PV-Absatzkanal: PPA - Materialübersicht - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[meinolf67]

Und wieder mal eine neue Idee:

Da in den USA ein ganz erheblicher Teil der PV-Umsätze anders als in Europa nicht über upfront-capital-investments, sondern über PPAs gemacht wird und da es bisher keinen börsennotierten Player aus der Ecke gibt, möchte ich interessante Meldungen dazu in diesem Thread sammeln.

Ein ähnlicher Ansatz zu Dünnfilmprojekten hat bereits eine gewisse Resonanz gefunden.


Wäre schön, wenn auch hier viele mitmachen.

[meinolf67]

MMA Renewable Ventures, Global Solar Sign First PPA For CIGS Thin Film
in News Departments > Projects & Contracts
by SI Staff on Thursday 06 March 2008
email the content item print the content item

MMA Renewable Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC, and Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, plan to construct a new solar electric system at Global Solar's manufacturing facility in Tucson, Ariz.

The 750 kW installation will mark the first commercial-scale deployment of Global Solar's CIGS thin-film solar technology, the companies note. The system will be financed, owned and operated by MMA Renewable Ventures, with Global Solar purchasing the clean power generated under the terms of a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Operation is expected to begin this fall.

Designed and installed by Solon America Corp., the thin-film solar power system will generate more than 1.1 million kWh of renewable electricity annually at Global Solar's factory.

[JoergP]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 33.578.897 von meinolf67 am 07.03.08 14:41:57

Da in den USA ein ganz erheblicher Teil der PV-Umsätze anders als in Europa nicht über upfront-capital-investments, sondern über PPAs gemacht wird und da es bisher keinen börsennotierten Player aus der Ecke gibt, möchte ich interessante Meldungen dazu in diesem Thread sammeln.

Hmmm... das verstehe ich jetzt nicht ganz?
Meinst Du mit PPAs Power Purchase Agreements?
Der Hauptunterschied zur Situation in Europa (D, F, ES) liegt doch dann darin, dass es keine festgelegten Tarife gibt, sondern dass die Bedingungen der Stromabnahme frei ausgehandelt sind. Aber mehr doch nicht, oder?

An der Finanzierung der Projekte ändert das doch nicht unbedingt etwas? Irgendwo muss das Kapital doch am Anfang auch her kommen?

In welche Richtung soll es denn dann in diesem Thread gehen? Stromversorger (als Abnehmer des Stroms)? Oder Leasingfirmen/Banken (zur Finanzierung)?

Oder stehe ich da komplett auf dem Schlauch und Du willst auf etwas ganz anderes hinaus?

[meinolf67]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 33.579.535 von JoergP am 07.03.08 15:27:11

Ne,ne!

Bei den Amis ist der typische Ablauf:

Anlage auf Wal-Mart Dach; Wal-Mart kauft den Strom

Finanziert arrangiert und gebaut wird von PPA-Anbieter (z.B. MMA, SunEdison,...)

In Europa wäre üblichrweise Wal-Mart selbst der Investor.


In dem Thread möchte ich Infos sammmeln über:

-wer bietet PPAs an?
-welche Volumina laufen darüber?
-zu welchen Preisen gehen die kWh?
-Wer ist Abnehmer bei PPAs?

Ich halte es für möglich, dass sich in den USA eine spezielle Art (Solar-)Utility bildet; diese Entwicklung möchte ich hier im Auge behalten....

[meinolf67]

PG&E On Course For 900 MW Of Solar With BrightSource Energy
in News Departments > New & Noteworthy
by SI Staff on Wednesday 02 April 2008
email the content item print the content item

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently entered into a series of substantial solar power contracts with BrightSource Energy Inc. The first three contracts represent a total of 500 MW of power derived from three solar thermal projects, and PG&E has also signed two contracts for options on an additional 400 MW of solar power - prospectively increasing the total power purchase to 900 MW.

The first of these solar power plants, sized at 100 MW in Ivanpah, Calif., could be operating as early as 2011 and is expected to produce 246,000 MWh of renewable electricity per year, PG&E says. BrightSource adds that it will build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow.

PG&E has filed the contracts with the California Public Utilities Commission. For 2008, the utility expects to have 14% of its energy delivered from renewable sources.

"Through these agreements with BrightSource, we continue to broaden our renewable energy portfolio and provide our customers with some of the cleanest energy in the nation," comments Fong Wan, vice president of energy procurement at PG&E.

[meinolf67]

MMA Renewable Ventures Solar Portfolio Grows Five-Fold
in News Departments > FYI
by SI Staff on Wednesday 02 April 2008
email the content item print the content item

MMA Renewable Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC, says it closed 2007 with approximately 34 MW of solar under operation and development, including more than 20 MW of new renewable energy generation last year alone - an increase of more than five times its 2006 portfolio.

In total, MMA Renewable Ventures brought projects into operation at 18 sites across the U.S. in 2007 - among them, North America's largest solar photovoltaic system at Nellis Air Force Base (14 MW).

In addition to the Nellis Air Force Base system, the company's operational portfolio for the year includes commercial-scale installations at Florida Power & Light Company and Estee Lauder, as well as East and West Coast locations for Roche Pharmaceuticals. Municipal customers include AC Transit and the city of Thousand Oaks, and academic-institution customers include CSU Fresno, Sussex County Community College and the Happy Valley Elementary School District.

[meinolf67]

SunEdison LLC has acquired Renewable NRG.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

Portland-based Renewable NRG is a solar installation company. Beltsville, Md.-based SunEdison is a solar energy services provider.

