred feet of trench is required. Vertical loops are used extensively where land area is limited. A pair of pipes with a special U-Bend assembly at the bottom is inserted into a borehole that aver-ages between 150 to 250 feet in depth per ton of equipment.

Lake loops are usually very economical to install. If a pond or lake that’s at least eight feet deep is available, lake loops can utilize the water (rather than soil) for heat trans-fer. Reduced installation costs are characteristic of this type of loop system. Open loop installations actually pump water from an underground aquifer through the geothermal unit, and then discharge that water to a drainage ditch or pond. Discharging water to a pond or lake is considered ideal.

Although going geothermal may sound great, cost is often the fi rst question asked and a factor for those interested. Fortunately, geothermal systems are now more affordable than ever thanks to recent changes to the tax code. The change contains long-term tax incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy technology, such as geothermal heat pumps in homes and businesses. The bill also extends tax incentives for homes and commercial buildings that sup-port the installation of highly effi cient heating, cooling, and water heating systems, such as geothermal heat pumps, until the year 2016. On all residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pump installations, a one-time tax credit of 30% of the total investment up to a maximum of $2,000 for systems placed in service during 2008 is available. For property placed in service after January 1st, 2009, a tax credit of 30% with no limit can be claimed. The tax credit can be used to offset both regular income taxes and alterna-tive minimum taxes (AMT), and can be carried forward into

future years. With these changes, a homeowner can now more easily afford a heating and cooling system that will ultimately pay for itself.

Bridgette Oliver is the marketing communication manager for ClimateMaster, Inc.

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, ClimateMaster, Inc. is a manufacturer of water-source and geothermal heat pumps. ClimateMaster, Inc. is a company of LSB Industries, Inc., whose common stock is traded over the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LXU.

ClimateMaster, Inc. www.climatemaster.com

geothermal energy

…continued from page 47.

Early completion date for geothermal power plantNevada Geothermal Power Inc. (NGP) announced that the Blue Mountain ‘Faulkner 1’ 49.5 MW geothermal project under an Engineering Procurement Construction contract with Ormat Nevada Inc., is ahead of schedule. Ormat expects to be ready to start power plant commissioning during August 2009. NGP will have the necessary elements (trans-mission line and well fi eld) in place to start production testing in August, and plans to be fully operational by early October 2009. NGP’s Blue Mountain ‘Faulkner 1’ geothermal power plant will be producing electricity onto the grid and generating revenue up to three months ahead of schedule.Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. | www.nevadageothermal.com

Home and hot water heating from the earthGeoSmart Energy’s Premium E hydronic forced air systems have become an industry standard for high-effi ciency home and water heating. The Premium E meets a variety of needs including radiant fl oor heating, domestic hot water, pool and/or spa heating, and will even melt ice and snow, offering years of worry free comfort from the moment the system is installed. Most models are also able to provide chilled water for cooling.

The Premium E features state-of-the-art components that make it the preferred choice for high-performance home and

hot water heating. It heats water at a fraction of the cost of ordinary boilers and water heaters. For every unit of electricity used by the Premium E to operate the heat pump, it generates an incomparable four units of “free” energy from the earth—that equates into an effi ciency rating of 400%. Designed to meet a wide range of home applications, it can easily be installed in both newly constructed and existing homes, regardless of the climate. GeoSmart Energy | www.geosmartenergy.com

DOE-funded research at Stanford sees results DOE-sponsored research at Stanford University is advancing the application of nanotechnology in determining fl uid fl ow through enhanced geothermal system reservoirs at depth. The Stanford team successfully forced silicon-based nanospheres under pressure through rock fractures in the laboratory. This technology has the potential for mapping fracture systems in detail and aid in determining reservoir characteristics.

The result comes from research funded by DOE in 2008 to accelerate technology development for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). This research will help developers learn more about the fracture systems in geothermal reservoirs so they may better predict the results of reservoir stimulation. Positive results from DOE-funded research will lead to further development of EGS, a clean energy technology capable of producing baseload electricity across the United States.

The ultimate goal of the Stanford project is to utilize the nanoparticles as sensors to characterize subsurface fractures. The initial experimentation with nanoparticle injection served as a basic milestone of this vision—to verify the possibility of recovering the nanoparticles following their injection, and to demonstrate they were not trapped in the pore spaces by hydraulic, chemical, or electrostatic effects. To investigate these issues, a nanofl uid was created by suspending SiO2 nanoparticles in a liquid solution, and then injecting into a Berea sandstone core. The injected nanoparticles were transported through the pore space of the rock and were detected and recovered in the effl uent. Geothermal Technologies Programwww1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal



The geother-mal en-

ergy industry has enormous growth potential. Howev-

er, fi nance remains the biggest impediment to developing the hundreds of still untapped geothermal fi elds worldwide. Financing geothermal programs is more complex than wind and solar energy projects. Overcom-ing that complexity, however, pays off in the long run. Geothermal plants alone produce baseload power at low operating costs.

A geothermal project requires different types of fi nancing depending on the stage of development, and fi nancing is intimately connected with the risk and upside at each stage. Absolutely essential for investors and developers alike is understanding the techni-cal and business risks at each stage, as well as securing the appropriate funding.

Geothermal projects serially tap different types of fi nancing at different stages, there-fore, acknowledging the risks and having different fi nancial yields that commensurate with those risk levels is critical. Rarely does one source or company fi nance an entire project from exploration through opera-tions. Also, fi nancing heavily swings around government legislation. Tuning fi nancing to government incentives is absolutely es-sential. Unfortunately, those incentives are often “moving targets” due to changing laws and regulations.

The most signifi cant risk in the geother-mal business is confi rming that a specifi c site is, indeed, a commercial-grade, geothermal resource. Only after spending millions of dollars drilling deep into the earth can that be verifi ed conclusively. After confi rmation, risk levels drop appreciably. The later-stage work—construction of the plant, drilling additional wells, and so forth—is more straightforward. Those later activities pro-ceed similarly to a conventional infrastruc-ture project.

Overall, geothermal fi nancing can be split into two parts: before-confi rmation and af-ter-confi rmation fi nancing. Most diffi cult is securing fi nancing for the pre-confi rmation work. Investors must rely on arcane data and interpretation to ascertain whether the resource is truly viable. As found in the book “Investor’s Guide to Geothermal Energy” (Forseo; 2008), understanding early stage options are essential, and range from:• angel investing; • venture capital; • sophisticated geothermal insurance; and • banks with substantial, in-house, geother-

mal expertise.

This book also addresses how to fund the “crossing of the chasm” of confi rmation, which can be via bridge or mezzanine loans. Shorter-term investors here need an attrac-tive exit. Exceptionally rare are fi nancial

Geothermal Growth Potential and FinancingBy Dr Martin Piszczalski

Drill Rig Operations • Drilling Engineering Geothermal Economics • Field Supervision

Project Management • Resource Assessment • Well TestingCementing • Drilling Fluids • EGS Exploration • Well Logging

707.523.2960 www.thermasource.com

GreenCleanSteam

The Beauty of Geothermal

ThermaSource = Geothermal. As a worldwide leader in geothermal drilling and consulting, ThermaSource provides the necessary expertise and services to developers interested in the discovery and development of geothermal resources for power generation and direct use applications.

organizations that understand the risks and requisites to do the fi rst production drilling. Islandsbanki (formerly Glitnir) is an exam-ple—this Icelandic bank has geothermal ex-perts on its staff. The general progression of fi nancing begins with equity investments and

moves to senior secured debt after confi rma-tion drilling.

Many of the world’s best, untapped geothermal resources actually lie outside the United States. Several countries with substantial geothermal resources include

the Philippines, Kenya, and Chile. How-ever, fi nancing outside of the industrialized countries can be extra challenging. Foreign governments differ dramatically in the roles they play, both in geothermal as well as in Continued on page 50…



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Going “Green” for geothermal energyElectraTherm, Inc.’s Texas partner, Gulf Coast Green Energy, will employ ElectraTh-erm Green Machines to make clean electric-ity at two projects funded by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America. The fi rst of those projects will make power from heat captured in geothermal brine, a common byproduct of drilling for oil. Elec-

traTherm Green Machines can convert low temperature (200 degree F) geothermal heat into electricity for on-site consumption, or to sell power to the grid. The ElectraTherm Green Machine can produce power from a wide array of heat sources including industrial waste heat, stationary engines, biomass, and solar thermal installations. Recently, interest in geothermal applications has taken center stage.

“Generating electricity from geothermal sources is ideal because it harnesses local energy sources and provides a secure domestic energy supply with stable output,” said Bill Olson, ElectraTherm’s senior vice president of business development. “Given the modularity and scal-ability of ElectraTherm’s technology, the company plans to introduce geothermal systems from the current 50 kW size up to 500 kW. Elec-traTherm’s smaller units can economically address smaller geothermal resources—including the tens of thousands of oil and gas wells in the US and Canada alone. ElectraTherm’s larger units can be installed in parallel to rapidly construct multi-megawatt plants for larger geother-mal resources.”

According to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, if 40% of the geothermal heat was tapped under the United States, it would meet demand 56,000 times over. MIT said an investment of $800 million to $1 billion could produce more than 100 gigawatts of electricity by 2050, equaling the combined output of all 104 nuclear power plants in the US.ElectraTherm Green Machine | www.electratherm.com

“Up to Speed” on geothermal activitiesRaser Technologies, Inc. announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has notifi ed the company that its loan guarantee applica-tion has been approved to proceed to the next stage of due diligence. The guaranteed loan is expected to be used for the construction of approximately 42 MW of gross binary cycle geothermal power plant capacity near the com-pany’s existing Thermo No. 1 project in Beaver County, Utah. Raser anticipates that, pending completion of additional due diligence by the DOE, drilling and construction will begin later this year.

The company has also announced the release of the latest version of its “Up to Speed” series of videos, updating stockholders, the media, and the public on its progress and strategy. The video provides an update on its current and proposed geothermal power developments in-cluding the expectation of reaching full capacity at its Thermo No. 1 plant, also known as the Hatch plant; Raser’s adjusted goal to have over 300 MW of electricity available for sale to utili-ties by 2013; the various fi nancing options and potential government incentives for renewable energy that Raser has pursued and intends to pursue; and other projects, such as the launch of a full-sized Hummer H3E plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The video news report can be viewed in its entirety on Raser’s website.Raser Technologies, Inc. | www.rasertech.com

geothermal energy

the power sector in general. As a result, there are only a few, large, global geothermal fi rms that are truly multi-national. Examples include Ormat, Enel, and Islandsbanki. Ad-ditional signifi cant players in fi nancing for developing countries are multi-lateral or-ganizations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

All investors and developers should, at least, monitor international developments. Innovations developed there could be ap-plied elsewhere. An example would be drill-ing insurance tailored to projected versus actual power production. New thinking is mandatory to replace yesterday’s mecha-nisms. For instance, geothermal fi nancing in the United States had been predicated on tax partners having massive tax credits to offset. Most of those fi nancing companies, such as Lehman Brothers, are now gone. Neverthe-less, funding for geothermal developments is growing. Financial players savvy in geo-thermal development at a detailed level will mitigate the risks and prosper.

Dr Martin Piszczalski is an industry analyst with Sextant Research. He works with renewable power developers, investors, governments, and multi-lateral agencies to develop renewable power markets, especially for geothermal energy.

Forseo | www.forseo.eu




REGIONALDEVELOPMENT

GUIDE

2009 & 2010

Idaho’s energy projectsNuclear, biomass, solar, wind, and geothermal

are hot now, but Idaho has been building on

these industries for decades. Federal stimulus

and investment money is bringing new projects

online quickly, an added advantage in a state

that has a lower cost of doing business and

lack of red tape. Idaho’s energy manufacturing

products include Nordic Windpower; its plant

makes utility scale wind turbines for commu-

nity wind projects and developers throughout

North America. Hoku Scientifi c, a solar energy

company based in Hawaii, is building a $400

million solar polysilicon manufacturing plant,

and companies such as US Geothermal are a

perfect fi t in a state that has one of the most

geothermally active areas in the country.

