Trina Solar Launches Partner Program to Assist U.S. Installers Expand Their Businesses

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or "the Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products from ingots to modules, today announces the U.S. launch of Trina Solar Partner Plus, a partner program that provides tools to help solar installers grow their businesses.

"Our Trina Solar Partner Plus program puts the strength and resources of a global manufacturer squarely behind our partner distributors and installers so that they can both capture more business," said Mark Mendenhall, President of Trina Solar Americas. "This program offers a range of sales and marketing tools and adds to our ongoing commitment to helping our partners succeed. Together, we can help more homeowners and more small businesses go solar across the nation."

Program partners can register for the free program at www.trinasolarpartnerplus.com and collect points by purchasing products through one of Trina Solar's distributors. These points can then be redeemed for sales and marketing tools, which were selected based on extensive research on installer needs. The tools include exclusive product offers, personalized sales, marketing support, technical services and specialized trainings that help installers grow their solar businesses.

Backed by Trina Solar's balance sheet strengths, Trina Solar's Partner Plus program continues the Company's track record of product leadership, industry firsts, and strategic investments into the long-term growth of the solar industry and its partners. Earlier this year, the Company unveiled new, cutting-edge products including Trinasmart and Trinamount that speed the installation process, as well as Design Services that deliver preliminary system layouts. The combination of diverse product offerings and services highlights Trina Solar's expanding commitment to providing a full range of solar solutions to its partners throughout the value chain.

Trina Solar recently received recognition by two organizations for its sustainable practices and field performance. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, in its annual global review of sustainable manufacturing practices, ranked the Company first among solar panel manufacturers throughout the world. Additionally, Trina Solar's panels placed first on the California Energy Commission's PTC/STC ratio that estimates real-world panel performance.

U.S. parties interested in learning more about the Trina Solar Partner Plus program should contact partnerplus@trinasolar.com or visit www.trinasolarpartnerplus.com.

About Trina Solar Limited

Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) is a leading manufacturer of high quality modules and has a long history as a solar PV pioneer since it was founded in 1997 as a system installation company. Trina Solar is one of the few PV manufacturers that have developed a vertically integrated business model from the production of monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules. Trina Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally-friendly electric power for a growing variety of end-user applications worldwide. For further information, please visit Trina Solar's website at http://www.trinasolar.com.

Eurus Energy and NRG Solar Partner to Build California’s Largest Solar Photovoltaic Generating Facility

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eurus Energy America and NRG Solar, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), have joined forces to build what will be, upon completion, the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) generating facility in California. When operating at full capacity, the three Avenal zero-emission solar projects—Avenal Park, Sun City and Sand Drag—will generate a total of 45 megawatts (MW), enough power to meet the needs of 36,000 homes cleanly and efficiently. The Avenal projects, located in Kings County, CA, were developed by Eurus and are owned jointly by Eurus and NRG.   

Eurus and NRG have completed construction financing on all three projects, and given full notice to proceed on Sun City (20 MW) and Sand Drag (19 MW) to the Ryan Company, Inc., the engineering, procurement and contracting firm that will construct the Avenal projects. Ryan Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR), will begin mobilizing immediately to start construction, with the projects expected to achieve commercial operation in mid-2011. The California Public Utilities Commission has approved the 20-year Avenal power purchase agreements with Pacific Gas & Electric.

NRG Solar and Eurus’ expertise developing solar power, utility construction and operation, backed by their corporate resources, will ensure the Avenal projects are brought online and on schedule to help the state achieve its short-term goals for greater renewable power—and advance California’s progress significantly toward achieving its stated target of 33% renewable power generation by 2020.

“We believe Avenal represents not only a bold new chapter in developing clean, zero-emission solar power in California, but also is a key piece in helping the state meet its ambitious renewable portfolio standard by the end of the decade,” said Tom Doyle, President of NRG Solar. “California continues to lead our nation in mandating the increasing use of renewable power, and, as the owners of the largest PV site there today, we look forward to continuing our partnership with California and our leadership as a developer of this bountiful, sustainable power source.”

“The Avenal projects are just the first of many utility-scale PV solar projects that we expect to be developing, building and owning in the State of California. We are very pleased to be adding these solar power projects to our portfolio of wind projects helping California reach its nation-leading goals to increase the utilization of emission-free power generation,” said Mark E. Anderson, President and CEO of Eurus Energy America.

Along with the clean power it will bring to California, the projects also will bring much-needed jobs to an economically distressed area.