As reported in last week's Business Journal, SunEdison is the likely contractor for a project to put solar panels on the roofs of several Multnomah County buildings.

Russ Wright, CEO of Renewable NRG, will continue developing solar energy services projects in Portland on behalf of SunEdison and existing Renewable NRG customers. He will also continue in his role as treasurer of the Oregon Solar Electric Industry Association.

SunEdison will fulfill existing solar installation contracts and the solar power services agreements of Renewable NRG, which include PV systems for Parr Lumber and the city of Hillsboro.

[meinolf67]

MMA Renewable Ventures Grows Solar PPA Portfolio 500 Percent in 2007

Clean Energy Finance Pioneers Cap 2007 with 34 MW of Solar

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MMA Renewable
Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC ("MuniMae")
(Pink Sheets: MMAB) today announced that it closed 2007 with approximately
34 megawatts (MW) of solar under operation and development, including more
than 20 MW of new renewable energy generation last year alone, an increase
of more than five times its 2006 portfolio. In total, MMA Renewable
Ventures brought projects into operation at 18 sites across the U.S. in
2007, among them, North America's largest solar photovoltaic system at
Nellis Air Force Base (14MW). The successful growth solidifies MMA
Renewable Ventures' position as one of North America's largest solar power
purchase agreement (PPA) providers. The company's expanding project
pipeline also includes over $100 million in energy efficiency projects and
100 MW in additional renewable energy sources including wind and bioenergy.

"We saw a robust increase in demand for solar PPAs during 2007, growth
that we have already seen persisting through the first part of 2008 as
energy customers across the country continue to look for easy,
cost-effective ways to take advantage of clean, predictable energy from the
sun," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "In total, these
systems will decrease carbon dioxide emissions by more than 63 million
pounds each year."

Through the PPA model it helped pioneer, MMA Renewable Ventures makes
solar energy cost-competitive by financing, owning and operating the
installations on behalf of its customers and investors. In turn, the energy
customer simply purchases the power generated under a long-term contract,
benefiting from predictable electricity pricing and a solar energy system
that is cash flow positive from its first day of operation. MMA Renewable
Ventures arranges for third party institutional investment in its solar
projects. The company typically structures financing by aggregating a
number of its high- quality solar projects into low risk debt and
tax-advantaged institutional investor funds, which enable multiple
investors to participate while at the same time diversifying their risk.

"In addition to sound state policies that promote solar energy,
innovations in clean energy project finance have helped open the doors for
unprecedented U.S. solar market expansion in this past year. With MMA
Renewable Ventures helping to lead the way, the PPA model has emerged as
one of the most effective mechanisms for making solar cost-effective for
commercial and large-scale energy customers," said Sara Birmingham,
Director of Western Policy for The Solar Alliance.

"MMA Renewable Ventures consistently delivers on its promise of
providing competitively priced clean energy for its customers and
exceptional investment opportunities in solar energy," said Michael L.
Falcone, CEO of MuniMae. "We are proud to count MMA Renewable Ventures'
growing project portfolio among the high-quality investment opportunities
that MuniMae offers its institutional investors."

In 2007 MMA Renewable Ventures delivered customized solar PPAs to
commercial, utility, and public energy customers nationwide. In addition to
the landmark PV system at Nellis Air Force Base, the company's operational
portfolio for the year includes commercial-scale installations at Florida
Power & Light Company (FPL) and Estee Lauder as well as east and west coast
locations for Roche Pharmaceuticals. Municipal customers include AC
Transit, and the City of Thousand Oaks. MMA Renewable Ventures also added a
number of academic institutions to its portfolio, including: CSU Fresno,
Sussex County Community College in Newton, New Jersey and the Happy Valley
Elementary School District in Anderson, California.

About MMA Renewable Ventures

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC
("MuniMae," OTC: MMAB.PK), MMA Renewable Ventures finances, owns and
operates renewable energy and energy efficiency assets in the United
States. The Company provides leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and
other customized financial solutions to help its customers manage energy
costs. MMA Renewable Ventures is dedicated to delivering competitively
priced, clean energy and energy savings to customers, strong partnership
options for project developers, and exceptional opportunities for
institutional investment in the clean energy sector. For more information
about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit http://www.mmarenewableventures.com

[meinolf67]

MMA Renewable Ventures, Global Solar Sign First PPA For CIGS Thin Film
in News Departments > Projects & Contracts
by SI Staff on Thursday 06 March 2008
email the content item print the content item

MMA Renewable Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC, and Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, plan to construct a new solar electric system at Global Solar's manufacturing facility in Tucson, Ariz.

The 750 kW installation will mark the first commercial-scale deployment of Global Solar's CIGS thin-film solar technology, the companies note. The system will be financed, owned and operated by MMA Renewable Ventures, with Global Solar purchasing the clean power generated under the terms of a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Operation is expected to begin this fall.

Designed and installed by Solon America Corp., the thin-film solar power system will generate more than 1.1 million kWh of renewable electricity annually at Global Solar's factory.

[meinolf67]

Apr 29, 2008 23:31 ET
Cost-Effective Integrated Solar Solutions From e5 Clean Energy Provide Commercial Customers With Reliable, Emission-Free Power

California-Based Solar Energy Firm Rolls Out Zero-Capital Programs to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Ensure Customer's Electricity Needs Are Met Into the Future
Highlighted Links


e5 Clean Energy site


agency site

AGOURA HILLS, CA--(Marketwire - April 29, 2008) - With energy costs hitting new all-time highs, businesses in the manufacturing, agricultural and food processing sectors are feeling the squeeze. Although many industries are heavily dependant on plentiful and affordable energy, next to the airlines and freight forwarders, few are as sensitive to price fluctuations as growers and other food-related businesses. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the food processing sector alone currently consumes about 6 percent of the total energy used by all U.S. industries.

