Hawaii’s Mauna Lani Takes Leadership Role Among the World’s Resorts by Deploying Its Fourth On-site Solar Electric Power System.
Hawaii’s Mauna Lani Takes Leadership Role Among the World’s Resorts by Deploying Its Fourth On-site Solar Electric Power System.
KOHALA COAST, Hawaii
PowerLight Corporation Provides Solar Electric
PowerTracker(TM) System with 250 kW Generating Capacity
Mauna Lani Resort today dedicated a 250 kW photovoltaic PowerTracker(TM) system manufactured and installed by PowerLight Corporation of Berkeley, California. By adding this proprietary sun-tracking solar electric system, Mauna Lani achieves the distinction of having the most solar electric generating capacity of any resort in the world — a 1/2 megawatt of photovoltaic systems, provided entirely by PowerLight.
“This is our fourth solar electric system from PowerLight,” said Neil Bustamante, Vice President, Mauna Lani Resort (Operation), Inc. (www.maunalani.com). “These clean, reliable systems make sense both for our operating budget and the environment. We project saving $5 million over the next 25 years, while keeping true to Mauna Lani’s vision of preserving our beautiful land.”
“Mauna Lani’s deployment of renewable solar energy throughout its resort illustrates their commitment to environmentally sound, cost-effective solutions,” said Daniel Shugar, Executive Vice-President of PowerLight Corporation. “Mauna Lani is truly visionary — proving every day that solar power is integral to meeting Hawaii’s energy needs.”
Covering three acres, PowerLight’s sun tracking system supplies the majority of Mauna Lani’s daytime water pumping power requirements. The 250 kW system maximizes the sun’s available energy by capturing 30% more daylight than fixed systems as the tracker follows the sun from early morning to late afternoon. A data acquisition system uses sophisticated monitoring and control technologies, downloading operational data every night for analysis the following day. Changes in operating parameters are conducted remotely by computer.
The 250 kW PowerTracker project is the fourth solar photovoltaic project PowerLight has furnished for Mauna Lani. In 1998, the resort installed an 80 kW PowerGuard(R) solar electric roof system for Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, as well as a 110 kW system to power Mauna Lani’s golf facility. Over the last two years, both systems have performed with an availability of over 98%, and continue to generate energy above specification. Not only are these solar systems sparing the environment from thousands of tons of harmful emissions (NOx, SOx and CO2), they are also generating internal rates of return above 20%. Mauna Lani has also deployed a fleet of solar-powered golf cars, outfitted with PowerLight’s SunCaddy(TM) electric systems, at its 36-hole, internationally-acclaimed Francis H. I’i Brown golf course. (See 1/22/02 news: http://www.powerlight.com/pr/012202suncaddy.html).
PowerLight’s PowerTracker systems track the sun from east to west on a tilted axis, generating the maximum energy possible from an affordably priced ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system.
PowerLight’s PowerGuard solar rooftop panels reduce utility costs substantially over three decades, while extending the lifetime of the roof and providing added thermal insulation benefits to the building. The patented, lightweight photovoltaic (PV) roofing assembly delivers clean solar electricity to the building while protecting the roof from damaging effects of weather and UV radiation.
PowerLight’s SunCaddy replaces existing golf car rooftops with an innovative canopy that incorporates clean, reliable solar photovoltaic technology. SunCaddy recharges electric golf and utility vehicles from daylight, substantially reducing recharging costs while doubling the battery life of the electric cars. Designed to fit all major electric utility vehicles, SunCaddy can be installed on new cars, or retrofitted on existing electric golf and utility vehicles. Mauna Lani’s entire golf car fleet will be SunCaddy-powered by the end of 2003, saving Mauna Lani thousands of dollars in avoided battery replacement costs during the economic life of the vehicles.