A focus on energy projects is also coming

out of facilities such as the Idaho National

Laboratory, where researchers are developing

fl exible sheets of “nanoantennas” that harvest

energy from solar energy or other heat sources.

A spinoff company of a University of Idaho lab,

GoNano, developed a product that stores en-

ergy in nanosprings and unleashes the energy

in everyday items like car batteries.

http://commerce.idaho.gov

Ontario: The ‘Next Urban Center’ The City of Ontario is Southern California’s

‘Next Urban Center.’ Located just 35 miles

from Los Angeles, Ontario is the business and

employment hub of one of the fastest growing

regions in the US. Companies benefi t from the

area’s transportation system that includes the

LA/Ontario International Airport, three major

freeways, and two railroads that provide ac-

cess to the region, nation, and the globe.

Ontario has a proactive approach to busi-

ness and workforce development. As part of

an innovation corridor consisting of more than

14 colleges and universities, such as Cal Poly

Pomona, University of California, Riverside,

the Claremont Colleges and the University

of La Verne School of Law, Ontario provides

corporations with access to approximately

20,000 college graduates per year. Ontario

has also established educational partnerships

and developed workforce training programs

that respond to current business needs, while

advancing the technical skills of its workforce

in high growth industries. Programs such as

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Math) and Project Lead the Way promote en-

gineering careers among high school students

and allow for a seamless transition to a four-

year engineering college degree. As a result,

Ontario is on track to becoming Southern Cali-

fornia’s engineering capital.

www.ontariocalifornia.us

Penn State Offi ce connects industry to researchWith more than 2,500 science and technology

based researchers at Penn State, The Industrial

Research Offi ce (IRO) can help companies

identify faculty members with the expertise to

meet their research needs. At Penn State, the

opportunity to do relevant and applied research

is central to the educational experience and

is vital to the country’s economic health. For a

company, sponsoring research at Penn State

provides access to state-of-the-art facilities,

cutting-edge technologies, and some of the

greatest minds in the world. Many have real-

ized the strengths of the University, driving

research expenditures to a record-high $717

million in FY2008, including $105 in private and

industry sponsored research.

The IRO can facilitate partnerships between

industry and researchers in the Biomass Energy

Center at Penn State. The Center coordinates

research and outreach across the University,

building teams to address the complete value

chain of biomass energy systems. Company

interactions with the IRO and the Biomass

Energy Center have resulted in projects to

solve challenges and discover opportunities

for sustainable bioenergy systems, from crop

production to biomass conversion to utilization

in power generation and transportation.

www.iro.psu.edu

Upwind SolutionsWind Energy ServicesWind Energy Turbine ServicesNorthwind SolutionsWhite Construction

Crane Services Inc.AltezzaHytorcFastenalLonestar Transportation

Advanced Turbine ServicesGE WindE.ONSiemensTurn Energy Maintenance LLC

Babcock and BrownInvenergyEMA– Electromechanics LLCWavewindEvans Enterprises, Inc.RWS Crane & Rigging, Inc.

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Pocatello, Chubbuck, Bannock County, & the State of Idaho Pocatello, located in Eastern Idaho, is quickly becoming the place for companies in the alternative energy industry. Leading the charge in the region is the Bannock

Development Corporation, which is focused on recruiting three industries to the region: alternative energy, environmentally friendly companies, and medical isotopes.

Recently recruited companies to the region include: Hoku Materials (a division of Hoku Scientifi c), a manufacturer of polysilicon for use in the solar panels;

Petersen, Inc., who among other steel projects, has a contract with Siemens to produce the towers for wind turbines; and, Nordic Windpower, who specializes in

manufacturing community sized wind turbines. Current happenings in the region include Tetridyn Solutions, Inc. signing an agreement with ON Semiconductor to

manufacture chips to track beef cows as they mature for JBS Friboi – Swift Co.

Bannock Development Corporation can help with site selection to the point of relocation. All of this is accomplished thanks to strong partnerships with the cities

of Pocatello and Chubbuck, Bannock County, the State of Idaho, and community support.

www.bannockdevelopment.org

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



University of North Dakota’s EERC The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) is recognized as a leading developer of cleaner, more effi cient energy technologies,

as well as environmental technologies to protect and clean the air, water, and soil. The EERC, a high-tech, nonprofi t division of the Uni-

versity of North Dakota, operates like a business and pursues an entrepreneurial, market-driven approach to research and development to

successfully demonstrate and commercialize innovative technologies. The EERC currently employs 330 people. The Center was founded

in 1951 as the Robertson Lignite Research Laboratory, a federal facility under the US Bureau of Mines. It became an energy technology center under the US Department of Energy in 1977, and was

defederalized in 1983.

Today, the EERC leverages government research dollars by developing partnerships with industry, government, and the research community. Since 1987, it has had over 1000 clients in 50 states and

51 countries. The EERC’s portfolio includes activities such as zero-emissions coal conversion; CO2 capture and sequestration; energy and water sustainability; hydrogen and fuel cells; emission control

technologies, emphasizing SOx, NOx, air toxics, fi ne particulate, CO2, and mercury; renewable energy; wind; water management; fl ood prevention; global climate change; waste utilization; energy ef-

fi ciency; and contaminant clean-up.

www.undeerc.org

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

Desert city going greenThe Las Vegas Valley has the highest rating in

the nation for solar energy collection. It also

provides a prime locale for producing alterna-

tive wind energy and other environmentally

friendly energy sources and industries. Compa-

nies interested in the fi nancial perks of “going

green” in this desert city may want to contact

the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency.

Agency staff has been working with interested

businesses to refer them to an assortment of

tax credits and rebates for sustainable prod-

ucts and green building initiatives available

through the city, NV Energy, and the state and

federal governments.

Nevada’s fi nancial incentives for sustainable

industries include tax abatements for green

building, renewable energy producers and

renewable energy sales and usage, as well as

property tax exemptions for renewable energy

systems. A state of Nevada green-oriented

jobs program, which will provide up to $1,000

per trainee for Nevada residents who obtain

approved training in sustainability related

jobs, is also open to interested and applicable

businesses.

www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?CurrentPageID=1&State=NV&RE%20+1&EE=1www.expand2nevada.com/incentive_pro-gram.html

LA: Marketplace for clean tech companiesLos Angeles County is famously known

throughout the world as the Entertainment

Capital of America, but now the region is

quickly emerging as the epicenter of clean

technology. With North America’s largest port

complex investing more than $1 billion to cut

all port-related particulate matter pollution by

at least 47% within the next fi ve years, the

nation’s number one arrival and destination air-

port engaging in a multi-billion dollar moderni-

zation effort, the country’s largest municipally

owned utility ramping up to get 33% of its

energy from renewable sources by 2050, and

the nation’s largest community college district

spending billions of dollars to take itself “off-

the-grid,” LA County has some of the world’s

largest markets for green technologies, prod-

ucts, and services right in its own backyard.

From its ready supply of fi nancial capital to its

highly skilled workforce to its unrivaled concen-

tration of leading engineering fi rms, universities,

and research institutions, Los Angeles has all

the building blocks needed to develop, grow,

and advance clean technology business. Come

see why the Los Angeles marketplace offers un-

paralleled opportunities for growth in this impor-

tant sector by visiting the Los Angeles County

Economic Development Corporation website.

www.laedc.org

Nebraska’s renewable advantageMany companies in the US and around the

world have discovered that Nebraska’s central

location, quality workforce, insulation from

natural disasters, and positive economic envi-

ronment provides an attractive, cost-effective

location for the renewable energy sector. Ne-

braska excels in many national ranking factors,

providing an excellent opportunity for renew-

able energy solutions:

Ranking 2nd for Clean Energy Economy Jobs

(“The Pew Charitable Trusts: The Clean Energy

Economy,” June 2009); 2nd for Most Improved

Total Biomass Electricity Generated; Biomass

Electricity Generation Per Capita and Per GSP

(“NREL, State of the States 2008: Renewable

Energy Development and the Role of Policy”);

6th for Wind Energy Potential (“AWEA Wind

Energy Potential,” March 2007); plus, 223

Average Number of Days of Sunshine Per Year

in Nebraska (“National Climatic Data Center,”

2007). Add to this Nebraska’s integrated

system of interstates, mainline railroads and

airports, large industrial tracts and buildings

ready for immediate occupancy, and it’s

easily understandable why companies of all

sizes call Nebraska home. Nebraska’s highly

ranked, business-friendly environment also

provides experts available to assist in fi nding

the Nebraska location that best meets any

company’s needs.

www.nebraskaadvantage.biz

San Diego and the California Solar Initiative All over San Diego, electricity bills are going

up as the use of air conditioning, fans, and

other appliances increases due to summer

heat. Installing solar power can reduce or

virtually eliminate these summer energy costs;

and thanks to recently upgraded federal tax

deductions and state rebates, most home and

business owners can recover almost 50% of

their initial investment when going solar. Us-

ing sunlight as a source of electricity requires

a solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system. At

the heart of the system are small solar cells

assembled in roof-mounted panels that convert

light into electricity. The power they produce

goes to an inverter that converts it to electric-

ity, just like the electricity SDG&E produces.

It’s not necessary to have storage batteries if

connected to the utility. During the day, it is

possible to use your own solar electricity. Any

extra electricity fl ows back to SDG&E where

they provide a credit and, at night, these cred-

its can be used to buy electricity.

Through the California Solar Initiative (CSI),

the state is providing $2.1 billion in incentives

over the next 10 years for the installation of

residential and commercial solar systems. The

goals are to lower energy costs, reduce reli-

ance on fossil fuels, and create a sustainable

energy future. An important aspect to consider

about installing PV is that CSI’s incentives will

decrease over time, so the best time to install

PV is now. CCSE offers free workshops on solar

power basics for San Diego home and business

owners at their location in Kearny Mesa.

www.solar.energycenter.org

Quebec: The CORUS Centrefor R&DThe CORUS Centre is a research, development,

and technology transfer centre that studies

the impact of nordic conditions on wind energy

production. Its research facilities are located

in Murdochville, Quebec, in a unique natural

laboratory at an elevation of 660 meters where

wind speeds average 9m/s.

Preparation and execution of applied

research projects in the wind energy fi eld,

product development, technology evaluation,

technical support, personalized studies and

projects, energy fi eld assessment, standardi-

zation and certifi cation, technology transfer,

business incubation, personalized training,

temporary assignment of researchers, equip-

ment, and research infrastructure rental.

www.coruscentre.qc.ca

Sarnia-Lambton: A sustainable energy centreSarnia-Lambton, Ontario is increasingly being

recognized worldwide as a major sustainable

energy centre—due in no small part to the

area’s strategic planning. Long known as a

signifi cant North American petrochemical and

refi ning centre, a number of years ago com-

munity leaders began building on the extensive

infrastructure already in place (including a

comprehensive energy system) to position the

area as the logical choice for sustainable en-

ergy production and R&D.

The choice of Sarnia-Lambton as the loca-

tion for one of North America’s largest solar

power generation facilities (currently under

construction by First Solar) highlights Sarnia-

Lambton’s ample sunshine and potential for

manufacturing solar panel and thermal compo-

nents. Lambton College’s three-year Alterna-

tive Energy Engineering Technology program

is providing graduates trained in theory and

application skills for current and emerging en-

ergy technologies. The University of Western

Ontario’s Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Cam-

pus, is working with business to assess energy

needs, access resources and bring products to

market. The Research Park is also the location

of Canada’s Bio-industrial Innovation Centre.

www.sarnialambton.on.ca

Spain’s solutionsFrom advanced photovoltaics and high yield

solar parks to state-of-the-art wind turbines

and biofuels, Spanish companies are generat-

ing better solutions to make renewable energy

available to everyone. Spanish companies lead

the industry in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

and hybrid solar/natural gas systems. More

than $1 billion has been invested by Spanish

companies in the construction of solar energy

power stations. In 2008, Acciona constructed



the world’s third largest CSP in Nevada, cover-

ing 400 acres of desert. The energy that is

produced, a capacity of 64 megawatts (MW), is

enough to reliably and affordably power more

than 14,000 homes.