While price spikes in the oil, gas and electricity markets may once have been considered an unavoidable cost of doing business, emerging sources of renewable energy are now offering alternatives. One such option is "grid-tied" on-site solar systems which enable businesses to convert otherwise wasted rooftop space into emission-free, self-contained power plants. e5 Clean Energy of Agoura Hills, Calif. is an emerging vendor in this growing market, offering its clients a broad spectrum of "integrated solar solutions," robust enough to supply a large portion of their energy needs during the "high demand" time of day.

Ronald Means, CEO of e5 Clean Energy, says that with oil substantially over $100 a barrel, and the memory of California's infamous "rolling blackouts" still fresh, it's an approach that is catching on fast. He cites a report issued this week by the Solar Energy Industries Association which found that the installation of rooftop solar energy systems by businesses grew an impressive 45 percent last year alone.

The completely self-contained solar power solutions are dubbed "grid-tied" systems because they're connected to the local energy grid, enabling the business to sell unneeded power to the area utility provider. Industry observers say the trend has been spurred by federal tax incentives and increasing power costs.

"The capital costs required to purchase, install and maintain solar energy systems created a strong barrier for most businesses," he commented. "e5 Clean Energy's Solar Solutions provide our customers with the infrastructure at no cost and deliver reliable, clean solar power at a competitive and predicable price. The only thing we require of our customers is that they purchase the solar power our systems are generating."

Once installed on the rooftop of the customer, e5 Clean Energy acts as a private utility, delivering electricity as needed on a fixed-price basis. The e5 system can also serve as an emergency backup power resource, a real plus for facilities in urban areas that occasionally experience power interruptions at peak hours.

"We see having the availability of a reliable secondary energy source as a strong selling point for businesses interested in mitigating risk and avoiding costly downtime with a 'solar safety net,'" Mr. Means added.

"By greatly reducing our clients' energy costs they can lower operating expenses while managing their greenhouse gas output," he said. "It even gives them a chance to demonstrate to stakeholders that they're dong the right thing environmentally, which is a win-win for everyone."

With little chance of price stability in the utility market anytime soon, e5 Clean Energy executives predict many more companies will turn to solar, although they expect the market will become more selective in choosing a renewable energy partner and increasingly demanding when it comes to choosing a comprehensive solution. By beginning each client relationship with a thorough analysis of their energy usage, e5 engineers can create highly customized effective strategies to reduce costs and manage future energy supply risks.

"Our focus is on creating a truly integrated solution that both reduces GHG emissions to an absolute minimum while maximizing the benefits of the solar electric system to its fullest potential," Mr. Means stated. "In addition to installing, maintaining and monitoring our clients' renewable energy supply, we partner with industry experts to assess each customer's carbon footprint and help them manage the financial risks associated with future regulations related to GHG emissions."

Why the e5 Clean Energy Approach to Solar is Unique:

e5 Clean Energy is in the business of selling clean power, not solar systems. e5 Clean Energy designs, installs, and maintains customized solar energy systems for their clean energy clients to provide them with an additional source of power at a competitive and predicable price. An e5 customer pays only for the power generated from the solar system through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and saves money over the course of the contract by locking in their cost of power.

About e5 Clean Energy

e5 Clean Energy is committed to a cleaner environment through the vision of a more efficient, distributed, and competitive renewable energy infrastructure. e5 supplies dependable and economically viable renewable solar power using sustainable technologies. They are able to deliver clean, reliable solar power at competitive rates, save their customers money, and serve as a company's local clean power company.

[meinolf67]

SunPower, MMA Renewable Ventures Dedicate 584-Kilowatt Solar Electric System for City of Thousand Oaks

Hill Canyon Water Treatment Plant Will Save $100,000 Annually in Utility Costs

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., May 14, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, and MMA Renewable Ventures, owner and operator of renewable energy facilities, today dedicated a 584-kilowatt solar electric power system at the City of Thousand Oaks' Hill Canyon Water Treatment Plant.

In addition to the solar power system, the Hill Canyon Water Treatment Plant installed a cogeneration system and numerous energy efficiency upgrades. As a result of these measures, the City of Thousand Oaks expects to save $100,000 in utility costs each year and estimates a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 10,000 tons over the next 30 years, which is equivalent to planting 2,820 acres of trees or not driving 25 million miles on our roads.

"The City of Thousand Oaks City Council is committed to improving the quality of life for our community," said Thousand Oaks Mayor Jacqui Irwin. "Working with MMA Renewable Ventures and SunPower, we are able to maximize energy cost reductions and lower the overall amount of energy we use from conventional sources. With no initial out-of-pocket investment, the two companies have made solar power affordable today."

MMA Renewable Ventures will finance, own and operate the solar power system at the Hill Canyon Water Treatment Plant under the SunPower Access(TM) program, which allows SunPower customers to purchase solar-generated electricity from a SunPower financing partner as an alternative to outright purchase of the solar power systems. The City of Thousand Oaks will pay MMA Renewable Ventures for the solar electricity generated over the next 20 years. The electricity is competitively priced against retail rates, providing a long-term hedge against rising peak power prices. At the end of the term, the City will have the option to renew the agreement, transfer the equipment to a new site, or purchase the system outright.

"The City of Thousand Oaks selected an innovative financing structure to effectively meet its financial goals and environmental xobjectives," said Matt Cheney, chief executive officer of MMA Renewable Ventures. "With its forward-thinking approach and commitment to clean energy, the City is demonstrating that solar power is an affordable option for public agencies concerned with reducing carbon emissions."

