Satcon Selected for 1 MW Solar Installation in Visalia, CA

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale distributed power solutions for the renewable energy market, today announced that it was chosen by Suntech Energy Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. and a leader in the design, engineering and installation of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems, to help power a 1 megawatt (MW) solar energy installation hosted at The North Face West Coast Distribution Center in Visalia, California. The recently completed project is financed, owned, and operated by Recurrent Energy, a distributed power company and the pioneer in Solar as a Service^SM.

The solar installation features Satcon’s 500 kW PowerGate® Plus photovoltaic inverters, designed from the ground up to continuously deliver best-in-class reliability, efficiency and long-term performance. Each Satcon 500 kW PowerGate Plus inverter includes the company’s next generation Edge™ MPPT solution, enabling large scale installations to maximize power production and significantly increase the overall efficiency of each system.

“We chose the Satcon PowerGate Plus inverter for its performance and reliability,” said Johann Niehaus, Senior Director of Engineering, Suntech Energy Solutions. “We designed the system to the highest quality, which made Satcon a natural choice.”

“Our goal is to create long-term value for our customers by providing clean, onsite power plants right where they’re needed most,” said Sateen Bhat, Vice President of Project Operations, Recurrent Energy. “Reliable inverters are a key component to our systems’ performance. We’re pleased to work together with Satcon given their ability to consistently deliver the quality, expertise, and support we need.”

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates the growing adoption of large scale solar installations in the U.S., and the increased demand for advanced feature, utility grade solutions,” said Pete DeGraff, Satcon’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our PowerGate Plus solutions have delivered millions of hours of field performance across hundreds of large scale installations. We look forward to supporting Suntech Power and Recurrent Energy in their efforts to deliver clean, reliable and cost effective energy solutions to their customers.”

The North Face Announces Plans to Host a 1MW Solar Energy System

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EI Solutions, a leader in smart solar solutions, today announced their partnership with The North Face ®, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, to design, build and install a 1MW solar electricity system at its West Coast distribution center located in Visalia, Calif. Scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, the system will be financed, owned and operated by San Francisco-based Recurrent Energy, the pioneer in Solar as a ServiceSM. 100% of the electricity will be sold to The North Face under a Power Purchase Agreement.

EI Solutions’ innovative design calls for construction of the new system over a storm water retention area located on the property, allowing for its dual use and providing a buffer to adjacent properties. By protecting the retention function of the area, the design negates the need for a new draining system while at the same time providing a clean, noise-free use of the land. Another key feature in the system’s design is the use of RayTracker™ GC single-axis solar trackers, on which 5,445 Suntech photovoltaic (PV) panels will be mounted. By tracking the sun as it moves across the sky, RayTracker will keep the mounted PV panels focused on the sun’s rays, thereby maximizing the amount of energy produced by each panel and increasing the system’s return on investment. The new ground-mounted system will be located adjacent to VF Corporations’ (The North Face’s parent company) 800,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution center.

“We are deeply committed to exploring new and creative solutions for energy reduction,” said Steve Rendle, President, The North Face. “Through our partnership with El Solutions and Recurrent Energy, we have achieved a tremendously innovative design that will yield above-average energy production, emission reduction, and financial savings.”

“The North Face is a company that, along with its commitment to social responsibility and the environment, is well known for its innovative use of technology in its products,” said Andrew Beebe, president or EI Solutions. “We’re excited to work with them, along with Recurrent Energy, to design and build a system that’s not only economical, but also one that incorporates the latest technology and land-use techniques, thus enabling higher efficiency and having a greater overall impact.”

According to national metric data provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, the solar system - owned and operated by Recurrent Energy - is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 1,300 metric tons annually, which is equivalent to removing close to 250 automobiles from operation for one year or preserving over 11 acres of forest.