Spain-based wind power companies’ proac-

tive investments and developments have

helped make Spain the world’s third largest

wind power producer, with 16,740 MW of

installed capacity at the end of 2008. A com-

pany contributing to this growth, Iberdrola Re-

newables, invested $1.4 billion in wind power

developments in the US, leading the way for

a total global accumulation capacity of 2,318

MW, making them the second largest wind

operator in the US. Spain also expects notable

growth in 2009. Spain has established and ex-

ceeded ambitious goals related to investment

in renewable energy. Companies in Spain are

currently developing, fi nancing and operating

renewable energy projects in the Americas,

Asia, and through Europe.

www.spaintechnology.com/energy

North Dakota: Attracting investmentsRanked fi rst in the nation in wind generation

capacity, North Dakota leaders have recently

expanded investment incentives to stimulate

development of the state’s wind energy

resources. The state is marketing its wind

resources and incentives globally and has

secured sizeable investments from some of

the world’s largest wind energy producers

such as NextEra Energy (FLP), Acciona, and

Iberdrola. NextEra recently announced plans to

expand its investments in the state to exceed

$1 billion.

North Dakota is currently ranked 11th in

existing wind generation capacity at 714.43

megawatts (MW) according to American Wind

Energy Association. However, the state ranks

number one in the nation for potential capac-

ity at 138,400 MW, and has established a

goal of achieving 5,000 MW of installed wind

energy capacity by 2020. Currently, there are

projects totaling nearly 6,000 MW of wind

power in the regulatory stage. These projects

represent more than $11 billion in investment.

The state’s regulatory entity, the Public Service


For more information about doing business in New Jersey visit www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov

866-534-7789www.njeda.com

NACLE/070109

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) introducesClean Energy Solutions, a suite of new financing products that willinclude interest-free loans and grants to complement the state’sexisting clean energy programs. Our new financing products will allowNew Jersey to take a leadership role in promoting a “green” economy,ensuring that businesses and institutional entities have the resourcesthey need to grow and prosper.

Our Edison Clean Energy Manufacturing Fund (CEMF) will continueto support the development and commercialization of Class Irenewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies in New Jersey.Solicitation period opens on June 1, 2009 and eligibility forms willbe accepted until July 15, 2009.

To learn more about how the EDA can provide your businesswith the innovative financing vehicles available throughClean Energy Solutions contact us today.

Categories include:•Energy-efficient end-use projects•Combined heat and power (CHP

or cogen) production facilities• State-of-the-art efficient electric

generation facilities• Class I renewable energy and

energy efficiency manufacturing

Innovative Financing to HelpNew Jersey Businesses Go Green!

Pampa Economic Development CorporationPampa Texas is at the intersection of highways 60 and 70 in the Eastern Texas Panhandle. They are a community of approximately 18,000 people with a diverse economy based on oil

and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and with what is believed to be a great future in wind energy. Pampa is located in the heart of the wind energy corridor, with class 4 winds

as their big advantage. In addition, they are very fortunate to be on BNSF’s main line between Chicago and Los Angeles, with over 120 trains traveling through Pampa on a daily basis.

Their community is excited about and looking forward to the possible growth opportunities occurring due to wind energy development. Pampa’s existing workforce is versatile

and will now have the opportunity to be trained in wind turbine technology through a local community college, Clarendon College Pampa Center. Classes begin in the fall of

2009. One more exciting development in wind energy for Pampa includes transmission service provider, Cross Texas Transmission, LLC, which has opened an offi ce after having

been chosen to build the new transmission lines in the region.

www.pampaedc.com




Texas ever-expanding renewable energy Sweetwater, Texas recently announced the new manufacturing location of EMA—Electromechanics of

Argentina (builder of circuit breakers for power distribution) in Sweetwater. This is a continuation of the

expanding renewable energy industry in the West Central Texas area. In the last several years, they have

also welcomed companies like Upwind Solutions, Wind Energy Services, Wind Energy Turbine Services,

Northwind Solutions, White Construction, Crane Services Inc., Altezza, Hytorc, Fastenal, Advanced Tur-

bine Services, GE Wind, E-ON, Siemens, Turn Energy Maintenance LLC, Babcock & Brown, Invenergy,

Wave Wind, EMA Electromechanics LLC, and more. In addition, companies like DH Blattner, Mortenson

Construction, and Lone Star Transportation have been working in the area for years.

Nolan County has over 1240 towers (1903 MW) and there has been approximately 3223 MW of wind

production in a fi ve county region. The West Central Texas region is home to companies like Wind Clean

in Coleman, Barr Fabrication in Brownwood, EMS, Tower Tech, and Florida Power and Light in Abilene,

Concrete Mobility in Colorado City, Martifer Energy Systems in San Angelo, and Mitsubishi in Snyder to

name a few. This West Central Texas region has become a hub for the wind industry in Texas, the South-

west United States, and North America.

www.sweetwatertexas.net

Commission, recently reported that more than

$507 million in transmission upgrades have

been proposed to accommodate growth of

the state’s wind power generation. Plus, last

month, North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven signed

into law legislation that extends until 2015 an

85% reduction in property taxes for wind tur-

bines over 200 kilowatts, eliminates the sales

and use taxes on wind equipment purchases,

and extends until 2015 an existing income tax

credit for the installation of geothermal, solar,

wind, or biomass energy devices in the state.

www.ndcommerce.com

The New Mexico PartnershipNew Mexico is the perfect place for solar,

and the New Mexico Partnership is here to

guide those interested through the process of

considering the state as a business location.

They are a professional, collaborative

organization committed to providing a high

level of value to companies considering

relocating or expanding to New Mexico.

They’ve done everything to make it easy, from

cutting through the red tape to assembling

incentive packages that are guaranteed to

make businesses stop and take notice.

As a one-stop shop resource, the New Mexi-

co Partnership can provide detailed information

on the solar industry presence in the state, and

discuss the details of incentive packages that

pertain to a specifi c industry. They’ll also help

interested parties fi nd a community that feels

like home by arranging tours of available real

estate, and will provide labor and education

statistics that will help in locating the perfect

people to hire to ensure the business thrives.

www.nmpartnership.com

London, Canada: A growing clean energy sectorLocated in the heart of Southwestern Ontario,

mid-way between three US borders (Niagara

Falls, Detroit, and Port Huron), London’s

growing clean energy industry is being

noticed. London is home to the fi rst biogas

urban production facility in Ontario, and two

others are in development. Industry is working

closely with the University of Western Ontario

(Western), who are working on solar cell

materials, hydrogen storage, polymers for

batteries and biofuel production. Fanshawe

College’s School of Applied Science and

Technology has developed a solar power

electric golf cart prototype, and have several

other solar and alternate energy projects

currently under development. Both Western

and Fanshawe are training the skills needed to

move the sector forward into the future.

Western also just announced the building

of the world’s fi rst six-sided wind tunnel,

complementing its existing wind tunnel. Able

to simulate the swirling wind of a tornado

or downdraft, one project at the Wind

Engineering, Energy, and Environment Dome

will be to build a scale-model wind farm inside

the dome to determine the best design for

maximum electrical power from their turbines.

London, Canada has the green space, the

people, the research, and the cost advantage

to support the growth of the clean energy

sector.

www.ledc.com

Riverside surpasses local solar power milestoneEight years after its fi rst solar energy project

came online, the City of Riverside has

surpassed the milestone of producing more

than one megawatt (MW) of local solar energy.

One megawatt is enough energy to power 750

homes in Southern California. The new 54.88

kilowatt (kW) solar energy system is affi xed

to the top of the Casa Blanca Library parking

structure.

Riverside Public Utilities has funded many

solar energy projects including roof-mounted

solar systems on low-income housing units,

a local senior center, a homeless services

center, city pool facilities, city hall, and at local

train stations. RPU offers both commercial

and residential rebates, which help offset the

costs of installing a residential solar energy

system. The program offers incentives of $3

per watt installed, up to $25,000 or 50% of

the project costs (whichever is less). With the

addition of a commercial solar rebate program

in 2008, the utility saw nearly a 42% increase

in the number of projects applying for funding.

Riverside Public Utilities will receive 50% of

its total power from renewable resources by

2013.

www.riversidepublicutility.com www.greenriverside.com

Building Mississippi’s renewable energy capacityAcross Mississippi, over 40 biomass-related

energy projects are demonstrating the

state’s growing capacity in renewable energy

resources. New corporate locations are also

helping to make Mississippi a key energy

state. In June, Piney Woods Pellets opened a

$10 million plant in Wiggins. The plant, which

employs 32 individuals, is capable of producing

over 50,000 tons of wood pellets per year.

Piney Woods uses renewable raw materials to

produce wood pellets. The pellets are carbon-

neutral: every atom of carbon produced by the

burning pellets is removed as trees are planted

to replace those that were harvested. The

pellets will be used in wood pellet stoves, as

well as in large industrial plants around the

south.

Last fall, Indeck Energy Services broke

ground for the Indeck Magnolia Biofuel Center

in Magnolia. This facility will produce wood

pellets for residential and industrial use and

is expected to be in full commercial operation

by September 2009. In addition to local and

regional customers, Indeck expects to make

signifi cant bulk and bagged sales to European

markets. Both companies bring technologies

to the state, which offer new uses for

Mississippi’s abundant renewable timber

resources.

www.mississippi.org

The State of IndianaIndiana’s progressive pro-business environment, innovative workforce, and unmatched tech-

nological and manufacturing expertise make the state a center for research, development, and

production in the clean energy industry. Indiana’s alternative energy efforts include windpower,

coal gasifi cation, biofuels, biomass, and geothermal. Indiana is also a center of research, devel-

opment, and supply-chain manufacturing in the development of alternative-fuel technologies and

vehicles, including hybrid and electric vehicles.

Indiana is home to the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi River and was ranked the

fastest-growing state for wind energy development in 2008. State biofuel capacity totals more

than 850 million gallons, plus the world’s fi rst full-scale, clean-coal power plant and the nation’s

largest geothermal heating and cooling system are being built in Indiana. The state is also a

leader in the research and development of next-generation batteries and electric drive vehicles.

Indiana is home to a number of established and emerging battery technology companies including

the only US manufacturer of hybrid power converters, controllers, and battery packs, and the only

domestic lithium-ion battery maker. Collaborations between business and Indiana research uni-

versities have created active partnerships focused on next-generation energy technology in solar,

wind, and alternative fuel vehicles.

www.energy.in.gov



RPS programs and renewable energy creditsIncreasingly, states are imposing renewable energy quotas known as renewable portfolio standard programs (“RPS programs”). RPS programs require electric utilities to produce a certain percent of power through the use of renewable energy generation. At present, twenty-nine states, plus the District of Columbia, have RPS programs. At the federal level, a national RPS program has garnered wide-spread support, including support from the Obama administration and members of Congress, such as Chairman Henry A Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

The RPS programs have led to the development of markets for renewable energy credits or certifi cates (“RECs”). RECs refl ect the non-power attributes associated with renewable energy generation and, in many states, RECs and their associated attributes and benefi ts may be sold separately from the underlying physical elec-tricity associated with a renewable-based generation source. Market participants generally buy and sell RECs on a standardized basis, where one REC represents the non-power attributes and benefi ts associated with one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a renewable resource.

Currently, there are two distinct markets for RECs: a voluntary market driven by end-user demand and a compliance market driven by RPS programs and other regulatory mandates. Voluntary REC purchases are often made by energy intensive

industries or those seeking to offset greenhouse emissions in environmentally sensi-tive areas. Participants in the compliance markets generally purchase RECs to sat-isfy state-level RPS program requirements, which vary among states.

Change-in-law riskIn the compliance market, buyers and sellers of RECs are concerned with regula-tory changes that impact an RPS program. For example, if a governmental author-ity was to repeal or modify its current RPS program and institute a new or modifi ed RPS program, such regulatory change may adversely affect the value of RECs. Alternatively, the buyers and sellers in a REC market could also benefi t from a change-in-law. For instance, in some states, speculation of a more robust market-based system for RECs has increased the value of such RECs.