"The Hill Canyon Water Treatment plant is making innovative use of a previously unused asset -- an existing concrete-lined overflow basin -- to site its solar system and generate clean, renewable on-site electricity," said Kevin Ross, SunPower project development manager. "They also chose to maximize energy production by utilizing high-efficiency SunPower solar panels and the proprietary SunPower(R) Tracker solar tracking system. The Tracker follows the sun as it moves across the sky, delivering up to 25 percent more energy than fixed-tilt systems. SunPower solar panels are up to 50 percent more efficient than competing, conventional solar panels."

About MMA Renewable Ventures

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC ("MuniMae"), (Pink Sheets: MMAB), MMA Renewable Ventures finances, owns and operates renewable energy and energy efficiency assets in the United States. The Company provides leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other customized financial solutions to help its customers manage energy costs. MMA Renewable Ventures is dedicated to delivering competitively priced, clean energy and energy savings to customers, strong partnership options for project developers, and exceptional opportunities for institutional investment in the clean energy sector. For more information about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit http://www.mmarenewableventures.com.

[meinolf67]

SunEdison to Build Largest U.S. PV Farm
Duke Energy inks a power-purchase agreement for what's expected to be the largest solar-electric project in the country. The current largest, at Nellis Air Force Base, also was financed using a similar model from MMA Renewable Ventures.
by: Jennifer Kho
Bullet Arrow May 22, 2008

SunEdison will build the nation’s largest solar-electric farm for Duke Energy Corp., which will buy all of the power from the project, according to an announcement this week.
Advertisement

Under the 20-year agreements, the electric-power company’s customers will receive more than 16 megawatts of energy from the farm in North Carolina starting no later than Dec. 31, 2010.

The project will consist of 36 individual solar facilities at a single site, with construction expected to start in the third quarter of next year.

The deal stemmed from a request for proposals that Duke issued in April of last year, according to the announcement Wednesday.

“We said we wanted to lead the way in the development of more renewable energy and we meant it,” said Keith Trent, group executive.

Duke has run into controversy with plans to build a nuclear power plant – and for its extensive use of coal – but also has been an advocate of greenhouse emissions caps.

Travis Bradford, president of the Prometheus Institute, a Greentech Media partner, called the news “quite a milestone.”

“It’s not only a large plant – the largest in the U.S. – but it’s in a new place,” he said. “North Carolina is not known to be a solar state. But it's in line with the trend that we’ve seen. A lot of utilities are trying to figure out how to address this stuff at the utility scale, and my guess is in a not-too-distant future, someone will be offering a bigger one.”

The deal also is a milestone for SunEdison, which installs and finances projects by charging nothing up front, instead selling the renewable-energy credits from the ownership of the projects to large corporations and requiring customers to sign deals to buy the electricity generated.

Because the federal investment-tax credit doesn’t allow utilities to take advantage of those credits, financing models such as SunEdison’s help to make it possible for utilities to get renewable energy without having to front all the costs, Bradford said.

One of the bills Congress considered that would have extended the credits last year would have dropped that restriction, but it didn’t pass, he said.

And even if that restriction were dropped, utilities might still prefer to stick with power-purchase agreements such as this one, he said.

“It’s not clear to me that utilities have the right tax appetite to be able to do these projects themselves, or the experience with the technology, so an offering with SunEdison’s, which brings the installation and project-management expertise with the technology, the monitoring of the system going forward and the financing all wrapped up together is probably a pretty attractive offering for a utility.”

Other companies, such as MMA Renewable Ventures and Recurrent Energy, are offering similar models.

In December, MMA Renewable Ventures financed the largest photovoltaic system in North America today, a 14-megawatt project at Nellis Air Force Base built by SunPower Corp.

Before that, the largest U.S. photovoltaic system was an 8.22-megawatt plant in Colorado, which SunEdison financed and built for utility Xcel Energy.

While a new “largest U.S. system” crops up every few months, these systems still aren’t the world’s largest PV plants -- and are nowhere near the size of the solar-thermal plants in the works, Bradford said.

The world’s largest system, which also charges frequently, is held by a 23-megawatt park in Spain today, according to Greenpeace Energy. The largest planned solar-thermal project is a 500-megawatt project, expected to expand to 900 megawatts of capacity, from BrightSource Energy and the Pacific Gas & Electric Co., according to EcoWorldly.

One potential risk to the Duke project is the future of the U.S. investment-tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of the year. Congress has tried to renew it several times, but has failed so far, and one installer, Akeena Solar, last week said it expects the credit will not be renewed on time for the industry to avoid financial pain.

Because power-purchase agreement business models rely so heavily on tax credits, AltaTerra partner Jon Guice said in March that the companies could be more heavily impacted than the rest of the industry if the incentives aren’t renewed (see Power-Purchase Agreements Could Lose Market Share).

“It’s definitely a risk,” Bradford said. But he added that the deal seems to have built in enough time to deal with the issue if the credits fall through.

[meinolf67]

Funding Roundup: SunEdison Snags $161M
While the Beltsville, Md.-based company grabs a hefty mix of equity and debt, the World Bank looks to raise $5.5 billion for cleantech funds by autumn, Suntech Power takes a $98.9 million stake in solar wafer maker Shunda Holdings and lithium-ion battery and systems developer International Battery is on the hunt for $100 million by early next year.
by: Rachel Barron
Bullet Arrow May 27, 2008

While some folks had already left the office to get a jump on their Memorial Day weekend, solar installer and financing-service provider SunEdison announced late Friday afternoon that it had closed on a whopping $161 million in financing.
Advertisement

The Beltsville, Md.-based company said $131 million is equity and $30 million is debt. Investors included Greylock Partner, HSH Nordbank, Applied Ventures, Black River Commodity Clean Energy Investment Fund, MissionPoint Capital Partners and Allco Renewable Energy Limited.