Avenal will be built with thin film solar panels provided by Sharp Electronics, solidifying Sharp’s presence in the California utility scale market and bolstering diversity of supply for California’s growing solar infrastructure.

Vanguard Energy Partners Helps Quick Chek Launch Its First Solar Electric Array

BRANCHBURG, N.J., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard Energy Partners, LLC, today announced the completion of Quick Chek's first renewable energy project -- a 110kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system that will help power its corporate headquarters in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Vanguard will be working with the premier fresh food chain to explore additional solar energy initiatives within its nearly 120 stores in New Jersey and southern New York.

Vanguard, a leader in the northeast for design and installation of large scale solar projects, installed 627 roof-mounted Sharp modules that will generate approximately 120,000 KWH/AC in the first year or more than 20% of the electricity for Quick Chek's corporate offices from the clean, renewable power of sunlight. The energy production from the building's new photovoltaic system is the equivalent of conserving 9,782 gallons of gasoline and taking 16 cars off the road.

"Vanguard is pleased to help Quick Chek's renewable energy generation initiatives and its support for our state's green mandates for alternative energy sources. Quick Chek's decision to implement solar energy is a clear sign of their industry leadership and strategic use the financial incentives currently offered by New Jersey's 'world class' Clean Energy Program" said Alex Rivera, Vice President of Vanguard Energy Partners, LLC.

Noveda Technologies' SunFlow Monitor(TM), recipient of the 2007 Market Innovator Award by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, will track in real time--via the internet--the solar production, facility consumption and system efficiency at Quick Chek.

"Throughout our history, we've prided ourselves on being forward-thinking stewards of our environment, constantly researching and implementing methods such as energy management refrigeration systems and LED lighting packages that not only create efficiencies and save dollars, but conserve energy," said Quick Chek Vice President of Sales and Merchandising John Schaninger. "We're excited to continue our partnership with Vanguard where our future plans include exploring additional solar energy initiatives across our portfolio of fresh food store locations."

Progress Energy Carolinas And SunEdison Ink Deal For 1.2 MW Solar PV Plant

WILMINGTON, N.C., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progress Energy Carolinas (NYSE: PGN) and SunEdison have signed an agreement under which SunEdison will build, own and operate a 1.2-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant on the site of the Progress Energy L.V. Sutton Plant near Wilmington and sell the energy produced to the utility for distribution to customers.

SunEdison will build the solar PV array on about 10 acres at the existing power plant site, located off Highway 421. Progress Energy will lease the land to SunEdison for 20 years, the term of the power-purchase agreement.

The plant is the second megawatt-sized solar project announced this summer. In June, software company SAS announced it will build a 1-MW solar PV array at its Cary, N.C., campus and sell the output under a long-term contract to Progress Energy Carolinas.

Both announced projects are expected to be producing electricity by late this year. Meanwhile, the company is evaluating additional renewable energy projects, as well as potential pportunities related to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and other energy technologies.

"Solar power is an important part of our balanced energy strategy for meeting the region's needs," said Lloyd Yates, CEO and president of Progress Energy Carolinas. "We are continuing to pursue cost-effective solar and other renewable opportunities aggressively, and we expect to announce additional renewable energy investments soon. Meanwhile, we're promoting increased energy efficiency and working to ensure that we have state-of-the-art power plants and infrastructure. We will continue to look for new, innovative ways to help meet our customers' needs reliably, affordably and in an environmentally sound manner."

SunEdison proposed the latest solar PV project in response to Progress Energy's request for renewable energy proposals, issued in November. The open-ended request is part of Progress Energy's plan to meet the requirements of North Carolina's energy law, passed in 2007.

The law established a renewable and energy-efficiency portfolio standard, which requires utilities to provide a portion of their energy sales using renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. For Progress Energy, that portion grows from 3 percent of total energy sales in 2012 to 12.5 percent in 2021. For solar-generated energy, the requirement begins in 2010. Under the two existing PV contracts, Progress Energy expects to begin purchasing solar-generated electricity this year.

A PV array is a collection of solar cells, each consisting of two thin layers of semi-conducting material (silicon) that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight.

The Sutton Plant is an integral part of Progress Energy's system for meeting the needs of its customers throughout eastern North Carolina. The solar PV generation will add to Progress Energy's mix of resources, which includes nuclear plants as well as generation fueled by coal, oil and natural gas, and hydroelectric plants.