Canadian Solar Supplies More Than 8 MW to groSolar for Utility-Scale Projects

SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Canadian Solar, Inc., (the "Company," "we" or "Canadian Solar") (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar companies, announced that it has supplied more than 8 MW of solar modules to groSolar for three utility and commercial photovoltaic (PV) projects in the United States.

The largest installation is a 6 MW plant currently under construction in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Canadian Solar was the exclusive provider of high-performance solar modules for the plant, which will supply around 7.5 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar energy per year under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The installation was designed to support both farmland preservation and agricultural soil restoration in Lancaster. When completed, it will be the largest solar installation in the state of Pennsylvania.

Two of the PV projects have recently been completed. groSolar selected Canadian Solar's monocrystalline PV modules for the 1.8 MW solar project, located at the Camden County Municipal Utility Authority's (CCMUA) wastewater treatment plant in Camden, N.J. The system was designed and built to span open wastewater treatment tanks, with the solar generated electricity sold by the third party owner to CCMUA, the project host, in the form of a PPA. Lastly, Canadian Solar supplied modules for the construction of the 1.5 MW PV system at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. The combined production of both plants is expected to produce approximately 4.95 million kWh of clean solar energy and offset approximately 3,712 tons of carbon emissions per year, the equivalent of planting 18,562 trees.

"Canadian Solar is committed to supporting its valued partners and customers," said Shawn Qu, CEO of Canadian Solar.  "We are pleased to be selected as module provider of choice by groSolar's experienced team as we continue to expand in the U.S. market."

"When working on challenging projects, we know we can depend on Canadian Solar as a partner.  They are a trusted supplier that we have successfully worked with on many projects and look forward to collaborating with them on many more in the future," said Jamie Resor, CEO of groSolar.

All three groSolar projects were built using Canadian Solar's workhorse module, the CS6P. Canadian Solar's meticulous design and production techniques ensure high-yield, long-term performance for every module produced, giving  the  CS6P one of the top ranked PVUSA (PTC) ratings in California for higher energy production. In addition, Canadian Solar's high-performance modules are covered by an industry-leading 25-year warranty as well as matching warranty insurance underwritten by A.M. Best-rated insurance carriers.                                                  

About Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)

Canadian Solar, Inc. is one of the world's largest solar companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar modules and other solar applications, Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar system solutions for on-grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide. With operations in North America, Europe and Asia, Canadian Solar provides premium quality, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solar solutions to support global, sustainable development. For more information, visit www.canadiansolar.com.

Semprius to Exhibit New Solar Technology at 2012 Democratic National Convention

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Semprius, Inc., an innovator in high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules, will display a new branding application for its world record technology at Duke Energy’s exhibit in the Legacy Village at CarolinaFest, which runs in conjunction with the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Semprius, the world record holder for photovoltaic module conversion efficiency and the first company to covert over one-third of the sun’s energy into electricity, has developed a new solar module with unique branding potential. Semprius’ technology begins with its proprietary micro-transfer printing process, enabling the company to use the world’s smallest solar cell – approximately the size of a pencil point – to manufacture modules with unmatched performance and cost advantages. In addition to supporting large-scale power generation projects, Semprius also possesses the exclusive ability to incorporate graphics into its modules. Semprius’ new “Marquee” design will be demonstrated at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, installed by Charlotte-based Argand Energy Solutions, highlighting the ability to incorporate corporate logos into Semprius solar arrays of any size.

“We are excited about the prospect of infusing the world’s highest efficiency solar module with graphical design elements,” said Russ Kanjorski, Vice President of Business Development. “Incorporating virtually any image into our solar modules without impacting performance offers tremendous potential for a variety of branding and promotional activities.” Semprius has filed patents around this concept and intends to offer it commercially beginning in 2013.

CarolinaFest is the kick-off to the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The Legacy Village, located adjacent to the Harvey B. Gantt Center, will highlight Mayor Foxx’s Legacy Projects, which include efforts to support energy, technology, and sustainability.

Semprius is ramping up its North Carolina manufacturing facilities to support large-scale, cost-competitive solar electricity projects around the world.

About Semprius

Semprius, Inc. holds the world record for solar module efficiency, reaching 33.9 percent. Using the world’s smallest solar cells and applying state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, Semprius is leading the way to cost-competitive, sustainable solar electricity. Semprius was named to MIT Technology Review’s 2012 TR10, an annual list of the world’s 10 most important emerging technologies. Semprius’ headquarters and production facilities are located in North Carolina, USA. For more information, please visit www.semprius.com.