The money has been earmarked to support SunEdison's "operational resources."

This isn't the only good news SunEdison has been sharing lately. On Thursday, the company announced it would build the nation’s largest solar-electric farm for Duke Energy Corp. In return, Duke will buy all the power from the project (see SunEdison to Build Largest U.S. PV Farm).

Duke isn't the only offering these types of financing deals for solar energy.

In December, MMA Renewable Ventures financed the largest photovoltaic system in North America today, a 14-megawatt project at Nevada's Nellis Air Force Base, built by SunPower Corp.

Likewise, SunEdison isn't the only one talking about huge sums of money for greentech in the past week.

Greentech Media blogger Daniel Englander pointed out Monday that the World Bank, along with the United States, Britain and Japan, will raise at least $5.5 billion for funds to help stop climate change. The money will help developing countries boost their greentech adoption.

The bank also agreed to raise the money by autumn, according to Bloomberg News.

[meinolf67]

SunEdison Puts 1.18 MW Of Solar Online At California Prison
in News Departments > Projects & Contracts
by SI Staff on Thursday 29 May 2008
email the content item print the content item

California's Ironwood State Prison and SunEdison have activated a new 1.18 MW ground-mounted photovoltaic solar power system, which will deliver 2.4 million kWh of energy in its first year of operation. The project was deployed through a public-private partnership between the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and SunEdison.

Under a solar power services agreement, SunEdison financed, constructed and will operate the solar energy system. The CDCR avoids all upfront capital costs and will purchase the solar energy at predictable prices equal to or less than current retail rates.

Ironwood is the second PV system SunEdison is managing for CDCR. In June 2006, SunEdison activated a 1.16 MW solar power system at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, which has produced more than 3.7 million kWh since commercial activation.

[meinolf67]

solarX Launched Using Shared Tenant Services Model
in News Departments > FYI
by SI Staff on Wednesday 04 June 2008
email the content item print the content item

Alan Hahn and Peter Fuller have founded solarX, a Mountain View, Calif.-headquartered solar energy company targeting commercial real estate owners.

According to the company, solarX was founded to end the solar stalemate between building owner and tenant and make solar energy profitable for the commercial real estate owner. By covering all capital expenses associated with deploying solar, solarX makes solar energy a no-cost investment that makes buildings more profitable, protects against massive utility company rate increases, creates a new revenue stream for building owners and provides renewable green energy for the tenants.

In addition, solarX will make use of a yet-to-be-disclosed solar technology. The business plan is based on Hahn's experience building the shared tenant services market and is similar to some power purchase agreements.

SOURCE: solarX

[meinolf67]

June 26, 2008

San Francisco, CA, USA: MMA Renewable Ventures and Wells Fargo Announce Clean Energy Project

MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, and Wells Fargo & Company have announced a new solar energy system in San Francisco that is providing clean, renewable power to the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)'s Mission Bay campus. MMA Renewable Ventures owns and operates the 250-kilowatt (kW) system through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with UCSF.

San Francisco (UCSF)'s Mission Bay Roof Top Solar System

MMA Renewable Ventures arranges equity investment for projects through its Solar Fund III, a financing commitment with Wells Fargo to fund 10-15 MW of solar energy projects nationwide. "UCSF has demonstrated a deep-seated commitment to environmental sustainability throughout the growth of its new Mission Bay campus," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures.

"Through the long term PPA arrangement, the university is able to go solar without the upfront installation cost or ongoing maintenance expenses, allowing UCSF to direct its valuable resources to education and critical research rather than a new solar energy system."

Added Wells Fargo's Director of Environmental Finance, Barry Neal, "Wells Fargo is dedicated to aligning renewable energy with real economic opportunity in ways that benefit our customers, community, shareholders and the environment."

Chevron Energy Solutions, a Chevron subsidiary, designed and installed the system, which incorporates two distinct solar energy technologies to deliver clean, reliable power:

Sharp(R) solar modules are installed on the roof of Genentech Hall and atop the carports of the Third Street parking garage,

and UNI-SOLAR(R) thin film building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) laminates are mounted vertically on the garage in a representation of a DNA structure. The system is expected to generate 350,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean power annually, preventing nearly 470,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.


Further details about: Chevron Energy Solutions and Sharp Electronics and Uni-Solar

[meinolf67]

Chevron Energy Solutions Completes Glendale Solar Project
in News Departments > Projects & Contracts
by SI Staff on Tuesday 22 July 2008
email the content item print the content item

Glendale Water & Power, Glendale Community College and Chevron Energy Solutions have completed a 262 kW solar electric project in Glendale, Calif. The system, situated atop parking canopies on the college campus, comprises 872 solar panels.

Chevron Energy Solutions developed the project and designed and constructed the parking canopies. Glendale Water & Power will own and operate the system and sell the energy back to the college at the same price as conventional power.

SOURCE: Chevron Energy Solutions

[meinolf67]

July 22, 2008

Orlando, FL, USA: Florida Municipal Power Agency Signs Letter of Intent for 10 Megawatts of Solar

The Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) has signed a letter of intent with SunEdison for a 20-year power purchase agreement to provide 10 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity at several locations throughout the state. The agreement with SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider, includes installation, construction, monitoring and operation of the solar systems, which will produce clean, renewable energy with no noise and little to no water in operation.

