Southern California Edison solar capacity expanding
The facilities are anticipated to be finished by the year 2016. It would supplement a sum of 831 megawatts capacity, sufficient to provide energy to 540,000 houses. This signifies a considerable rise in Edison’s ability to generate power from the sun as well as other renewable sources.
In accordance to the vice president of Southern California Edison, for alternative and renewable power, Marc Ulrich, this is an unparalleled period for solar photovoltaic. He adds that they have been witnessing a growth in technological progress and manufacturing efficiencies whose consequence is competitive prices for emission-free and green energy for their clients.
Edison provided its clients with 13.6 kilowatt hours of energy generated from renewable sources in the year 2009. This represents 17 percent of its general power generation. Consistent with the utility’s website, this electricity was produced from 3,296 megawatts of geothermal, wind, biomass, solar and small hydropower facilities; the solar standing for merely 382 megawatts of capacity. While the spokeswoman of Edison, Vanessa McGrady, declared that the sum for solar and other renewable energy had risen since that time, she was not more precise.
The more significant of the two contracts deals with San Jose-based SunPower Corp.; it will construct and operate 3 installations that will adding up to 711 megawatts, comprising of a 325 megawatt facility found in Rosamond, California, north of Lancaster. This installation will be done in the year 2016. It will be among the nation’s largest one.
A photovoltaic operation of 276 megawatt will also be built in Rosamond by SunPower. It plans to open its doors in the year 2016. Another facility of 110 megawatt will be operational in 2014 in Los Banos.
In accordance to the president of SunPower’s utility and power plants business group, Howard Wenger, the agreement reflects the increasing value of solar photovoltaic technology like a cost-effective and reliable source of energy generated either across the rooftops or like a central-station power plant.
The other Edison deal implicates Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Inc.. Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Inc. headquarters are found in Madrid. It has an office in San Francisco as well.
The company will need to construct four smaller installations in Arvin, Lamont, Lancaster and Mojave. The capacity of the latter will range between 20 to 60 megawatts. They are thought to be functional by the end of the year 2013.
Power-One Opens Solar Inverter Plant In Arizona
Earlier today, wind and solar inverter manufacturer Power-One, makers of Aurora inverters, officially opened its first manufacturing facility in the USA.
The Phoenix, Arizona plant will achieve an output capacity of 1 gigawatt by the end of 2011 and can be expanded to reach 4 gigawatt wind and solar inverter production - enough to service up to two million homes.
A pv inverter is a device that sits between solar panels and a building's mains electrical supply. It converts the DC voltage generated by the solar modules into AC, suitable for use by appliances.
Power-One is the inverter industry's quiet achiever, having grown significantly in the last year to become the second largest manufacturer of solar inverters in the world, behind SMA. The brand has been gaining traction in Australia's solar power market through its range of Aurora inverters.
Governor Jan Brewer, who presided over the opening ceremony, stated that Arizona now ranks number one in the USA for solar industry and manufacturing . Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Barry Broome said Phoenix's renewable energy industry is in a very strong position and he expects to see continued growth of the supply chain during 2011.
The 11,334 square metre facility is expected to employ around 350 people once operating at it full capacity.
Power-One also makes power management products for routers, data storage and servers, wireless communications, optical networking and semiconductor test equipment.
The global solar inverter market is predicted to reach $8.5 billion by 2014. 7 million inverters are expected to be solar that year; up from less than 1 million units in 2009.
solar pv system-Cupertino Electric Completes Port of Los Angeles 1MW Solar PV System
North America’s leading seaport to reduce annual electricity costs by more than $200,000
The Energy Alternatives Division of San Jose, Calif.-based Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI) recently announced the completion of a 1MW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Berths 93A and B of the Port of Los Angeles’ World Cruise Ship Terminal in Southern California. The project was engineered and constructed by CEI while the World Cruise Center remained fully operational. Construction was complete on the project in June 2010.
“We are excited to unveil the live solar system at the Port of Los Angeles designed and built by CEI, which harnesses the power of the plentiful Southern California sun to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and increase economic opportunities for Los Angeles businesses and residents,” says Geraldine Katz, Ph.D., Port of Los Angeles executive director “The new PV system at the port underscores our commitment to using the latest technologies to establish one of the greenest seaports in North America.”
The 71,500 sq.-ft. roof-mounted solar PV system designed and installed by CEI contains high-efficiency crystalline modules and uses a self-ballasted racking system that does not penetrate the terminal’s roof. The solar project is part of the City of Los Angeles’ Solar LA Program, one of the world’s largest solar power projects undertaken by a single city. Over its lifetime, the solar system will reduce the port’s carbon footprint by nearly 22,838 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of cutting the annual greenhouse gases of 4,367 cars, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Working with one of the world’s largest ports to safely meet its carbon footprint reduction goals and help demonstrate its renewable energy leadership was an honor,” says John Curcio, VP for CEI. “This project’s success is due in large part to the close communication we had between the knowledgeable Port of Los Angeles staff, our in-house engineering department and our safety-focused project management team jointly dedicated to efficiently delivering a turn-key, 1MW solar PV system.” .