Westinghouse Solar Enters Italian Commercial Solar Market Through a Joint Venture With CBD Energy

 CAMPBELL, Calif., Aug. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westinghouse Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:WEST), a designer and manufacturer of integrated rooftop solar power systems, and CBD Energy Ltd. (AUST:CBD), a diversified renewable energy company, today announced a joint venture to design, engineer, procure and construct (EPC) commercial projects in Italy.

Westinghouse Solar CEO Margaret Randazzo commented, "This agreement is a continuation of our companies' collaborative efforts as we move towards our merger. As with our previously announced Harvey Norman agreement and the 1.4 MW EPC project in New Jersey, we continue to look for collaboration opportunities that benefit both entities. We believe our investment in this venture further diversifies our business, and will provide incremental earnings."

CBD Managing Director, Gerry McGowan, stated, "As we work toward completion of our merger, we are committed to help improve the financial performance of Westinghouse Solar. In doing so, our teams continue to look for opportunities where both parties can bring something to the table. By partnering with Westinghouse Solar, we are able to diversify their business and provide them an attractive earnings source through their investment and participation in our Italy project pipeline. Following merger closing, we intend to pursue additional EPC opportunities in Europe and the U.S." Mr. McGowan said.

Westinghouse Solar will obtain a 25% stake (with the option to take up to a 50% stake) in the profits from CBD's commercial project pipeline in Italy, in exchange for an investment of $1.5 million (with option to invest up to a further $1.5 million). In May 2012, CBD announced it had obtained a $25 million credit facility to support development and sale of the Italy projects, which covers up to 75% of the development and construction cost of each project. In June 2012, CBD completed the first of several planned 5MW projects in Italy, and has negotiated the sale of that first project to a third party off-taker (closing is subject to verification due diligence by the off-taker) for €12.5 million. CBD expects to deliver five additional 5MW projects (another 25MW total) starting in October of this year, to be sold under a framework agreement being negotiated with the same project off-taker. Westinghouse Solar would receive its share of earnings from the joint venture, which is estimated at $5 million (based on a 50% participation stake in the joint venture) for the total 30MW. Earnings from project sales are projected to begin in the third quarter of 2012. Westinghouse Solar is pursuing an at-market equity capital financing to raise the funds for its investment in the joint venture.

About Westinghouse Solar: (Nasdaq:WEST) Founded in 2001, Westinghouse Solar is a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems. In 2007, Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into the solar panel. This revolutionary solar panel, originally branded "Andalay", quickly won industry acclaim. In 2009, the company again broke new ground with the first integrated AC solar panel, reducing the number of components for a rooftop solar installation by approximately 80 percent and lowering labor costs by approximately 50 percent. This AC panel, which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, has become the industry's most widely installed AC solar panel. A new generation of products named "Instant Connect" has just been introduced and is expected to achieve even greater market acceptance. Award-winning Westinghouse Solar Power Systems provide the best combination of safety, performance and reliability, while backed by the proven quality of the Westinghouse name. For more information on Westinghouse Solar, visit www.westinghousesolar.com.

The Westinghouse Solar logo is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7708

About CBD Energy: (AUST:CBD)

CBD is Australia's emerging leader in renewable energy, enabling the efficient use of renewable energy for utilities, businesses and households through operations in wind, solar, energy storage and engineering. It has become one of the largest non-utility suppliers and installers of solar energy generation equipment for both large- and domestic-scale operation in Australia. Utilizing its globally-competitive supply chain, CBD is also currently developing and profitably installing solar projects in Europe and Southeast Asia, both directly and through joint ventures. For more information on CBD, visit http://www.cbdenergy.com.au/.

Enphase Energy Named World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer

PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--World Economic Forum today announced that Enphase Energy, Inc. ( Enphase Energy, Inc. ) has been recognized as a 2013 Technology Pioneer. Enphase is one of 23 pioneering technology companies recognized this year by the Forum for innovation and leadership in the areas of information technology, telecommunications and new media, life sciences and health, and energy and environment. A full list of the 2013 Technology Pioneers and the annual report can be found at: http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers.

“We’ve seen the rapid adoption of our microinverter technology since we began shipments over four years ago, and it is used today in over 44,000 solar energy systems across the globe. Every system using Enphase generates more clean energy, and therefore greater environmental benefits, for anyone looking to take control of their energy costs and footprint,” said Paul Nahi, CEO of Enphase Energy. “We are truly honored to be recognized for our accomplishments by the World Economic Forum and to join the prestigious ranks of the Technology Pioneers.”