“The letter of intent is an important first step for Florida in developing a solar program for our municipal utility members,” said FMPA General Manager and CEO Roger Fontes. “We are excited that large-scale solar power is becoming a reality in the Sunshine State.”

SunEdison CEO Thomas (Tom) Rainwater added, “This underscores FMPA’s commitment to increasing renewable energy in Florida. FMPA continues to find economies-of-scale in power generation as it delivers unparalleled services to support community-owned electric utilities. SunEdison is honored that FMPA has chosen us to uphold its high standard in services.”

Once completed, the photovoltaic systems are estimated to deliver 12.8 million kilowatt hours of solar energy in the first year of operation, offsetting 17 million pounds of carbon. This is equivalent to powering more than 1,200 homes and removing 1,670 cars from the road annually. FMPA and SunEdison plan to complete the negotiation, execution and delivery of final project agreements in the fall, with completed installation by the end of 2009.

Under the terms of the letter of intent, FMPA and SunEdison will begin inspections of potential sites and locations at several FMPA member cities for project development.

[meinolf67]

Solar Power Partners Seeks $100M
The California solar-power project developer is raising its third fund to finance installations for schools, hospitals, public agencies and other enterprises.
by: Ucilia Wang
Bullet Arrow July 25, 2008

Solar Power Partners said Friday it plans to raise a $100 million fund for developing more solar projects at places such as hospitals, schools and corporate campuses.
Advertisement

The new fund would follow two previous funds raised by the Mill Valley, Calif. company for designing, installing and operating solar power systems. Solar Power Partners previously raised a $75 million fund and a $35 million fund to finance their projects.

Founded in mid-2006, the startup has already completed 17 projects totaling 5.3 megawatts in California and Hawaii. By the end of the year, the company expects to complete an additional 23 projects totaling about 10 megawatts, said Alexander Welczeck, CEO of Solar Power Partners. (See this map for locations of completed and pending projects).

“Our customers are interested in saving costs, having predicable energy prices and being green,” Welczeck said. “Every project we have completed is producing at or above the expected output.”

The company develops, owns and operates solar power systems for customers, who in return sign a 15- to 25-year agreement to pay for the electricity generated from the systems. The solar power systems are located on the customers’ properties, where the electricity would be used.

This power-purchase-agreement model has grown in popularity because the cost of developing a project, including buying equipment, designing the power system, getting permits and installing the solar panels, can be expensive. A 1-megawatt project, for example, could cost $7 million to $7.5 million, Welczeck said.

Many customers don’t have that kind of money available upfront, but this model allows them to pay it back over time, as a cut of their electricity savings.

Companies such as SunEdison and MMA Renewable Ventures have used the PPA model to carry out large-scale projects for utilities and other businesses. In fact, SunEdison, based in Beltsville, M.D., said this week it snagged a deal to develop a 10-megawatt project for the Florida Municipal Power Agency.

Solar Power Partners focuses on developing smaller solar projects – between 200 kilowatts and 2 megawatts – for commercial customers and public agencies. Earlier this month, the company said it would install a 1-megawatt project at Roche Palo Alto, a research center for the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche.

Other projects under development include those at the University of California at San Diego, the California Institute of Technology, the West County Water District in Richmond, Calif. and Safeway stores.

Solar Power Partners this month announced the completion of a 2-megawatt installation at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport in central California. The power plant is the largest airport solar project in the country, Welczeck said. Other completed projects include the Redwood Valley Water District in northern California, the Maui Economic Development Board in Hawaii and the Placer County Juvenile Detention Center in northern California.

Welczeck said his company is lining up projects despite the uncertainty over the fate of a federal tax-investment credit for renewable-energy projects. The tax credit, which pays for 30 percent of a project cost, will expire by the end of this year. Repeated efforts to extend it have failed so far (see Senate Blocks Renewable Incentives Bill).

Many solar power developers have said they might have to suspend projects if Congress doesn’t renew the tax credit (see No Tax Credit, No Solar Power). And power-purchase companies are particularly vulnerable, according to AltaTerra partner Jon Guice, who co-authored a Greentech Media report on these types of financing models (see Power-Purchase Agreements Could Lose Market Share).

But Welczeck remains optimistic. “What we expect is there will be an extension of the investment tax credit this year,” he said.” If not, we are very confident that there will be an extension in the new year, with any new government.

[meinolf67]

EI Solutions, Recurrent Energy Installing 1 MW Solar System In California
in News Departments > Projects & Contracts
by SI Staff on Tuesday 05 August 2008
email the content item print the content item

EI Solutions has partnered with The North Face to design, build and install a 1 MW solar electricity system at The North Face's 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 design calls for construction of the new system over a storm-water retention area, allowing for its dual use and providing a buffer to adjacent properties. Another key feature in the system's design is the use of RayTracker GC single-axis solar trackers, on which 5,445 Suntech photovoltaic panels will be mounted.

