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Table
of Contents
Current New England
Project Funding Opportunities
Connecticut
· The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund’s (CT
CEF’s) On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program
has been finalized. SEBANE had commented on the draft program design on
behalf of members at a November public hearing. The finalized solicitation
for proposals was released in December 2005.
The On-site Renewable DG Program is a $21
million flexible, integrated-technology financial support program designed
to stimulate demand for behind-the-meter installations of renewable energy
at Connecticut
commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. Through the On-site
Renewable DG Program, CT CEF will buy down the cost of renewable energy
generating equipment. The level of support for individual awards will vary
based on the specific economics of the installation.
Funding is available under this program
for installations of renewable energy generation resources including wind,
solar, fuel cells, biomass, landfill gas, and certain types of hydropower.
The program includes a commitment of $9 million to PV projects. Eligible
projects must be 10 kW or larger.
· CT CEF continues to offer rebates of up to $25,000
per household through the Residential Solar Photovoltaic
Rebate Program.
· Connecticut Innovations (CI) issued a solicitation
in late December 2005 for Proposals for Applied Research Projects for its 2006 Yankee Ingenuity Technology Competition.
Selected projects are eligible for up to $300,000 in funding. This year,
the competition is exclusively seeking proposals for projects involving
clean energy tehnologies such as solar energy, wind energy, and fuel cells.
Proposals must be submitted by teams of business and academic scientists in
Connecticut.
Maine
Maine’s Solar
Rebate Program continues to accept applications. The
program, which provides incentives capped at $7,000 per PV system, is open
to residential and commercial installations.
Massachusetts
· Applications under the first round of funding for
the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Large On-Site Renewables
Initiative is closed. A bidders meeting in November
attracted 65 parties. The program, which targets distributed generation
projects greater than 10 kW on commercial, industrial, and institutional
buildings, offers feasibility, design, and construction funding.
There will be a second round of funding
announced in the spring, with applications due in Summer 2006.
· MTC continues to accept applications for funding
under its Small Renewables Initiative
(SRI) for projects under 10 kW. There are applications deadlines every
month for SRI.
· PV
and Solar DHW Loans: Massachusetts’
legislature, responding to run ups in energy costs and concerns about
future supply, has passed new energy legislation to support investments in
energy efficiency and renewables. Among other provisions, the HEAT Bill, as
it is called, requires the state’s Division of Energy Resources
(DOER) to develop a low interest loan program for solar domestic hot water
systems. Likewise, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative is tasked
with implementing a low interest loan program for solar PV for lower and
middle income residents. Both loan programs are currently in design with
availability anticipated by late spring.
Rhode Island
Solar
and Wind Incentive Program
is fully subscribed. Applications may still be submitted and will be placed
onto a waiting list.
Vermont
Solar
and Wind Incentive Program
is presently over-subscribed and not taking additional applications.
New England PV Market Activity
Over
200 Attend November PV Trainings Sponsored by SEBANE
SEBANE held three, day-long trainings in
November 2005, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, on
the topic of PV and the National Electrical Code. Over 200 PV installers,
electrical contractors, and wiring inspectors attended the trainings, which
featured national code expert John Wiles from the Southwest Technology
Development Institute at New
Mexico State University. The trainings were held
in Martha’s Vineyard, Marlborough, MA, and Waterbury, CT.
Connecticut’s training was presented in cooperation with the
Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
Rhode Island IBEW Local HQ Hosts
RI's Largest PV System
In November, construction began on what
will be the largest solar energy system in the state, when the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 99 started installing
240 solar panels at its headquarters in Cranston. The work was in part sponsored
by the Rhode
Island Renewable Energy Fund.
Massachusetts Small Renewables
Initiative Exceeds Expectations
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
(MTC) reported in December that the level of activity and interest in its
Small Renewables Initiative (SRI) has far exceeded expectations.
In late 2004, MTC committed $5 million to
SRI to provide subsidies and incentives for installation of PV systems
smaller than 10 kW. MTC had expected that demand for project support would
allow these funds to last for up to four years. Releasing the funds in $1
million blocks, MTC is finding that demand has grown beyond those expectations,
with applications for funds exceeding $250,000 per month during the fall.
There also has been an increase in applications for systems on commercial
buildings.
The second block has been nearly exhausted
and release of the third block is likely in February or March. MTC now
projects that the entire $5 million pool may be committed by early 2007.
For more information, link to the
MTC’s analysis of the Small Renewables Initiative.
Evergreen Solar Introduces Higher-Power Solar Panel
 Evergreen Solar has introduced a 120-watt solar panel.
The new EC-120 is the latest in Evergreen Solar's Cedar Line of
photovoltaic panels. With the same physical dimensions as the Company's
current 110-watt and 115-watt panels, the new product delivers increased
power from the same area. Through its patented String Ribbon technology,
Evergreen Solar produces its panels using significantly less silicon than
conventional production methods.
GFI Energy Ventures Acquires Majority Stake in GT
Equipment
GT Equipment
Technologies announced January 9 that an investor group, GFI Energy
Ventures, LLC, has acquired a majority interest in the company. Terms of
the acquisition were not disclosed. GT’s management team will
continue to be led by CEO Dr. Kedar Gupta and President & COO Tom
Zarrella and the company will remain based in Merrimack, NH.
Spire Solar to Provide EverQ with Test Equipment
 Spire Corporation has executed a contract to provide EverQ of
Thalheim, Germany
with Spire's SPI-MODULE QATM 460 automated photovoltaic module testing
system. Advanced PV module manufacturing equipment and process technology
provided by Spire Solar will enable EverQ to complement its production line
with Spire's automated equipment.