This change-in-law risk arises since REC purchase agreements are typically long-term contracts for the future delivery of RECs. Over time, like other commodities to be delivered in the future, RECs are subject to future events that impact their value at the time of delivery. This uncertainty leaves buyers and sellers uncomfort-able and eager to put change-in-law risk on the other party.

Contractual allocation of change-in-law riskThe parties can contractually agree to allocate the change-in-law risk. For instance, a seller could undertake that the REC under the contract at the time of entering into the purchase agreement for the REC is, and at the time of the delivery will be, in compliance with the applicable RPS program. If the REC were not in compliance with RPS program at the time of delivery, the buyer would not have to take delivery of that REC. And, if no RPS program were then in place, the ability to deliver a REC would be compromised. However, sellers may be unwilling to take compliance risk or change-in-law risk generally, leaving the buyer exposed to the risk associated with the REC after the execution of the REC purchase agreement.

Hedging techniquesIf neither the buyer nor the seller has an appetite for the change-in-law risk, the parties could seek to transfer the risk to a third-party. One way the parties could accomplish this would be through a fi nancial swap with a fi nancial counterparty (ex. a dealer or other fi nancial institution). Whether the seller or buyer would be the counterparty to the swap and the payment of costs associated with the swap would be subject to the parties’ needs and to negotiation. For ease of reference, the buyer or seller will be referred to as the “REC counterparty.”

The REC counterparty would enter into a swap agreement with a fi nancial counterparty for protection against an event outside the control of the parties to the underlying REC purchase agreement, causing the subject REC to be no longer eligible under the applicable RPS Program, including the elimination of the relevant RPS Program (a “non-eligibility event”). The swap could mitigate risks by transferring the risk of delivery or receipt of non-eligible RECs from one party to another without transferring the underlying RECs.

Under the swap, the REC counterparty would pay a periodic or an upfront fee to the fi nancial counterparty. In return, the fi nancial counterparty would agree to pay the REC counterparty a set amount in the event of a non-eligibility event, with the parties free to customize how the set amount is calculated.

For example, depending on the party seeking to hedge its risk, the set amount could be equal to: 1) the price equal to the amount required to purchase a REC that is compliant with the applicable RPS program, if any; 2) the difference between the market value of a compliant REC and the market value of a non-eligible REC (al-though the REC may no longer be compliant with the applicable RPS program, pre-sumably it could be sold into the voluntary market, thereby retaining some value); 3) an amount equal to the cost of having the non eligible REC re-certifi ed, if possible; 4) the contract price under the relevant REC purchase agreement at the time of the non- eligibility event; or, 5) some other pre-agreed amount. Alternatively, instead of a set amount, the REC counterparty and the fi nancial counterparty could agree that the fi nancial counterparty has the right to deliver an eligible REC for the applicable RPS program. If the non-eligibility event never occurs, the REC will likely be sold and purchased pursuant to the underlying purchase agreement, and the fi nancial counterparty will have profi ted by collecting the periodic or upfront fee.

Another interesting approach is the use of insurance (as parties have done in the European carbon markets). Parties could purchase insurance products to insure risks (including change-in-law risk) under a REC purchase agreement. In exchange for premium payments, the insurance company would indemnify for losses resulting from the non-eligibility event. An added benefi t of an insurance product, compared to a swap contract, is that domestic insurance companies are subject to more rigor-ous capital requirements than most fi nancial counterparties in the swap context.

The ability of parties to mitigate or allocate some of risks of purchasing RECs, whether through a swap or insurance, may further enhance RPS programs by bringing more buyers of RECs to the market. And, in turn, potentially allow sellers to raise more capital for further development of renewable generation resources. Whether seeking to enter into a swap or purchase insurance, REC counterparties should consult their legal, tax, and accounting advisors to understand all the risks and costs associated.Troutman Sanders LLP | www.troutmansanders.com

Mitigating Change-in-law Risk Associated with RECs By Craig M Kline (left) & John J Leonti (right)

The ability of parties to mitigate or allocate some of risks of purchasing RECs, whether through a swap or insurance, may further enhance RPS programs by bringing more buyers of RECs to the market.

investing in clean energy

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investing in clean energy

America’s appetite for energy shows no signs of ebbing. In fact, despite expected technological advances in energy effi ciency, total energy consumption in the

United States is projected to increase by 11% by 2030, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). With a fi nite supply of traditional fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, development of clean energy resources is more critical than ever.

Dick Rai, manager, National City Energy Capital, says the country has the tech-nological expertise and political support to develop advanced solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal energy resources on a national scale. He thinks, however, the fi -nance industry needs to step up now to make this a reality, with little time to waste. Rai recently provided further insights into why renewable energy must be one of the nation’s top concerns and how to fi nance these projects effectively:

Why is clean energy so important to the country’s energy independence?

With an increasing population and global industrialization, the worldwide demand for energy is skyrocketing and fossil fuels will someday run out. Advanced clean energy resources will not only reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but help the United States strengthen its technological leadership in energy development.

Isn’t the development of clean energy well underway?

Yes, according to the EIA’s most recent data from 2007, US renewable energy re-sources accounted for 7% of our energy supply. This is a good start, but it’s time for us to fully embrace the technology. President Obama is making it a priority. Much of the developed world already has done so, led by China and its massive hydroelectric operations. Overall, about 20% of the world’s energy comes from renewable resources.

What clean energy sources show the greatest promise for achieving energy

independence?

The largest niche in renewable energy today is wind power. Utility scale wind farms, costing $500 million to $600 million each, have become increasingly com-mon. A growing number of much smaller, community oriented wind farms, how-ever, are being developed. Last year alone, more than $20 billion was allocated to wind projects. The EIA recently reported that wind generated electricity from the years 2005 to 2007 was unmatched versus other renewable energy sources.

Solar power is heating up, too, as it becomes increasingly affordable. Solar has the advantage of needing only sunlight to produce electricity. In addition, it’s a distrib-uted energy source. You can put a solar energy system on a roof and it will essential-ly power that structure. Many large utility scale solar projects have been announced and are slated to start within the next couple of years.

What about biomass and geothermal energy resources?

A growing number of industrial plants producing heat and steam rely on biomass re-sources such as corn, wood chips, soybeans, and other similar sources. Biomass is also used in the production of transportation fuels such as ethanol, which remains very popular. Recent adjustments to farm subsidies, however, are prompting some ethanol operations to close. Other raw materials like algae and garbage refuse are becoming popular. In addition, an increasing number of geothermal energy projects are under-way, although this is probably the smallest overall niche in clean energy at the moment.

What role, if any, does the US government have in the development of clean energy?

In many locales, the political support needed to promote clean energy is moving into place, along with government incentives to encourage development. There are a variety of tax credit, subsides, rebates, and accelerated depreciation tools available.

Will the President’s economic stimulus bill have any impact on the development of

clean energy resources?

Absolutely. The economic stimulus bill includes a number of provisions aimed at clean energy developers. During the next two years, they have the option of turning renewable energy tax credits directly into cash via government grants—up to 30% of a project’s cost. This is a game changer for this industry. There’s also a new tax credit for manufacturers of renewable energy equipment.

What is the greatest challenge facing developers of clean energy?

Did you know that while many renewable energy projects have the approvals to

commence, less than 20% are actually completed? The technical expertise, political clout, tax subsidies, and other incentives are in place but, unfortunately, fi nancing can still be diffi cult.

What makes the fi nancing of these projects such a challenge?

To make renewable energy cost effective from a fi nancing perspective, many large funders focus their attention on projects valued at $50 million or more. This minimum fi nancing threshold hampers many smaller but legitimate solar, biomass, and wind power projects from ever getting off the ground. The fi nancing structures are relatively complex, relying on multiple sources of repayment—all of which must adhere to the agreement in order for the project to be successful from a fi nancing standpoint. There is no standard documentation, so legal fees impact project economics, as well.

Is there a solution?

Fortunately, there are some lenders that will invest the time, effort, and knowledge to carefully evaluate and often fund such smaller renewable energy projects. More lenders are needed, however, to fi nance the many promising opportunities each year. Creative fi nancing can spell the difference between a great renewable energy idea coming to fruition or being pushed aside.

How are clean energy deals typically structured?

In essence, each deal is a mini power generating plant with revenues and expenses netting to an available cash fl ow stream. All fi nancing is generally based on that net stream regardless of the underlying name or structure. There are also tax-affected differences in the underlying structures.

There are many ways to structure energy deals including the use of standard and operating leases, as well as partnership “fl ip” structures. Power purchase agreements are also becoming increasingly popular. They were initially introduced for munici-palities looking for fi nancing of their renewable energy projects. But, since these entities do not pay taxes, PPAs are established with banks and other funders who, upon government approval, can take advantage of tax credits for fi nancing renew-able energy projects.

Some lenders still fail to fully optimize the value of these transactions. New and aggressive fi nancial structures specifi cally tailored for clean energy opportunities are being explored, but there are some concerns about their effi cacy and whether they would pass IRS scrutiny. The solution, then, is to improve the consistency in the evaluation and structuring of these deals.

So, how should a lender evaluate a clean energy transaction?

In today’s economic climate, a lender should scrutinize energy projects carefully, just like any other opportunity. They can start by asking the following key questions:1. Who are the parties involved in the transaction? Can they fulfi ll their obligations

through the term of the project?2. Is there construction fi nancing and who is handling it? Lenders cannot absorb

construction risk.3. Who is going to manage the operation and maintenance of the energy facility

over the long term? The project must generate its forecasted production at the expected cost.

4. Who is the actual credit being extended to and can they pay for the power over time?

5. Is the structure of the deal and documentation acceptable? The project structure and related documentation must be in-sync. This is not as easy as it sounds, since all of the nuances of a fairly complicated transaction must be covered.

What happens if the country fails to fi nance renewable energy?

Given the projected energy demands over the next 20 years, do we really have a choice? It’s imperative the country succeeds. The US and global engineering and scientifi c communities are working to bring sustainable energy to life. The public and private sectors are realizing energy independence is critical to maintaining our standard of living. From a fi nance perspective, we all must recognize the opportu-nity before us and help shape the future of this country and the world.

National City | www.nationalcity.com

The Financing of Clean Energy



Acquisition timingRegulated utilities may acquire their interest in a project either during development or con-struction, or at or near commercial operation (ex. a build-transfer arrangement). The regulated utility’s and the developer’s share of development and construction risk are affected by the timing of the acquisition and, as such, the price and/or fee that the regulated utility pays for its ownership interest will also be affected. Furthermore, as discussed in the fi rst part of this arti-cle, the timing of the acquisition may alleviate certain issues in connection with performance security requirements. However, timing of the acquisition may also create tax issues.

These tax issues include potential state law transfer taxes and the requirement that the regu-lated utility acquires its interest in the project prior to the project’s placed in service date to be eligible for investment tax credits. Timing of the acquisition may also create regulatory issues, such as potentially requiring fi ling under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 or approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Public utility commission approvalRegulated utilities will require the local public utility commission’s approval of the joint ven-ture. Among other things, regulated utilities will likely need to demonstrate why ownership of renewable energy generation is more benefi cial to the ratepayers than only purchasing renew-able energy. The joint venture agreements should not only contain an obligation of the regu-lated utility to make such fi ling timely, and for the developer to provide requested assistance, but should also provide appropriate offramps in case the commission’s approval is not obtained. Regulated utilities may also want public utility commission pre-approval in connection with subsequent transfers of project interests to or from the regulated utility pursuant to the provi-sions of the joint venture documentation.

Project costs and funding commitmentThe parties will need to determine how to allocate project costs and how the parties will fund these costs. Typically, each party will be responsible for a percentage of project costs equal to its percentage interest in the project. The parties may choose to fund these costs in advance on a monthly or quarterly basis into a jointly owned account. The parties require that project costs be incurred and paid in accordance with a budget.