SOURCE: EI Solutions

[meinolf67]

Duke Energy seeks bidders on $100 million North Carolina solar power project
05 September 2008 | Power Generation: News

* Most popular
* Most recent

Solarfun sets 2009 cell/module capacity ramp - 27 August 2008
First Solar extends deal with PV materials supplier 5N Plus - 28 August 2008
ECD’s Uni-Solar unit accelerates PV production ramp as company enjoys record results - 31 August 2008
ECD’s Uni-Solar unit accelerates PV production ramp as company enjoys record results - 31 August 2008
Trina Solar shifts manufacturing strategy - 25 August 2008
CTDC begins commercial production of tin-oxide baseplates for a-Si solar PV modules - 05 September 2008
OPEL International’s Mk-I HCPV solar panels obtain CE qualification for Europe - 05 September 2008
Newport releases thin-film solar PV laser scribing systems - 05 September 2008
Taiwan thin-film solar company begins production - 05 September 2008
Solar parties put heads together to advance renewable energies - 05 September 2008
Solar & PV Tech jobs
Subscribe to newsletter
Subscribe to print edition
Add PV Tech to your Google homepage
pv1In a move to find suppliers and contractors to help add at least 16 MW of photovoltaic power to the North Carolina regional grid, Duke Energy Carolinas says it's seeking bids from PV panel manufacturers, electrical equipment, and installation services specialist companies. The $100 million plan, originally announced in June, marks Duke's first large-scale involvement in distributed power generation.

Beginning early next year, Duke Energy wants to install roof- and ground-mounted solar panels at as many as 850 North Carolina sites, including homes, schools, office buildings, shopping malls, warehouses, and large manufacturing facilities. The company says it would compensate homeowners, businesses, and other entities that offer their roofs or land for the program, based on the size of the installation and amount of electricity generated at any given location.

Under the program, Duke Energy would own and, through contractors, install and maintain the solar panels and would also own the electricity generated, which would be sent to the electrical grid. Installations would begin in early 2009, contingent on regulatory approval from the state's utilities commission. The utility company hopes to complete all installations by late 2010.

The plan is the second major foray into solar power that the utility company has announced recently. In June, Duke said it would buy about 16 MW of solar-generated energy from one of the nation’s largest photovoltaic farms, to be built by SunEdison in Davidson County, NC, and set to be operational in late 2010.

Companies interested in bidding on the latest PV project can visit Duke's renewable energy web page--www.duke-energy.com/environment/renewable-energy.asp--then click on “North Carolina Solar Distributed Generation Program.”

[meinolf67]

MMA Renewable Ventures Completes 1.9 MW Solar Array
in News Departments > Projects & Contracts
by SI Staff on Friday 31 October 2008
email the content item print the content item

Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc. and MMA Renewable Ventures have completed a 1.9 MW solar power system at Bolthouse's farms in Palmdale, Calif. The system, installed at Bolthouse's S&P and Rowen Farms, is owned and operated by MMA. Regenesis Power of Simi Valley designed and installed the solar tracking array, which uses 10,300 solar panels from Mitsubishi Electric.

By leveraging federal tax credits and other state incentives, MMA enabled Bolthouse Farms to deploy the 1.9 MW solar array under a power purchase agreement. The solar array was designed to provide nearly 80% of the electricity used to power Bolthouse's operations.

SOURCE: MMA

[meinolf67]

20. Januar 2009
Residential Solar PPAs Continue To Drive Solar Market Growth
by Marsha W. Johnston, Contributor
California, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

Everyone knows the wonders that commercial power purchase agreements (PPA) worked in boosting commercial solar sales over the last couple of years. In fact, the latest report from the AltaTerra Research Network says about 72% of nonresidential solar market sales in 2008 were attributable to third-party finance and PPAs from industry titans like SunEdison.

"In difficult financial times our customers look for ways to save money. With SolarLease they save money from day one with no investment, so this is an easy decision. If you give people the option of clean power and dirty power and to pay less for clean, they will choose clean."

-- Lyndon Rive, CEO, Solar City

What is less well known is that the same instruments, which were introduced into the residential sector in late 2007 and spring 2008, are driving a demand in California that appears quite resistant to the nation's current economic morass. The most notable programs are the SolarLease from Foster City, CA-based Solar City and the residential PPA from SunRun Inc., of San Francisco.

"The market has really shifted from early adopters buying and owning the system to mainstream customers who just want to buy the power," says Arno Harris, CEO, Recurrent Energy, a commercial PPA provider. "Residential [solar] is becoming like the auto industry, where you buy a US $20,000-$30,000 system and spread it out over time."

The biggest difference between Solar City's SolarLease and SunRun's PPA, which is provided by installers REC Solar and Borrego Solar, is the upfront cost.

Customers for SunRun's PPA must pre-pay for 18 years worth of power at US $0.135 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which typically comes to between US $8,000-$12,000, or approximately 30% of the usual system cost, says SunRun CEO Nat Kreamer. He adds, however, that customers can get SunRun "for as little as a US $2,000 pre-payment for electricity."

In contrast, Solar City customers pay little or no upfront charge for the SolarLease.

The two approaches also differ in their monthly payment practices. A SunRun PPA monthly payment varies each month based on the production of the system, whereas the SolarLease payment does not change month to month, but increases 3.9% per year. The SolarLease monthly payment comprises the panel lease charge plus the lower electricity bill, and typically comes out to a savings of approximately US $10 per month.

At the time of sale, both Solar City and SunRun calculate what the system should produce. If the system over produces, both companies sell power back to the utility. If a Solar City system under produces, the firm refunds the shortfall to the customer. In the case of SunRun, the customer pays less for that month.

"SunRun's interests are actually more aligned with the customer's than are a typical solar lease program," says SunRun's Kreamer. "With a lease, the customer is paying for the panels no matter how they perform or how much energy they generate. With SunRun, a customer only pays for the power the panels produce, and if the panels don't meet the output guarantee, SunRun will refund the customer's electricity bill payment. SunRun only makes money if the customer gets his or her power, which is a much better deal for homeowners than a fixed-rate lease."