The SPI-MODULE QA system checks for proper
grounding and insulation of the module, prints and applies the
corresponding label, and then moves it to its next station. The SPI-MODULE
QA 460 was originally developed under the U.S. Department of Energy
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology
(PVMaT) program. Spire commercialized the equipment and now offers it as a
standard product for the PV module manufacturing market. It was further
customized by Spire and Evergreen Solar in order to match specific needs
and requirements of EverQ
SatCon Launches Largest Photovoltaic Inverter in the
Industry
New Product Receives UL listing and CEC Approval
SatCon Technology
Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of power electronics and motors
for the alternative energy markets, has successfully launched its 500kW
PowerGate inverter. The release of the PowerGate 500kW inverter was one of
SatCon’s major R&D milestones for 2006.
Solectria Renewables' Facility Now Solar Powered
 Solectria Renewables has completed the installation of a 12 kW
grid-tied PV system at its manufacturing facilities, becoming the first
inverter manufacturer to be a net exporter of electricity into the grid.
The system includes 108 Evergreen Solar 110W PV modules in a 234-foot long
array, a Solectria Renewables PVI13KW 3-phase inverter and a Solectria
Renewables PVI1800 single-phase inverter.
The system gives an opportunity for
customers, vendors and other visitors to see both residential and
commercial 3-phase inverters in operation in a real-world setting. It also
serves as an orientation and training site for installers, where they can
review a system in a comfortable setting. The PV system was installed with
the help of a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
SolarOne Pathway
Lighting Keeps
Babson College Bright and Safe
 Babson College has
installed the SolarOne SOLED brand Pathway lighting product recently on its
Wellesley, MA campus. Installations incorporate the
MC2 System Manager technology to ensure that adequate lighting is available
during the short winter days when solar charging is more challenging. Data
gathered by the Harvest-Store data logging system indicates that the system
effectively adjusts lighting levels during periods of diminishing battery
capacity and maintains battery voltage above a 40% state-of- charge.
Conservation Services Group Installs 100 kW System Using
Evergreen Solar Panels
A 100 kW PV system
at BJ's Wholesale Club in Saratoga,
New York, installed by
Conservation Services Group using modules manufactured by Evergreen Solar,
was unveiled to the public at a store event in December 2005. The 80,000
square-foot system, consisting of 912 photovoltaic panels covering nearly
the entire roof of the building, has been running smoothly since starting
operations last spring. Operating year-round, it should produce over
100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
GT Solar Signs Second Agreement with China's LDK
Solar
2005 Chinese Contracts Exceed $80 Million
 GT Equipment Technologies has received a record 100-unit order
for 100 DSS multi-crystal silicon ingot growth furnaces. This equipment
will enable LDK Solar Hi-Tech Co., Ltd. of Jiangxi,
China
to expand its annual wafer fabrication capacity from 75 megawatts to more
than 200 megawatts. This order follows on an initial GT Equipment
Technologies’ sale to LDK Solar in June of 2005, and together with
other recent orders from China,
cements GT’s leadership position in the Chinese photovoltaic
equipment market.
Evergreen Solar Announces $70 Million Agreement with
Powerlight
Evergreen Solar
won its largest sales agreement to date in November when PowerLight
Corporation selected it as a supplier. Evergreen Solar and PowerLight have
entered into a definitive agreement for a guaranteed contract which calls
for Evergreen Solar to ship a minimum of $70 million of photovoltaic
modules to PowerLight over the next four years. There are defined options which
could increase the value of the shipments in the contract to approximately
$170 million. Shipments to PowerLight are scheduled to commence during the
first half of 2006.
SatCon's Inverters Selected for NJ Water Plant
Schott Panels Power the 502 kw System
SatCon Technology
Corporation has two of its utility grade Powergate® solar inverters being
utilized as the power conditioning units for the new 502-kilowatt solar
electric system installed at New Jersey American Water’s Canal Road
Water Treatment Plant located in Somerset,
NJ.
The PowerGate® Series AE-PV inverters
convert DC power from the solar array into AC power and connect to the grid
at 4160 volts, greatly enhancing the efficiency of the overall system. The
PowerGate’s high efficiencies enable the site to generate more power,
reducing the payback period for the customer. With the rebate from the New
Jersey Clean Energy Program, the solar system alone will pay for itself in
about 7 years and save New Jersey American Water approximately $115,000 a
year in energy costs.
The system also includes more than 2800
solar panels manufactured by Schott Solar. New Jersey American Water
expects it will be able to supplement 15% of the peak usage power needed to
run the plant with solar energy. During peak production periods, the
electricity produced by the solar system would be enough to meet the
average electricity demand of more than 500 New Jersey homes.
SEBANE Welcomes New Members
The Central
New England (CNE) Solar Store is an off-shoot of the CET Solar Store of
Vermont. The CNE shop is managed by Peter and Jason Slota and is located in
Auburn, MA. CNE Solar Store will provide
equipment and materials, guidance and expertise to homeowners,
homebuilders, and businesses.
Schüco
USA is the North American operation of the German company, Schüco
Internation KG. Schüco is a manufacturer and supplier of windows, doors,
glass construction and solar energy systems. The US
office is located in Newington,
CT.
Stiebel
Eltron is a German manufacturer of a variety of heating and cooling
systems and equipment including solar collectors and tanks, heat pumps,
radiant heating systems, and on-demand electric hot water heaters. Stiebel
has built hot water tanks since 1924 and solar collectors for thirty years.
Stiebel Eltron's office is located in Hatsfield,
MA.
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