Because payments under the construction and equipment supply agreements will be signifi -cant, the parties may further require these payments be made directly by each party to the rele-vant contractor, thereby allowing each party an opportunity to verify the completion of project work prior to releasing substantial funds. This is particularly important for the regulated utility where the construction contractor or equipment supplier is an affi liate of the developer.

If the parties are reluctant to commit to fully funding construction while the project is dur-ing the development stage and has not yet obtained key rights of way, permits, or project con-tracts, the parties may wish to enter into a joint development arrangement where the regulated utility acquires its interest during project development (or rights to do so) and the parties only commit to jointly fund project development. If development of the project is successful, the parties may enter into new joint venture agreements, setting forth their respective obligations with respect to the construction and operation of the project. Using a joint development agree-ment allows the parties to jointly develop a project while deferring substantial capital commit-ments and negotiation of issues associated with construction and operation of the project until the development of the project is more advanced. Alternatively, the parties may agree upfront to fund construction of the project upon the occurrence of certain events including attaining project permits, execution of material project agreements, obtaining adequate fi nancing, the expected availability of the tax credits, and the provision of proper credit support.

Project managementUnder these joint ventures, a regulated utility will rely on the developer’s expertise in develop-ing renewable energy generation and the developer will make day-to-day decisions regarding development and construction given their expertise. However, each party will want to retain the right to approve key decisions such as approving project budgets, major contractors, the disposition of signifi cant project assets, and the commencement and settlement of litigation concerning the project. This joint decision-making is usually facilitated through the creation of a management committee.

Several renewable energy developers have affi liates that supply equipment, construction services, or operating services. To ensure it satisfi es both energy demand obligations and port-folio energy requirements, the regulated utility or an affi liate may wish to operate and main-tain the project. In either case, the parties will need to address issues created by a contractual

relationship between the project owners on the one hand, and an affi liate of one of the project owners on the other—including the right to negotiate these affi liate contracts and unilaterally administer and enforce the rights of the project owners thereunder.

OfframpsAny well-structured joint venture should contain adequate offramps so the parties may exit the project under appropriate circumstances. Because the regulated utility and the developer may have different incentives when developing renewable energy generation, these offramps become particularly important. As discussed above, an offramp should exist if the public utility commission does not approve the joint venture. Additionally, the parties should consider of-framps in connection management deadlocks, casualty losses, condemnation actions, disputes under affi liate contracts, failure to obtain fi nancing, events of default, material adverse effects, and even for convenience. After construction has commenced, however, offramps should be limited, because the parties will have made signifi cant fi nancial commitments at that point and each party and the project lenders will be relying on the fi nancial commitment of the other.Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | www.skadden.com

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Part II: Joint Ventures betweenRegulated Utilities and Developers

An alternative method for developingrenewable energy generation

By Lance T Brasher-Partner & Drew Baldinger

Part I of this article, published last issue (May/June ‘09), described the advantages to both de-velopers and regulated utilities from jointly developing renewable energy generation. It began discussing certain issues that parties should consider when negotiating such joint ventures, including issues in connection with the direct ownership of project assets by the parties and performance security requirements. Part II continues the discussion on the issues to consider when negotiating joint ventures…



biopower

Several environmental issues have arisen as important considerations for man-agers of solid waste services in recent years. These issues include: the genera-

tion of renewable and reliable energy, management of waste produced by citizens, and overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The engineered application of anaerobic digestion (AD) offers a feasible and prov-en solution for these concerns. Anaerobic digestion is a biochemical process in which organic material is broken down by microorganisms in environments lacking oxygen. Biogas, composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide, is released as a by-prod-uct. The methane content of biogas can be utilized to generate electric and thermal power. AD systems can be utilized to take in organic wastes materials and process them to generate energy. Over 5,000 AD systems currently exist in the EU for waste management, and that trend is starting to show up in American municipalities.

The organic fraction from municipal solid waste (MSW), typically a mixture of food and yard waste, is an optimal input for AD: it contains a lot of energy content, and it is a waste that must be managed. By processing these waste types with AD, communities can generate clean energy from a renewable resource while simultane-ously managing their waste output levels. The remaining material can also be fur-ther composted to be used within the municipality.

Since AD is a proven method for the management of the organic fraction of MSW, the next important question for a solid waste manager is: which AD system makes the most sense for MSW?

In general, two broad types of AD systems are available for industrial-scale appli-cation: wet fermentation and dry fermentation. A key differentiation between these systems is the composition of the organic wastes they can handle. It is important to choose the appropriate AD system for the composition of the input material. When the suitable choice is made, pre-processing, operation/maintenance, and post-processing needs are kept to a minimum, allowing the energy, water and resource balances of the plant to remain as favorable as possible.

Wet fermentationIn the US, traditional wet fermentation plants are often seen as farm-based and waste water sludge treatment AD systems. Typically, these systems require that the overall composition of the material going into the system has a solids content of less than 15% (i.e., the input will be in liquid form). Digestion of the organic material occurs in one or a series of tanks. A liquid input is necessary for wet fermentation systems for several reasons, including: 1) the material must be pumpable from one part of the plant to the next; 2) the material must be agitated inside the tanks to al-low co-mingling of the organic material and the microorganisms that perform AD.

Wet systems are advantageous when the input material is naturally a liquid. Dairy farms are fi nding wet anaerobic digestion systems as an effi cient and benefi cial ma-

Dry Fermentationin MunicipalSolid Waste Management

nure management and energy production method. This is because farms produce mass quantities of liquid manure every day, a suitable organic waste material for wet fermentation systems.

However, using a wet fermentation system to process the organic fraction of MSW poses several challenges. Several pre-processing steps are required before the material can be loaded in the system. The material is ground and combined with quantities of water to achieve the necessary low solids slurry. A generalized rule of thumb is that for every gallon of 75% solids material (like yard waste), nine gallons of water must be added to turn it into slurry. Sand, grit, and other non-organic contaminants must be fi ltered, as they would otherwise cause failure of agitation mechanics and severe sediment build up as the particles settle on the bottom of the tank(s).

After digestion, post-processing steps are also required to make wet fermentation viable for MSW management. The remaining material, or digestate, goes through de-watering to separate the liquid effl uent from the solids. These residual materials could be applied to farmlands without composting them; however, because the AD system would be processing waste in a municipality waste district, farms might not be directly accessible. For composting, the solids go through fi ne solids separation and additional non-digested dry material is added to make the composition viable for compost.

All of these processing steps, both before and after AD, require energy input and maintenance/operational costs. Water requirements needed for preparing the input also present challenges in obtaining water and treating waste water effl uent in the sensitive area of a municipality. These reasons make utilizing a wet fermentation system for processing MSW unsuitable in a municipality setting.

Dry fermentationDry fermentation AD systems are quickly arising as a method to effi ciently utilize and manage non-liquid organic wastes. Dry systems can use input organic material that has a much higher total solids content of up to 50% (i.e., if the material is stackable). The organic fraction of MSW makes an ideal input for a dry fermentation system.

Unlike wet systems, dry fermentation plants are designed around the principle that microorganisms are more easily moved than a large amount of material. To fa-cilitate digestion, a solution containing the necessary microorganisms is percolated through the mass of waste by the forces of gravity. This allows the organic input to

Organic Fraction of MSWProcessing by Wet Fermentation

PRE-PROCESSING

GrindingDilutionContaminant removal

FERMENTATION

Mechanical movement within fermentation chamber

POST-PROCESSING

De-watering with waste water treatmentFine Solids Seperation

COMPOSTING

Addition of dry materialAerobic composting

Organic Fraction of MSWProcessing by Dry Fermentation

FERMENTATION

No movement inside fermentation chamber

COMPOSTING

Aerobic composting

Figure 1: Typical wet fermentation system

Figure 2: Typical dry fermentation system

Typical wet fermentation system

Far left: Typical dry fermentation system

Input Electric Power

from CHP

Process Heat

from CHP

Methane Displacement

60,000 metric tons Organic Fraction MSW

Approx. 1.9 MW—enough to power ap-prox. 1,300 homes for 1 year

50,000 MMBTU—enough to provide space heating to approx. 1,300 homes for 1 year

3,000 metric tons CH4 by removing uncon-trolled decomposition in landfi lls

By Leah Simmet & Sarah Williams



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WASTE

remain stationary for the digestion retention time while the needed bio-chemical interactions still occur.

Because the mass stays stationary, the overall structure of a dry fermen-tation plant is very different than a wet plant. Bioferm dry fermentation plants, for example, are modular and consist of garage-like fermentation chambers into which organic material is fi lled by front loaders. There are no moving parts inside the fermentation chamber. A solution is sprayed over the organic material and collected as it seeps through to be recycled within the system. After digestion, remaining material is removed from the fermen-tation chamber and can be used as-is for a soil amendment or further aero-bically composted.

Dry fermentation offers many ad-vantages for the processing of the organic fraction of MSW. Because material does not require movement or pumping in a dry AD plant, less pre-processing of the input materi-als is necessary. Input material does not need to be ground, diluted with water, nor even have the contaminants removed. Expensive water input needs and waste water treatment require-ments do not have to be dealt with in the sensitive municipality atmosphere.

Because there are no moving parts inside the fermentation chamber of a dry system, non-organic pollutants, like plastic bags, do not pose a hazard. Contrastingly, a plastic bag in a wet fermentation system can catch on the agitation mechanism and cause failure. The absence of mechanical parts in the fermentation chamber, and fewer mechanical parts in the dry system overall, reduces overall maintenance time and costs. These characteristics also lead to lower parasitic energy values of the system when compared to wet fermentation plants. A dry system also requires less processing of the digestate after digestion, generating an output that can directly be taken to a composting operation. All of these aspects present great savings of energy, resources and money and create an optimal situation for processing the organic fraction of municipal solid waste.

When considering the use of an AD system for the processing of the organic fraction of MSW, selection of the appropriate type is a major con-cern. Using a dry fermentation system minimizes processing costs, both prior to and after digestion, and the use of water and other resources within the system itself. This allows for the most effi cient and productive recovery of resources within the organic material.Bioferm Energy Systemswww.bioferm-es.com

CO2-to-fuel technologyCarbon Sciences, Inc. (CABN), the de-veloper of a breakthrough technology to recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into gasoline and other fuels, recently an-nounced a signifi cant breakthrough that will shorten the path to commercializing its CO2-to-fuel technology. Previously, the company had planned on developing a mini-pilot plant as the next scale up of its technology, where additional performance data would be obtained to design a full-scale commercial plant. However, recent breakthroughs in the nano-engineering of the biocatalyst, encouraging prototype per-formance results and molecular-based com-puter modeling of the biocatalytic process, have provided the development team with a direct path to full-scale pilot design. Car-bon Sciences’ highly scalable biocatalytic process is poised to meet the fuel needs of the world and also provide an alternative to carbon capture and sequestration. Their solution to energy and climate challenges will support a sustainable world of fuel con-sumption and climate stability. Carbon Sciences, Inc.www.carbonsciences.com

Algae into fuelOriginOil has developed a breakthrough technology to transform algae into fuel. Instead of drilling for old oil, OriginOil is producing clean, new oil, anytime and anywhere, to eventually replace worldwide dependence on petroleum. The company’s Helix BioReactor, with different-colored light beams emulating the sun, “fools” algae into thinking it is within its natural environment and helps make the production of algae both viable and scalable. CO2, water, and minerals are then added, and through OriginOil’s proprietary “cracking” system, the algae mixture separates itself after only a few moments at low energy, resulting in usable oil. This new develop-ment has already attracted the attention of the US Department of Energy, which recently signed a partnership agreement with the company to continue developing plug-in applications to promote the use of algae without the need for an infrastructure, thereby creating an export model that can be adopted around the world. OriginOil | www.originoil.com

Multi-stage treatment systemSchroeder Biofuels recently released ColdClear, the fi rst multi-stage treatment system for solving the cold soak dilemma in biodiesel and biodiesel blends. ColdClear is designed to ensure that biodiesel prod-ucts conform to the new ASTM D6751 Standard for cold fl ow properties. This technology is a multi-stage fi ltration/adsorption system that ensures any potential factors that would initiate crystallization or plugging are dramatically reduced. ColdClear is effective for B100 and a range of diesel blends, meaning that producers, distributors, or even fl eet consumers of biodiesel blends can use it. The technology is designed to be a single pass three-stage bank of cartridge based fi lters/adsorbers that sequentially remove those compounds likely to cause fi lter plugging while touting a negligible process yield loss (unlike com-peting processes). The cartridges are disposable and easy to remove from the housings. The systems are skid-mounted and engineered to meet a fl ow rate of 5 GPM, with cartridges that can be changed in min-utes, resulting in very little downtime between production runs. Schroeder BioFuels | www.schroederbiofuels.com



The conceptIn late 2008, Corrugated Services Incorporated (CSI) was able to eliminate much of its dependence on natural gas. This was accomplished with the installation of a biomass-fueled boiler at their linerboard mill, which took advantage of a readily available source of discarded wooden shipping pallets. The boiler was sized to provide steam to a back-pressure turbine generator, which was able to generate approximately 3 MW of elec-tricity and supply the 170 psig steam required by the paper machine.