Kreamer's argument makes sense, but recent California Solar Initiative figures (see chart, below) for cumulative residential sales of the state's top 6 solar integrators indicate that the SolarLease (the green line) is attracting bigger numbers of residential solar customers than is SunRun's PPA.

All residential sales have continued to climb since spring of 2007, but none more steeply than Solar City's. Since July 2008, about 3 months after it introduced the SolarLease, Solar City's growth curve went practically perpendicular. "July is always our number one month for sales. But this year, to date, year to year, we were up 300%, and July alone was up 600-700% year to year," says Lyndon Rive, Solar City CEO.

And Solar City's steep growth continued through the final months of 2008, as the economy tanked. "October customer numbers were higher than September. We were surprised because the winter months are slower than the summer months. Combined with the economic collapse, one would expect our solar sales to decrease dramatically," says Rive.

Adoption in November and December for Solar City was lower month to month, but December was nonetheless up 300% over December 2007, he added. "In difficult financial times our customers look for ways to save money. With SolarLease they save money from day one with no investment, so this is an easy decision. If you give people the option of clean power and dirty power and to pay less for clean, they will choose clean," Rive says.

SunRun's offering has also done well, though the company would not provide exact figures. REC Solar, which serves as SunRun's installer, had the second-steepest growth after Solar City, while Borrego's is more modest. "SunRun allows customers to lock into a low, FIXED electricity rate for eighteen years. This is probably the most attractive feature for people worried about the rising prices of gas and oil," says Kreamer.

SunRun's offering was attractive enough to entice US Bancorp Community Development Corp. (USBCDC) to step up as an investor in November, well after it seemed that no one had any more appetite for the solar investment tax credit.

"There was a consideration of whether or not we wanted to participate in SunRun, as it did require a sizeable down payment. But our experience with SunRun is most excellent, they really know what they are doing. They are willing to work with people to get around the full amount," says Matt Philpott, vice president of new markets and renewable investments. "We don't have a preference for residential leasing, we are interested in commercial as well. I don't think we have any more residential programs in the works, but we are open to more."

The elimination of the US $2,000 cap on the tax credit for residential solar systems on January 1 has given an extra boost to traditional sales, says Jon Guice, head of research for AltaTerra.

"All residential is doing well. Installers all over the country are reporting a big backlog, due primarily to the elimination of the US $2,000 cap."

But the interest in leasing and PPA continues. Solar City's Rive says that before the tax credit cap was eliminated, Solar City's business was 90%-95% SolarLease, and now it is 80%-85%, as cash sales are doing better. "The Lease is just as attractive as it was before, but cash purchases are more attractive in 2009 than in 2008, so we are seeing an uptick in interest because we have the full 30% tax credit," he says.

Marsha Johnston is a freelance writer based in California specializing in renewable energies, conservation and sustainable development.

[meinolf67]

MMA Renewable Ventures to Raise Its Fifth Solar Fund
The U.S. solar project developer, which has seen panel prices drop by 20 percent in recent months, has completed 20 new installations using a previous, nearly $200 million fund.
by: Ucilia Wang
Bullet Arrow January 27, 2009

Advertisement

MMA Renewable Ventures is raising more than $200 million to carry out solar power projects, some of which are already under development, the company said Tuesday.

The Baltimore, Md.-based developer also announced Tuesday that it has used all of the nearly $200 million from the Solar Fund III to build 20.6 megawatts worth of projects in the United States. MMA not only lines up money and oversees solar power plant construction, but it also owns and operates them for customers who have signed long-term agreements to buy electricity from those power projects.

The Solar Fund III deployment saw the installation of what the company said was the world's largest installation of solar panels made with copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), a type of thin film that is new to the market (see Global Solar Uses Own Tech to Power Up Factory). Most of the solar panels sold today use crystalline silicon as the ingredient to convert sunlight into electricity.

Overall, Solar Fund III financed 20 new solar power systems that also included a 2-megawatt system at the Denver International Airport. The fund included equity from Wells Fargo and loans from National Consumer Cooperative Bank.

MMA also is done with Fund IV, which was used only for the 14-megawatt project at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada (see Largest U.S. Solar-Electric Installation Completed).

Overall, MMA was managing 40 megawatts worth of solar power systems by the end of 2008, a 75 percent jump from 2007, the company said.

The company is raising Fund V and has lined up most of the projects, said Mark McLanahan, MMA's senior vice president of corporate development. The company expects to have the money in place "early this year," McLanahan said.

"We have the curve ball of the current financial crisis that makes things more interesting, but we don't anticipate it will be more difficult [to raise the money] than in the past," McLanahan said.

MMA would benefit from a drop in solar panel prices, which have largely been a result of the credit crunch. Solar panel prices have dropped 10 percent to 20 percent in the last three to four months, McLanahan said. A lower demand in the European market has made panels cheaper for U.S. developers, he added.

Installing solar energy systems often requires loans from banks, which have been reluctant to part with their money. As a result, many solar panels' customers have delayed taking deliveries, leading solar panel makers to cut production and halt expansion plans (see Q-Cells Cuts Sales Forecast After Customers Delay Deliveries).

Suntech Power Holdings, which is one of MMA's suppliers, is one of the companies that have put expansion plans on hold. It also recently cut 10 percent of the workforce (see Suntech Laid Off 10%, Factories Running at 50%-60% Capacity).

McLanahan said changes to Suntech's operations haven't affect MMA's partnership with the Chinese solar panel maker. MMA and Suntech formed a joint venture, called Gemini Solar Development, last year (see Suntech Buys EI Solutions, Teams Up with MMA).