Each year, the World Economic Forum chooses 23-35 new Technology Pioneers from hundreds of applicants. A selection committee, comprised of top technology and innovation experts, academics and venture capitalists, reviews all applications before making its recommendation to the World Economic Forum. Technology Pioneers are chosen based on their innovation, potential impact, growth and sustainability, proof of concept and leadership.

Silvia von Gunten, head of Technology Pioneers at World Economic Forum, commented about this year’s winners, “These companies are more than pioneering the way we use technology; they are transforming how we as a society are growing and interacting with each other. They are also providing new opportunities for people to harness the potential of technology.”

The Enphase® Microinverter System brings a new approach to managing solar power that makes solar systems smarter and more efficient. Each microinverter integrates with advanced networking technology and Enlighten, Enphase’s web-based monitoring software, to allow system owners to visualize their solar array’s clean energy production via the Internet. To date, the Enlighten community has generated over 440 GW hours of solar energy, offsetting over 300,000 tons of CO2. This is equivalent to powering over 41,775 U.S. households and saving 26,354 acres of forest.

Enphase will be honored for its achievements at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2012 in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China from September 11-12.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy delivers microinverter technology for the solar industry that increases energy production, simplifies design and installation, improves system uptime and reliability, reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management. Our semiconductor-based microinverter system converts energy at the individual solar module level and brings a systems-based, high technology approach to solar energy generation. Connect with Enphase on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. www.enphase.com

Draker and Solar Power Technologies Merge; Raise $8 Million Led by Austin Ventures

AUSTIN, TX and BURLINGTON, VT--(Marketwire - Aug 22, 2012) - Draker and Solar Power Technologies, Inc. (SPTI) jointly announce that they have successfully merged, effective August 21, 2012. The combination creates a global leader with the most innovative offering of performance management solutions for commercial and utility-scale solar markets. The combined company will operate under the "Draker" name.

The combined company also announces that it has closed an $8 million equity raise led by Austin Ventures, with participation from Harbor Light Capital Partners and other existing investors from both companies. The funding will be used to accelerate the development of the company's integrated suite of monitoring, optimization, control and asset management products. It will also enable the company to increase its sales and marketing efforts and expand its operations globally.

"The newly combined company brings a unique range of leadership solutions to a solar industry that is increasingly focused on capital efficiency, asset performance and reducing operating costs," said Clark Jernigan, of Austin Ventures. "Building on complementary product and service offerings, a reputation for excellent customer service, and the experience from over a decade in solar monitoring, I believe the new Draker is well positioned to lead the solar performance management marketplace."

Merging SPTI's cost-effective and insightful DC monitoring and optimization technology with Draker's established asset management platform creates a company poised to lead the industry's transition from basic monitoring to performance management. The merged company will be the only provider in the market today that can deliver insight, intelligence and control from the panel to the grid, giving array owners the ability to manage their site down to a single panel or across an entire portfolio of solar assets. This unique platform gives solar asset owners and operators unprecedented capabilities to predict, measure, monitor, manage, optimize and control the performance and health of their large-scale PV assets.

"Solar owners and operators want more granular and actionable data on both the DC and AC sides of their plants in order to more actively manage performance and improve ROI. Until now, existing providers have not adequately addressed these needs with an integrated solution. With this merger, the new Draker becomes the first solution provider to combine selective DC monitoring and optimization, AC monitoring, intelligent diagnostics and control in a single, cost-effective platform," commented Ray Burgess, President and CEO of Solar Power Technologies.

"This merger and financing solidifies Draker's position as an industry leader and gives us the ability to aggressively compete not only in the United States, but globally," said Charles Curtis, CEO of Draker. "Solar Power Technologies and Draker are a great fit geographically, operationally and culturally, with very complementary technologies. We look forward to leveraging the strengths of the combined management, development, execution and support teams to deliver our customers even greater innovation and value."

Executive Management and Locations
Charles Curtis, CEO of Draker, will be the CEO of the combined company. Ray Burgess, CEO of Solar Power Technologies, will take on the role of President for the combined company. Mr. Burgess has over 30 years of leadership experience in the technology industry, spanning semiconductors, software and micro-mechanical systems. Mr. Curtis brings over 20 years of leadership experience in corporate finance and venture-backed growth companies, and over 10 years in renewable energy.

The combined company will maintain its existing operations in Texas, Vermont, California and New Jersey, with plans for future geographic expansion.