The wooden pallets were to be purchased already hogged and delivered by truck, but no facilities for delivering to the boiler yet existed. Furthermore, the boiler and associated equipment had to be purchased along with the turbine generator and other auxiliary equipment.

Permitting was a sizable portion of the front-end work necessary to get this project off the ground. CSI is in a non-attainment zone. A permit was obtained that established limits for NOx, SOx, CO, and ammonia. The equipment required to meet these limits included: multi-clone mechanical dust collector, ESP (electrostatic precipitator), SCR (selective catalytic reduction), and an ammonia storage and injection system.

Obtaining used equipmentTo minimize the cost of the project, CSI decided to obtain used equipment whenever possible. A fi t was found in North Carolina where a large process company had a power island that had been shut down for several years. The boiler was originally manufac-tured by Zurn, and was designed for coal fi ring. Inspected, it was deemed in relatively good condition. The traveling grate was operational and would work for fi ring the pal-let-derived wood chips. Zurn engineers recommended replacing the fuel distributors and adding eight feet to the sidewalls to increase resident time, as well as modifi cations to the over-fi re air.

A Mitsubishi back pressure steam turbine and generator were included in the power island. Both the turbine and generator were in excellent condition and required rela-tively minimal refurbishment.

Boiler modifi cationsThe single most costly modifi cation was the eight-foot extension to the furnace height. To accomplish this, new sections of tube walls for all four sides were required. Two gas burn-ers were added to be used in start-up and as back-up for periods of low wood fuel supply. All of the generating bank tubes had to be replaced to separate the drums for shipment.

The economizer needed to be relocated due to temperature requirements of the cat-alyst in the SCR, and was moved to a vertical run of duct just ahead of the ID fan. The SCR was located just after the ESP and before the economizer. The equipment line-up for the fl ue gas became: boiler exit, mechanical dust collector, ESP, ammonia injection, SCR, economizer, ID fan, and stack.

New equipmentNew fans were required to replace existing fans, which were deteriorated or mis-matched in size. New natural gas burners were purchased that were low NOx type, complete with fuel train. A conventional submerged conveyor system was chosen to remove the ash falling off the traveling grate at the front of the boiler. Mechanical drag conveyors brought the remaining boiler ash to the front of the boiler, where it was combined with the ash from the grates and discharged into a dumpster for disposal.

Fly ash collected from hoppers underneath the mechanical dust collector and under-neath the ESP was transported by vacuum pneumatic conveyors to an ash storage silo. The fl y ash fed out of the silo into an ash mixer before being dumped into a dumpster.

Start-up processCSI wanted to begin the start-up process in stages. The wood delivery system was started fi rst to establish the fuel source availability before fi ring the boiler. This system was comprised of a truck dumper, belt conveyors, two magnets, a screen, a hog, and a distributing conveyor that dumped inside the storage building. Reclaim consisted of a rake type reclaimer and a collection conveyor with sweep gates to level the fl ow. A

biopower

Reducing dependence on natural gasBy Alton Fallin

Top: Natural gas burners on boiler; Middle: Overfi re air fan and duct; Bottom: Fuel conveyors from storage building to boiler.

Case Study:CSI BiomassCo-generation Project

Economizer with duct emerging from electrostatic precipitator



All-welded process system for biodiesel industryPressure instruments used in the biodiesel processing indus-try must be rigorous and sturdy enough to withstand harsh con-ditions. Pulsation, vibration, and/or environmental conditions can compromise system integ-rity. These conditions may break

the threaded gauge-to-seal connection found in a traditional diaphragm seal system. A broken connection can result in inaccurate readings or total failure. Also, mishandling and incorrect installation of the traditional diaphragm seal sys-tem can compromise gauge alignment, resulting in a leaking system.

The WIKA model M93X.D1 All-Welded System (AWS) is a process gauge and a diaphragm seal integrated into a com-plete assembly. All connections and access ports are welded to ensure a complete leak-free design, resulting in increased operating life. This proven and rugged system can handle the harshest conditions where many other instruments fail. The AWS is widely accepted as a problem solver in oil and gas re-fi neries. WIKA has also taken the AWS one-step further and developed the AWS with 1.0 NPT-male process connection and fl ushing port. A fl ushing port added to the lower housing of the diaphragm seal allows cleaning fl uid to fl ush residue out of the pipe to prevent damage or clogging to the instru-ment. The AWS also has a liquid-fi lled case to protect the instrument from mechanical vibration and pressure pulsation.WIKA Instrument Corporation | www.wika.com

supply conveyor fed an over-feed dis-tribution hopper with a return con-veyor to the storage building where it dumped back onto the piles.

The wood handling system was operated long enough to make sure everything was functional, but not long enough to optimize the con-trol methodology. The diffi culty in continuing to run without feeding the boiler was that the wood chips tended to break down into fi nes. The boiler was fi red fi rst on natural gas to prove the operation before switching to wood fi ring.

Unexpected problemsControllability issues arose with the FD fan supplying both the under-grate air and the gas burner air. The problem was solved by installing a new, separate fan for the gas burner air.

Wood dust in the fuel supply was greater than expected. This excess dust created housekeeping issues, po-tential combustion problems inside the storage building, and plugging in the catalyst matrix of the SCR unit. The problem was alleviated as the demand for fuel increased, thereby increasing the turnover of the sup-plied material.

Current operations Currently, CSI is enjoying reliable operation of the wood fi red cogen-eration plant. Steam demand from the linerboard mill is running about 90,000 lbs/hr. The boiler is produc-ing about 110,000 lbs/hr with a portion of the steam going to the deaerator and other utility require-ments. The steam turbine is operat-ing between the 900 psig produced by the boiler and the 170 psig needed by the Linerboard Mill. Electricity produced averages about 2.6 MW.

CSI has controlled their risk from the fl uctuating natural gas prices while furthering their corporate goal of being a very green neighbor.

Alton Fallin, chief engineer of the Power Island, is currently a senior mechanical engineer, employed by Hunt, Guillot and Associates in Ruston, LA.

Corrugated Services Inc. is a producer of 100% recycled linerboard and corrugating medium, as well as packaging papers and coated products at its facilities in Forney, Texas. The company was founded in 1974 and produces more than 300,000 tons of containerboard per year.

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NACE-0409.indd 1 3/2/09 11:29:20 AM

Nine new analytical platforms for biodiesel and bioethanol laboratoriesPerkinElmer, Inc. announced a major expansion of its Eco-Analytix biofuels analytical solutions portfolio. The com-pany has expanded its biodiesel and bioethanol portfolio to include nine analyzers and systems, crossing six technolo-gies: ICP-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), infra-red (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and liquid scintillation counters (LSC).

Biodiesel, a clean-burning fuel made from natural renew-able sources, such as sunfl ower, soybean, rapeseed, jatropha, or used vegetable oil, must meet either ASTM or EN standards before entering the marketplace. PerkinElmer’s biodiesel and bioethanol portfolio has been expanded to include the FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) system based on the Clarus GC for determining fuel composition, oxida-tion stability system based on the DSC 8500 for determin-ing the oxidation status of biofuel, and the 14C LSC system for determining the fuel blend. This range represents a full suite of methods and technologies for biodiesel development and testing needs. A full suite of systems for testing bioetha-nol, a sugar-based fuel made from such crops as sugar-cane, corn or wheat, is also available. This line consists of an EcoAnalytix Trace Metals Analyzer based on the Optima 7000 ICP-OES for testing Group I and Group II metals and phosphorus, Alcohol system for determining the right blend of ethanol in gasoline by GC, and Bioethanol Fermentation HPLC system for monitoring fermentation broth. The 14C Determination by LSC system available for biodiesel can also be used in qualifying bioethanol.PerkinElmer, Inc. | www.perkinelmer.com

DESIGNED FOR OUR READERS AND OUR ADVERTISERSGo to www.nacleanenergy.comto see all our print content subscription and advertising information, and much more.

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4

A new approach to CO2

SolarShow in print

GeothermalShow in print

A new

GeothermalmalShow in pShow in printrint

Life Without the Production Tax CreditAnd its affect onwind power



hydro and marine energy

A move to make southern England: “the cradle of offshore renewables devel-opment, not just in the UK, but the world” (thanks to domestic electricity

generated from the sea), came a step nearer after a pioneering wave-energy project to be built off the English coast signed up another development partner.

Now, the Orecon company will occupy the fourth berth at the Wave Hub site that aims to be operational in 2010. Orecon believes that the UK is at the forefront of development of wave-power technology. The construction of the Wave Hub power project is expected to start in May 2010, and be completed by August of that year, with the fi rst wave energy devices ready to be deployed in 2011. An independ-ent economic impact assessment has calculated that Wave Hub could create 1,800 jobs and inject 560 million pounds into the UK economy over 25 years. Almost 1,000 of these jobs and 332m pounds could be generated in south-west England.

In 2008, Orecon raised 24 million US dollars of private investment for the de-velopment of its wave-to-energy buoy that can generate enough power for 1,000 homes. Based in Cornwall, south-west England, the company was founded in 2002 as a spin-out business from the University of Plymouth.

The Wave Hub development is described as a gigantic electrical “socket” on the seabed, 18 kilometres (about 11 miles) offshore, and connected to the National Grid—into which wave-energy device developers can plug their systems and carry out pre-commercial testing on a scale not seen before. It is already being hailed as one of the UK’s fl agship renewable energy projects, and is one of only six case studies to feature in the government’s low-carbon industrial strategy launched in London recently by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, and Business Secretary Peter Mandelson.

Leading the Wave Hub project is Nick Harrington, head of marine energy at the South West Regional Development Agency, who said: “This is just the latest excit-ing development for Wave Hub, which is on course to be built next summer. Wave

The Wave Hub power project By Ray Cooling, London Press Service

Hub is just part of a much bigger ambition to make south-west England the cradle of offshore renewables development, not just in the UK, but the world.”

David Crisp, chief executive of Orecon, said: “The UK still leads the way in the development of wave-energy technology and we have the best wave resources in Europe. Wave Hub will give us the development platform we need to prove our technology to the world, and we are delighted to have been selected as one of the regional development agency’s partners.”

Groups of wave-energy devices will be connected to Wave Hub and fl oat on or just below the surface of the sea to assess how well they work and how much power they generate before going into full commercial production. Each Orecon buoy contains three wave chambers. A wave chamber is similar to a bottle with its bottom cut off. The chamber stands in the water and, as a wave goes by, the water level rises then falls in the chamber. As the water rises, air is pushed out of the neck of the bottle and, as the water level falls, air is sucked in. In the neck is a wind turbine and electricity is generated as the air rushes in and out.

Wave Hub will be connected to the National Grid by a 25 kilometer (15.5-mile) cable linked to a new electricity substation on the mainland at Hayle, Cornwall. Four wave-device developers are working with the South West RDA on the project and each will be granted a lease of a sea area of two square kilometers.

