Solar Power World

Report Recommends Changing Solar Standards for Ground Mounts

The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) has released a final report, “Grounding Photovoltaic Modules: Issues and Recommendations,” which draws on feedback from solar industry experts as well as ongoing research at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and presents the issues with recommendations for changes to existing standards. The need for this study was... Read More

Sustainable Soccer

Solar Energy World, a Maryland solar energy systems provider, plans to install a solar energy system in Soccer Dome’s newest recreational indoor soccer facilities, Soccer Dome II in Harmans, Maryland. In recent years, sports arenas and stadiums have become champions of sustainability for both social and financial reasons. The STAPLES Center, home to the Los Angeles Lakers, has... Read More

6.4 MW Planned for New Jersey

The Mountain Creek Resort and Grand Cascades Golf Resort in Vernon, New Jersey are going solar. SPI Solar will develop the solar project with EPC KDC Solar. KDC Solar will own and operate the systems, which will include a mixture of fixed ground mount and custom designed solar parking canopies and car ports at three separate sites at the resort. The photovoltaic systems will provide... Read More

Panasonic Solar Panels Installed At New City Nissan in Honolulu

Panasonic announces that New City Nissan in Honolulu, Hawai’i has installed a 305.7-KW Panasonic solar system to generate additional revenue and energy-cost savings for the dealership. The Nissan dealership unveiled the system at a ribbon-cutting event on the new system as part of its “Earth Day Event.” The dealership installation features Panasonic HIT Power 220-watt panels,... Read More

Missouri Baseball Teams Go Solar

UPDATED APRIL 16 to reflect whose panels were used in the St. Louis project — SCHOTT Solar. Missouri’s two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams have recently scored renewable energy projects. Both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals have installed solar panels that were up and running when the 2012 season opened. At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, home of the 2011 World... Read More

Project Review: Stimulating Schools With Solar In California

  JMC Steel Group’s Atlas Tube division was able to work through PDM Steel to provide 1,200 tons of large-size HSS squares and rectangles to for use in the steel columns of the solar carports. By leveraging its resources and relationships, JMC Steel delivered the order on time, despite a tight schedule. –photo courtesy of SRVUSD Utilities are often school districts’ second... Read More

Racking and Mounting: Managing Municipal Budgets

  More municipalities than ever are looking to lower costs in the wake of poor economic times and slashed budgets. One of the most obvious places to start is to provide your town with self-generated, more efficient energy. When the Lower Township (N.J.) Municipal Utilities Authority (LTMUA) decided to move in that direction, they explored adding a solar farm to their water... Read More

Technology Developers: Solar Goes To College

In 2006, a group of college and university presidents came together and created the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. A small community college in Victorville, Calif., signed the agreement and immediately investigated renewable energy alternatives to produce at least 1 MW of its energy needs. Victor Valley College originally examined the possibility... Read More

Contractor’s Corner: New England Breeze Solar, Hudson, Mass.

Mark Durrenberger, owner of Hudson, Mass.-based New England Breeze Solar, first became aware of the solar power industry while in college. It was 1979, and President Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels on the White House. He wanted to get a degree in energy engineering to help push the solar industry forward, but his college program, in his words, didn’t go anywhere. So he... Read More

Phoenix US Airways Center Gets Solar

Phoenix and Arizona Public Service officials, NBA Phoenix Suns executives and point guard Steve Nash recently switched on 966 solar panels on the roof of Phoenix US Airways Center parking garage. They’ve named it the APS Suns Powered Solar Structure. Nash, who has been a spokesman for APS’ energy-saving campaigns since 2008, said the new project fits in with his personal... Read More

Military Housing Gets Solar System

A 684-kW photovoltaic system has been installed at U.S. Army base Fort Hood in Texas. Universal Services Fort Hood (USFH) and Axium Solar worked with SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc. to install the solar at the base’s Liberty Village Military Housing. The 4-acre ground-mount system will generate an estimated 1,000,000, kWh of energy annually – which is roughly 20% of the energy... Read More

Joule Energy Installs Large 28 KW Solar System on Its Warehouse

Joule Energy, an integrator of high-efficiency solar systems, is installing a large 28 KW solar system on its primary business location. The system illustrates the design of a working installation, serves as a training tool and significantly reduces the operating cost of Joule’s facilities. “As a solar contractor, the choice to put solar on our own roof was a no-brainer,”... Read More

Seattle Mariners Hit Home Run With Panasonic Double Solar Panels

Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Co., in partnership with the Seattle Mariners, announced the installation of a solar panel system comprised of 168 Panasonic HIT Double solar panels at Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners’ home ballpark. HITDouble solar panels are interesting because they are aesthetic and able to absorb and generate electricity from both the top and bottom sides... Read More

New Solar Program Offers Millions to Affordable Housing

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) officially launched the latest California Solar Initiative (CSI) program on March 29. The new program provides $25 million in increased solar water heating incentives for affordable housing in California. The launch of the program could not be more timely, given the recent dissolution of the Community Redevelopment Agency – a major... Read More

New Capital Area Food Bank to Power Up with Standard Solar

Standard Solar, a national company that does  full-service development, installation and financing of solar electric systems for residential, commercial, government and utility customers, announced it is developing a 241 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB). The system, which will be installed on the new facility currently under construction in... Read More