About Solar Power Technologies
Based in Austin, Texas, Solar Power Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is focused on helping owners and developers maximize the financial performance of large-scale solar assets. The company provides a range of compatible monitoring and optimization hardware products, supported by a suite of web-based data management and analysis tools. The unprecedented level of insight provided by the Clarity™ hardware technology, coupled with the sophisticated data analysis and diagnostics of the Intelligent Array™ software system, enables next generation solutions for the operations and maintenance of large-scale solar arrays. For more information, visit http://www.spowertech.com.

About Draker
Draker provides accurate and highly reliable solar monitoring and asset management solutions that help owners and operators of commercial and utility-scale PV systems maximize the efficiency and profitability of their solar assets. As a supplier of integrated end-to-end monitoring solutions, Draker's turnkey systems combine proven field instrumentation with an intuitive web-based information management application and unmatched customer support. Draker is a fully integrated company that designs, manufactures and sells PV monitoring, management and controls systems into the global marketplace from its headquarters in Vermont, USA, with additional offices in California and New Jersey. For more information, visit: http://www.drakerenergy.com.

About Austin Ventures
Austin Ventures ("AV") has worked with talented entrepreneurs to build valuable companies for over 25 years. With $3.9 billion under management, AV is the most active venture capital and growth equity firm in Texas and one of the most established in the nation. With an investment focus on business services and supply chain, financial services, new media, Internet, and information services, AV invests at all stages of company development, from $100,000 in "planned experiments" in early-stage ideas to $100+ million investments in expansion rounds and recapitalizations. AV's strategy is to partner with talented executives and entrepreneurs through its CEO-in-Residence and Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs. Visit http://www.austinventures.com for more information.

KYOCERA Brings the Power of the Sun to SDG&E’s Energy Innovation Center by Supplying Locally Produced Solar Modules

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(Solar Energy News)--Kyocera Solar, Inc. announced today that it has joined local energy leaders as a Technology Sponsor of the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E®) Energy Innovation Center, which was recently dedicated in a ceremony with San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. The Center is designed to be a LEED Platinum building that will be open to the public and is the embodiment of SDG&E’s commitment to sustainability and renewable energy design for homes and businesses.

Drawing inspiration from nature, the parking lot at the Center is planted with six Solar Tree® arrays — unique structures that model the life processes of real trees by converting sunlight into clean electricity, helping to offset carbon emissions, providing shade to 48 parking spaces, and providing locally generated renewable energy to the electric grid. Designed by Envision Solar International (OTCBB: EVSI), the Solar Tree® arrays are comprised of 312 Kyocera KD240 solar panels for a total of 75kW and employ Envision Solar’s proprietary EnvisionTrak™ technology, a hybrid multi-axis tracking system that enables the panels to track the movement of the sun and monitors system performance for optimal efficiency — generating up to 20% greater output than a stationary array. Further enhancing the output of the system is the “zero negative tolerance” of Kyocera’s KD240 modules, which are guaranteed to produce a minimum of 240 watts upon delivery. With the adaptability to be outfitted with integrated electric vehicle charging stations, the Solar Tree® arrays exemplify how businesses can improve the real estate value of their properties.

Architect Robert Noble designed the world’s first Solar Grove® for Kyocera’s North American headquarters in San Diego in 2005. “Designing the Solar Grove® for Kyocera was a life-changing experience and proved to be the genesis of Envision Solar, a company I founded shortly after the success of the project,” stated Noble, chairman of Envision Solar. “Continued innovations of this nature will benefit society by bringing sustainable solar energy solutions to the world.”

Recognizing the need and to meet the increasing demand for U.S.-made products, Kyocera began manufacturing solar panels in June 2010 at its San Diego facility, located just a few miles from the Energy Innovation Center. With 37 years of experience in the solar industry, Kyocera continues to set standards for quality and longevity as demonstrated by repeatedly breaking records for cell efficiencies and its distinction of producing the world’s first modules to have passed the Long-Term Sequential Test performed by TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd.

“Kyocera strives to remain at the forefront of environmental preservation by providing sustainable, innovative energy solutions for homes and businesses,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc. “Creative partnership opportunities like the Energy Innovation Center allow us to work with industry leaders and contribute to public awareness and understanding of how to integrate solar energy for high-quality, long-term energy results.”

This project brought together numerous San Diego-based partners and American-made products to create a dynamic solar system and illustrate the impact of renewable energy. The Center utilizes locally made Kyocera modules and the products and services of many other San Diego area companies.

The Energy Innovation Center is a showcase facility where customers can learn about energy efficiency, alternative fuel transportation, Smart Grid, and clean generation. The Energy Innovation Center will offer an array of seminars and demonstrations to help customers find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions.