As well as Orecon, the other developers are Ocean Power Technologies Ltd., Fred Olsen Ltd., and WestWave, a consortium of E.On and Ocean Prospect Ltd., using the technology of Pelamis Wave Power Ltd. The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable economy, investing to unlock the region’s business potential. It is helping companies respond to the economic crisis and chart a course for recovery. Orecon | www.orecon.com

Picture Credit: Deborah Clark

Associates

Surface tension: set out at sea this Orecon buoy contains three wave chambers in which power is generated. It is a partner with Wave Hub, a pioneering wave-energy project on course to be built in 2010 off the coast of England that can generate enough electricity for 1,000 homes.

Tide of Sea Energy



Improvements to 54.4 MWSnoqualmie FallsThe Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved plans by Puget Sound Energy to make $250 million in improvements to the Snoqualmie Falls hydro-electric project, adding 10 MW to bring the historic project to the full 54.4 MW authorized by its 2004 relicensing. The 111-year-old project (No. 2493) features two power plants and Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot waterfall about 30 miles east of Seattle, Washington.

Accordingly, a FERC license amendment approved in June will allow construc-tion to ramp up in September on substantial upgrades to generating infrastructure and major enhancements to recreational facilities. Work includes replacement of a generator in Plant 2 and replacement of a generator and retrofi tting of four 1898-vintage generators in Plant 1, increasing generating capacity by 10 MW with-out using additional water. Puget also plans to replace intake structures, upgrade penstocks, install turbine bypass valves, and install automatic shutoff gates above Plant 2 to halt fl ows in the event of earthquake or other emergency. The work is to be complete in 2014.Puget Sound Energy | www.pse.com

The Furry Creek projectAs per this issue’s cover photo, The Furry Creek project is a run-of-river hydroelectric facility that diverts water from Furry Creek through a penstock into turbines located in a powerhouse downstream. The water turns the turbine generating 11 MW of power and is returned to the river directly below the powerhouse. The facility generates 45,000 MWh/year, which is sold to BC Hydro in Canada, under a 20-year power sale contract.

This environmentally friendly facility received its Eco-Logo certifi cation when it began operations in June of 2004. Over its fi ve years of operations, the facility has achieved an availability to generate power exceeding 99%. It is 99% owned by ENMAX Corp, and 1% owned by the Squamish First Nation. ENMAX Corp | www.enmax.com

Wave energy converter awardedAquamarine Power picked up the Innovator Award at this year’s British Renewable Energy Awards for its Oyster wave energy converter. The award recognizes outstand-ing excellence in innovative features of concept and de-

sign; achievement in meeting original objectives and continued proven success of the device; and the demonstration of exceptional effort of those involved in bringing Oyster through development, testing, and toward commercialization.

Oyster is a hydro-electric wave energy converter designed to convert renew-able energy harnessed from ocean waves into usable electricity. Created to be deployed in multi-MW arrays with a peak power of 300 to 600kW per Oyster, a commercial farm of just ten devices could provide clean renewable energy to a town of 3,000 homes. Oyster is unique in that it starts generating electricity in almost calm sea conditions and can continue generating even in the worst of storms, making large-scale commercial success more achievable.Aquamarine Power | www.aquamarinepower.com

Commercial-scale tidal current energy systemMarine Current Turbines has won the Renewable Energy Association’s Developer of the Year Award with its suc-cessful design, deployment, and operation of its 1.2 MW SeaGen tidal current energy system. In February, the company also won the 2009 Rosenblatt New Energy Ris-ing Star award. SeaGen, the world's fi rst and so far only commercial-scale tidal cur-rent energy system, was in-

stalled in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough last year, and is now generating power into the local grid. It has the power to generate clean electricity to meet the average needs of about 1000 homes. Marine Current Turbines | www.marineturbines.com



energy efficiency

Hosted by: Organized by:

February 3 – 5, 2010Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

For more information on RETECH 2010

please visit www.retech2010.com or contact:

Hunter Jones

713.343.1875

[email protected]

Tom Weirich, ACORE

202.777.7582

[email protected]

Save the Date!

US Department of Energy Approves 16 State Energy Spending Plans The US Department of Energy has approved 16 State Energy Program spending plans, au-thorized as part of the federal economic stimu-lus package signed into law in February. With the approval of these plans, 16 of the nation’s State Energy Offi ces are receiving $508 mil-lion, representing 50% of full program fund-ing. Remaining funding will come as states implement their programs and deliver results.

The 16 state plans approved so far include: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington. The DOE continues to review State Energy Program spending plans from 39 other states and US territories. Action on the plans is expected by the end of July.

These energy plans fulfi ll state obligations under the federal State Energy Program, one of a number of stimulus-funded programs operated by the 56 State and Territory Energy Offi ces. Total stimulus funding for the State Energy Program is $3.1 billion. The State Energy Program is a key part of the Obama Administration’s national strategy to support green job growth, while making an historic investment in economically viable clean energy projects.

“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy

Energy effi ciency has never been more important, according to new research com-missioned by Johnson Controls. The Energy Effi ciency Indicator (EEI) survey, a research report targeting professionals responsible for energy management, revealed barriers to investing in energy effi ciency include: limited

Annual Energy Effi ciency Indicator Survey reveals regulation and incentives will drive investment

funding, uncertainty about future energy prices, government incentives, and energy and climate legislation.

“These fi ndings highlight the fact that business leaders across the US.are increasing-ly aware of the need for energy effi ciency and its potential to reduce operating costs while

cutting greenhouse gas emissions,” said C David Myers, president of Johnson Con-trols Building Effi ciency division. “Economic and regulatory uncertainty, however, are inhibiting organizations from investing in proactive measures,” added Myers.

Johnson Controls partnered with the In-ternational Facility Management Association (IFMA) to commission the survey of more than 1,400 North American executives who

are responsible for managing, reviewing, or monitoring energy use within their organiza-tions. The majority of respondents were chief executive offi cers, vice presidents, general managers, or facility directors.

Energy effi ciency has never been more importantAccording to the EEI results, 71% of business leaders are paying more attention to energy effi ciency than they were one year ago. Fifty-eight percent responded that energy manage-ment was extremely or very important. Of the organizations making public carbon commit-ments, 45% identifi ed energy effi ciency in buildings as their top carbon reduction strat-egy. Sustainability continues as a focus for new construction projects as 38% are seeking green building certifi cation, while 45% plan to incorporate green elements, but not certify their facilities.

“This research recognizes the important role workplace professionals play in con-trolling operational costs related to energy consumption and making strategic capital in-vestments in high-performing building tech-nologies,” said Don Young, vice president of communications, IFMA. “Indications are that as the economy recovers we will see greater investments in energy reduction and sustain-able initiatives.”



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Limited capital means declining investmentsThe study revealed a likely 10% decrease from last year in the use of facility capital budgets to fund energy effi ciency projects. It also revealed a 6% decrease in the number of respondents planning to make investments using their operational budgets. When asked about the barriers to capture potential energy savings, limited capital availability for invest-ments (42%) and unattractive payback (21%) were cited. Nearly 50% of executives who oversee energy effi ciency investments expect a payback period that is less than three years.

Market uncertainty related to carbon policy, incentives and energy pricesThe EEI research indicates that business lead-ers believe incentives from utilities or govern-ment will drive investment. Eighty-fi ve per-cent stated that legislation mandating energy effi ciency and/or carbon reduction is likely within the next two years. This data supports a continual upward trend, increasing from 76% in 2008. Forty-four percent report that incentives are very/extremely important as they make decisions on energy effi ciency, up from 38% in 2008. There doesn’t seem to be a consensus among respondents about whether energy prices will decrease or increase.

independence,” said DOE Secretary Steven Chu. “It refl ects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to pro-mote energy effi ciency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”

The National Association of State Energy Offi cials, based in Alexandria, Virginia, repre-sents the State and Territory Energy Offi ces. NASEO members, typically designated by governors, are leading state efforts to direct, invest, and manage energy spending to maxi-mize energy savings, private sector cost-share, and economic benefi ts, including jobs. The energy offi ces manage more than $3 billion of state funds annually in addition to the federal stimulus funding.

Other federal energy spending under the stimulus plan includes $3.2 billion for the En-ergy Effi ciency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which is directed to about 1,700 cit-ies, counties, local governments and states, and 510 tribes; $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low-income people reduce their energy bills by making homes more energy effi cient; $4.4 billion for utilities and others involved in development of a national “smart grid” for electricity transmis-sion, delivery, and use; and, $300 million for Energy Star appliance rebates to consumers.

To learn more about funding plans and programs in each state, contact specifi c State Energy Offi ces. A complete list of State En-ergy Offi ces is accessible at http://naseo.org/members/states.NASEO | www.NASEO.org

“We see a wide distribution of views about what will happen to energy prices—ranging from a 100% increase to a 60% decrease,” according to Clay Nesler, vice president of Global Energy & Sustainability at Johnson Controls. “This uncertainty appears to be another reason business leaders are holding back on investments.”

Perspectives on renewable energy Survey participants also were asked about on-site renewable energy technologies. Leaders stated they were considering a range of tech-nologies, including wind, solar thermal, solar electric, and geothermal sources of energy. Forty-six percent reported considering solar electric—an increase of 8% over the previous

year. Geothermal energy also received a sub-stantial increase in interest level, up by 7%.

Johnson Controlswww.johnsoncontrols.comInternational Facility Management Association (IFMA)www.ifma.org



The following provides a brief summary of issues that business developers should con-sider before beginning a renewable energy project on American Indian Tribal lands.

The fi rst four items focus on recent government actions that have aided or hindered the development of renewable energy projects on Tribal land, and the last item highlights spe-cifi c legal issues a party contracting with a Tribe should keep in mind.

Although the development of natural resources has been the primary source of eco-nomic independence for most Tribes, the relatively recent ascension of Indian gaming has reduced the attention to the development of natural resources. Now, however, spurred by high energy costs, decreased barriers to entry, technological advancements, and the Obama administration’s focus on the “green” industry, there has been a renewed interest in the development of Tribal energy resources, particularly renewable energy. Conse-quently, due to the location and contiguous nature of Tribal lands, non-Tribal renewable energy developers and fi nanciers are more frequently considering renewable energy de-velopment on Tribal lands.

Government stimuli increase economic activityRenewable energy development has largely been driven by governmental action, in par-ticular, the US Modifi ed Accelerated Cost-Recovery System and Bonus Depreciation, the Production and Investment Tax Credits (PTCs and ITCs), and most recently, the Stimu-lus Act. Additionally, several states have promoted the development of renewable energy, including feed-in tariffs, which legislate the utilization of renewable energy by utilities. Regardless of whether the incentive stems from the federal or state government, renew-able energy is highly dependent on tax benefi ts that can offset up to 50% of the total de-velopment cost.

Tribes are generally not eligible to use most federal tax benefi ts because most Tribes are generally not subject to federal taxation. Nevertheless, the Government and many states have initiated programs, such as the Tribal Energy Program, to increase renewable energy production on Tribal lands. These programs allow Tribes to obtain fi nancial and technical assistance in developing renewable energy resources.

Tax credits can limit Tribal sovereigntyWithout Federal tax benefi ts, it is more expensive for Tribes to build and own renewable energy projects than their non-Tribal counterparts. However, the Federal tax benefi ts canbe utilized if the Tribe partners with a for-profi t entity that is subject to tax liability can use or monetize the Federal tax benefi ts to offset taxable revenue. A potential disincentive is that the sizable costs of developing a renewable energy project require the for-profi t partner to own enough of the equity in the project, while the Federal tax benefi ts are avail-able, to fully capture and monetize these tax advantages. (Note: this is because the Federal tax benefi ts may be claimed only in an equivalent proportion to the equity ownership of the partners. In practice, the for-profi t partner will require upwards to 99% of the equity in the project during the time that the Federal tax benefi ts are available so as to claim 99% of such benefi ts. To do otherwise would severely undermine the economics of the project.) Therefore, the Tribe may be required to take a minority position in the project.

Tribes may recapture ownership of their renewable energy projectThe ineligibility of Tribes for renewable energy Federal tax benefi ts often makes it dif-fi cult for Tribes to create partnerships with renewable energy developers. Tribes may take advantage of the traditional “partnership fl ip:” upon completion of a renewable energy project, the non-Tribal developers and fi nanciers will be contractually entitled to sub-stantially all (up to 99%) of the income and Federal tax benefi ts fl owing from the project. Over time, the non-Tribal parties will either obtain a contractually pre-determined per-centage of cash and benefi ts from the project or exhaust the contractually pre-determined length of time. The ownership (and resulting profi ts) will then “fl ip” to the Tribe, making it the primary (or sole) owner, with the non-Tribal parties oftentimes becoming minority partners.

Because of sovereignty issues, Tribes are usually hesitant to relinquish that much equity interest to the non-Tribal partners, making the “fl ip” an unattractive option. Often Tribes resort to negotiating an economically unappealing ground lease and an option to purchase the project after the Federal tax benefi ts have expired.

Government bondsAccording to the Indian Tribal Government Tax Status Act, Tribes are entitled to issue tax-free government bonds that can fi nance the development of renewable energy project on Tribal lands (See 24 U.S.C. Section 7871). The bonds require the funds be used for “essential governmental functions,” such as the construction of roads, schools, and utility plants. Although the IRS previously determined that the bonds would not be tax exempt because the proceeds went to profi table goals, the IRS recently stated that if bonds are used for a project that exercises an “essential governmental function,” the tax payable on the bonds may be exempt (See IRS PLR 200911001).

There are conditions the Tribe must meet before obtaining the bonds, including iden-tifying the type of project and whether it is for-profi t. The IRS ruling was also issued to a particular Tribe under circumstances that may not be applicable in every situation. The IRS emphasized that the energy project must be used primarily for the Tribe and profi t made from the project must be used to subsidize other Tribal community services. Moreover, the project was not intended to compete with non-Tribal energy providers. (The letter does al-low, however, for some energy generated by the project to be sold to customers outside of the Indian community, so long as “the electrical power generated will be used to service the local population with only minimal amounts of power sold to customers in the immediate vicinity of the Reservation that are not adequately served by other power providers.”)

Contractual issuesLimited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity The Tribe is an independent nation with sovereign immunity, so it can neither be sued pursuant to conventional means nor be subject to the typical liabilities. This uncertainty of third-party legal remedies and damages could stop a project before it even starts.

Key Issues to Consider When Undertaking Renewable Energy Projects on Tribal LandsBy Jason Lavender

Continued on page 68…


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Consequently, non-Tribal developers should require Tribes to grant limited waivers of sovereign immunity as a con-dition to funding capital in a renewable energy project. The waivers should be concise and unambiguously distinguish between disputes subject to Tribal law and Federal law.

Governing Law; VenueRather than using Tribal law and venue, the non-Tribal developer will demand that

Renewable Energy Tax CreditsThis month, a new notice was released by the IRS that gives certain renewable energy facilities the opportunity to change the way they claim their tax credits. On June 5th, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2009-52 (the Notice), which describes the procedures a taxpayer must follow to make the election to claim the federal investment tax credit (the ITC) in lieu of claiming the federal produc-tion tax credit (the PTC). In general, the ITC may be claimed in the year the facility is placed in service. The election to claim the ITC in lieu of the PTC was provided as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and applies to wind, biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfi ll gas, waste-to-energy, and marine re-newable facilities.

To claim the ITC, a taxpayer must com-plete IRS Form 3468 and fi le the form with its income tax return for the year in which the facility becomes operational. The tax-payer is required to make a separate election for each facility. Additionally, the taxpayer will be required to attach a statement to IRS Form 3468 that includes the following information:1. Name, address, taxpayer identifi cation number, and telephone number of the taxpayer.2. For each facility that qualifi es for the ITC:i. A detailed technical description of the facility, including generating capacity.ii. A detailed technical description of the energy property placed in service during the taxable year as an integral part of the facility, including a statement that the prop-erty is an integral part of such facility.iii. The date that the energy property was placed in service.iv. An accounting of the taxpayers tax basis in the en-ergy property.v. A depreciation schedule refl ecting the taxpayers remaining tax basis in the energy property after the energy credit is claimed.3. A statement that the taxpayer has not and will not claim the US Treasury Grant in lieu of the ITC for prop-erty for which the taxpayer is claiming the ITC.This statement to IRS Form 3468 must be signed under penalties of perjury. Additionally, the taxpayer must re-tain adequate books and records to support the election. Note: The Notice does not explain how to claim the US Treasury Grant in lieu of the ITC. Information regarding the grant is expected to be issued shortly.

For more information related to tax credits, visit Michael, Best and Friedrich LLP at www.michaelbest.com.

WieSolPowerad81808OL.indd 1 8/18/08 11:00:23 AM

all disputes be subject to either Federal or State law. Binding arbitration may also be sought for the resolution of disputes.

Approvals and AuthorizationsIt is essential for the non-Tribal parties to understand that, before starting a project, Tribes must comply with both external regulations, including those of the Secre-tary of DOI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Federal NEPA environmental review, and internal Tribal legal procedures. For-

mal legal opinions from counsel to the Tribes are an advisable solution to this issue.

ConclusionAlthough there are certain tax benefi ts that are otherwise not available when un-dertaking renewable energy projects on Tribal lands, the numerous governmental programs available specifi cally for Tribal development of renewable energy should encourage non-Tribal parties to investi-

gate such projects. To ensure a successful venture, however, non-Tribal developers should fi rst consult an experienced attor-ney or advisor.

Authoring attorney Jason Lavender is a member of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Commercial Transactions & Business Counseling practice and is well versed in the development of renewable energy projects.

Foley & Lardner LLP | www.foley.com



WieSolPowerad81808OL.indd 1 8/18/08 11:00:23 AMNACE Jul Aug 2009 ADD.indd 69NACE Jul Aug 2009 ADD.indd 69 7/8/09 10:29 AM7/8/09 10:29 AM


eventscalendarJULY 20098-9 BioPower Generation Chicago, IL– Hyatt Regency McCormick Place; www2.greenpowerconferences.co.uk

8-10 Clean Energy Expo China Beijing, China – China International Exhibition Center www.cleanenergyexpochina.com

9-10 4th Annual Investing in Solar San Diego, California – The Hilton Del Mar; www.frallc.com/conference.aspx?ccode=B726

10-12 Art of Being Green Lanark, Ontario – Middleville Fairgrounds, Lanark Highlands; http://artofbeinggreen.ca

13-14 3rd Annual Western Transmission Conference San Francisco, CA – Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel

www.euci.com/conferences/0709-western-trans

14-16 InterSolar North America 2009 San Francisco, CA – Moscone Center; www.intersolar.us

AUGUST 200910-12 3rd Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India; www.renewableenergyindiaexpo.com

SEPTEMBER 200914-16 PV Design for Engineers & Designers (3-day course) San Francisco, CA – Fort Mason Center; http://sunengineer.com/workshops.htm

20-23 CanWEA 2009: Infi nite Possibilities Toronto, Ontario— Metro Toronto Convention Centre

www.canwea.ca

21-25 24th European PV Solar Energy Conference Hamburg, Germany – CCH: Congress Center and International Fair

www.photovoltaic-conference.com

24-27 RENEXPO Augsburg, Germany—Trade Fair Center Augsburg; www.renexpo.de

29-30 Renewable Energy Finance Forum – West (REFF-West) San Francisco, CA—Palace Hotel; www.reffwest.com

OCTOBER 20091-2 Biogas USA

San Francisco, CA—Venue TBA; www.greenpowerconferences.com

4-7 Geothermal Energy Expo 2009 Reno, NV—Peppermill Resort and Casino; www.geothermalenergy2009.com

7-9 POWER-GEN Asia Bangkok, Thailand— IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Centre; www.powergenasia.com

14-15 8th International Workshop on Large-scale Integration of Wind Power into Power Systems

(as well as on Transmission Networks for Offshore Wind Farms) Bremen, Germany— Maritim Congress Centrum Bremen www.windintegrationworkshop.org

15-16 US-Mexico Border Energy Forum XVI Houston, Texas—Venue TBA; www.borderenergyforum.org

27-29 Solar Power International Anaheim, CA— Anaheim Convention Center; www.solarpowerinternational.com

28-29 Biomass & WtE (Waste to Energy) Shanghai, China—Sofi tel Shanghai Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong - Golden Ballroom II & III, Lv 2 www.cmtevents.com

NOVEMBER 20093-4 Forum on Hydropower 2009 Ottawa, Canada—Fairmont Chateau Laurier; www.canhydropower.org

17-18 APPrO 2009: 21st Annual Canadian Power Conferenceand Networking Centre

Toronto, Ontario—Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building http://conference.appro.org

18-20 Clean Energy Expo Asia (CEEA) Singapore— Shangri-La Hotel; www.cleanenergyexpoasia.com

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

[email protected]

advertisers’websitedirectory Page Company Website

50 101 Pipe & Casing www.101pipe.com

20 AL-PRO www.al-pro.de

IFC Applied Materials www.appliedmaterials.com/solar

28 ASYS www.asys-group.com

23 Atlas Material Testing Solutions www.solar.atlas-mts.com

18 AWEA www.awea.org

4 Baja Construction Co. Inc. www.bajacarports.com

61 Bandit Industries Inc. www.banditchippers.com

22 Campbell Scientifi c www.campbellsci.com/renewables

16 CanWEA www.canwea.ca

19 Carstensen Contracting Inc. www.carstensencontracting.com

20 CD-adapco www.cd-adapco.com

37 CENTROSOLAR America Inc. www.centrosolaramerica.com

44 Citel Inc. www.citelprotection.com

65 Clean Energy Expo Asia www.cleanenergyexpoasia.com

47 CRYOSTAR www.cryostar.com

68 Day 4 Energy www.day4energy.com

33 DC POWER www.dcpower-systems.com

IBC DEGERenergie Tracking Systems www.degerenergie.com

11 Dickstein Shapiro LLP www.dicksteinshapiro.com

32 Dr Valentin Energy Software www.valentin.de

21 FAGEN INC www.fageninc.com

59 Granutech-Saturn www.granutech.com

35 Heliodyne www.heliodyne.com

36 Hisco www.hiscoinc.com

OBC HPM America www.hpmamerica.com

29 Hydro Solar Solutions www.hydro.com/northamerica/solar

45 K-Flex USA www.kfl exusa.com

42 Kioto Clear Energy www.kioto.com

34 LEONI www.leoni-wind-solar-power.com

13 Mattracks www.mattracks.com

57 Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP www.milbank.com

53 New Jersey Economic Development Authority www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov

46 Next Generation Energy www.ngeus.com

17 NRG Systems www.nrgsystems.com

31 Patriot Solar Group www.patriotsolargroup.com

44 Premium Solar www.presolarnet.com

32 Quick Mount PV www.quickmountpv.com

40 Refl ecTech www.Refl ecTechSolar.com

25 RESOL www.resol.com

64 RETECH 2010 www.retech2010.com

38 Roll Forming Corporation www.voestalpine.com/rfc

7 Satcon www.satcon.com

27 Schletter Inc. www.schletter-inc.us

3 Schüco www.schuco-usa.com

15 Siemens AG www.seimens.com/energy

17 Solar Destination www.solardestination.com

30 Solar Power International 2009 www.solarpowerinternational.com

39 Solectria Renewables www.solren.com

24 Sopogy www.sopogy.com

63 Space Potential www.spacepotential.com

26 Stiebel Eltron www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com

51 Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce www.sweetwatertexas.net

49 Thermasource www.thermasource.com

32 Think Solar www.thinksolar-us.com

12 TRICO TCWIND, Inc www.tricotcwind.com

43 Trina Solar www.trinasolar.com

28 Troutman Sanders www.troutmansanders.com

41 Unirac Inc. www.unirac.com

40 Unistrut Energy Solutions www.unistrutenergy.com

13 VBINE Energy www.vbine.com

9 White Construction www.whiteconstruction.com

69 Wieland Electric, Inc. www.wielandinc.com

67 Your Solar Home www.yoursolarhome.com


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Documents

North American Clean Energy July August 2009