Entech Solar Successfully Completes Testing Required for IEC 62108 Certification for Its Latest CPV Module

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Entech Solar, Inc. (OTC BB: ENSL.OB) (the "Company" or "Entech Solar") today announced that it has received notification from TUV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory that the Company's latest concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module called SolarVolt™ has met the CPV module testing and construction evaluation requirements of IEC 62108 and the safety requirements as outlined in draft standard IEC 62688.  This milestone is a key step in commercializing the SolarVolt product designed to produce electricity for large commercial, industrial, government and utility applications. This new Entech Solar product is protected by several issued and pending patents.

The formal certification protocol under which the Company's SolarVolt was tested is defined in two official documents, IEC 62108: 2007, First Edition : "Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies – Design qualification and type approval," and draft standard IEC 62688: Ed 1: "Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module and assembly safety qualification", Committee Draft (CD) 82/631/CD, issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the leading global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies. Tests in accordance with these documents simulate environmental conditions and influences on CPV modules to verify the performance and reliability during and after accelerated aging, hail impact, mechanical loading, hot and cold, wet and dry environmental conditions, as well as extended outdoor exposure.

Over the past two years, the price per watt of one-sun photovoltaic modules has dropped dramatically, by approximately 50%. To meet this lower price challenge, Entech Solar accelerated the development of a low-cost, highly reliable CPV module design aimed at keeping the Company's technology cost-competitive for many years ahead. This advanced fifth generation module is firmly based on the field-proven heritage of Entech Solar's previous generations of CPV modules and systems. The Entech Solar team has been involved in the research, development, field testing and commercialization of CPV technology for both ground and space applications for more than three decades.  Entech Solar relied not only on its long heritage in ground-based CPV technology, but also its 25 year heritage in space-based CPV technology for NASA and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) applications, to develop SolarVolt.  In fact, NASA recently published a success story on the synergy and spin-off relationship between Entech's space CPV technology and SolarVolt.  More information on this success story is provided on the following website: http://technology.grc.nasa.gov/SS-solar-concentrator.shtm.

The earlier generations of the Company's CPV technology have all relied on a robust and efficient primary optical concentrator, based on the symmetrical-refraction, arched shape, Fresnel lens design principle. For space applications, the Company uses multi-junction solar cells with similar lens technology.  This includes triple-junction cells in the SCARLET array that performed flawlessly on NASA's Deep Space 1 mission in 1998-2001 as well as more advanced space solar power platforms currently being developed.  However, for terrestrial applications, the Company has selected high-efficiency, low-cost silicon cells under the line-focus lenses to obtain the best combination of low-cost and high reliability. Conventional one-sun silicon cell processing methods are readily adaptable to produce efficient and low-cost cells for Entech's terrestrial CPV modules operating at 20X geometric concentration ratio, which corresponds to approximately 95% savings in solar cell area.

"The Company is very pleased to have completed this major milestone in our CPV product development.  We have been testing the SolarVolt on different two-axis tracking platforms to select one with the lowest capital cost, lowest maintenance and operations costs, and highest long-term reliability in order to field the SolarVolt system in several beta sites so customers, investors and other stake holders are satisfied with the certified product operating in a commercial environment," said David Gelbaum, Entech Solar CEO.  Mr. Gelbaum also stated, "I congratulate our CPV team that conducted the detailed design, development and testing to build an excellent product that met or exceeded all of the rigorous test requirements for IEC 62108 and IEC 62688.  Our highly experienced CPV team, working under the direction of our CTO, Mark O'Neill, was able to draw upon decades of CPV development, testing and field operations aimed at perfecting this product."

Entech Solar partnered with TUV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory (PTL), LLC, in Tempe, AZ, to carry out the test and certification program that was initiated in September 2010. TUV Rheinland PTL is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation – A2LA, is an OSHA recognized NRTL, and is a recognized CBTL under the IEC standards for photovoltaic technology.  The Tempe Laboratory is part of the TUV Rheinland group of global solar laboratories. The IEC certificate that results from this successful completion of the testing protocol is recognized globally. Meeting the requirements of the IEC 62108 and IEC Draft 62688 standards, which were designed to be universal, take into account different environments and applications around the world and enhances the Entech Solar's ability to sell the SolarVolt product world-wide.  Also, these tests complete the CEC (California Energy Commission) performance requirements so that the Company can apply for a CEC listing.  A CEC listing of the SolarVolt will qualify it for performance-based incentives in the California Solar Initiative rebate program.