Mauna Lani’s new PowerLight PowerTracker system is composed of 24 rows of PV panels. Each row has 40 ASE300 framed modules for a combined output of 10.5 kW ac per row. Two 150 kW Xantrex inverters provide power conversion and system control. The inverters are 96% efficient and extremely reliable. DC power is inverted from 500 VDC to 208 VAC, and then stepped up to 480 VAC for use in near by irrigation pumps. A portion of the energy is stepped up to 12,470 VAC to provide power to irrigation pumps that are over a mile from the PowerTracker site.
About Mauna Lani Resort
Mauna Lani Resort (www.maunalani.com) and its affiliated companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tokyu Corporation of Japan. The Resort is ideally located on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, 25 minutes north of the Kona International Airport. It features the award-winning Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, nestled oceanfront and surrounded by acres of preserved, ancient Hawaiian fishponds. Amenities include the Francis H. I’i Brown golf course (home of the Senior Skins Game for 11 consecutive years), tennis courts, and a new Mauna Lani Spa. Widely recognized as a pacesetter in historic preservation and stewardship of the land, Mauna Lani beckons visitors with its unparalleled spirit of place.
About PowerLight Corporation
PowerLight (www.powerlight.com) is the leading manufacturer of commercial-scale solar electric products and services. Founded in 1991, PowerLight’s systems deliver reliable, affordable clean power for commercial and government customers worldwide. Inc Magazine has ranked the PowerLight Corporation among the top 500 fastest growing privately held companies in 2000 and 2001. Today, PowerLight has worldwide offices and a full line of commercial solar electric products.
July 7th, 2005 - Posted in Solar Energy News | | 0 Comments
Solar Energy Solution For Low-Slope, Single-Ply Membrane Roofs
Uni-Solar Ovonic and GenFlex Introduce Solar Energy Solution For Low-Slope, Single-Ply Membrane Roofs; Combined Solution is Durable, Lightweight and Simple to Install and Ideal for Low-Slope Commercial Applications.
United Solar Ovonic LLC (Ovonic Solar), the world leader in thin-film amorphous silicon solar technology and a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. , and GenFlex Roofing Systems (GenFlex), a recognized industry leader and a supplier of single-ply roofing products and systems, introduce a combined solar energy solution for low-slope membrane roofs. The Uni-Solar Ovonic/GenFlex offering allows customers to easily install a powerful energy- generating solution without requiring additional structural support or penetration of the roof itself. The solution is a combination of Uni-Solar Ovonic’s unique lightweight, flexible, photovoltaic (PV) panels and GenFlex’s durable thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) membrane roofing solutions.
“Beyond doing what we do best — consistently delivering durable, weather- resistant roofing solutions — is the need to offer roof-mounted energy- generating alternatives for our commercial customers,” said Jon Apgar, President, GenFlex. “The product characteristics of Uni-Solar Ovonic’s thin- film building-integrated solution, including its weight, flexibility and durability, nicely complement our existing TPO and EPDM roofing solution. By going to the market together with this solution, we offer our customers an ideal, one-stop solution for both a new roof and a solution for solar energy.”
The Uni-Solar Ovonic/GenFlex solution is designed to maximize flat or low- slope commercial roofing situations without compromising the integrity of the roof or building structure. The PV panels are designed to generate energy from any existing roof space, without requiring additional structural support. Uni-Solar Ovonic and GenFlex deliver the complete PV system design and engineering support.
“The Uni-Solar Ovonic/GenFlex partnership is the ideal way for two companies with expertise in their respective markets to come together and offer their joint customers a one-of-a-kind solution,” said Subhendu Guha, President and Chief Operating Officer of Uni-Solar Ovonic. “We are pleased to partner with GenFlex. It is gratifying for us to continue to offer our customers market-leading, sought-after solar energy solutions.”
Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Chairman and CEO of Uni-Solar Ovonic and President and CEO of ECD Ovonics, said, “We remain committed to offering a solar energy system appropriate for every commercial or residential roof-top. The Uni- Solar Ovonic/GenFlex solution is another example of our commitment to make the roofs of the world the source of clean energy without taking up one inch more of land itself.”
Uni-Solar Ovonic’s unique thin-film amorphous solar products are quickly being accepted as the ideal solution for both commercial and residential customers. Differing from the traditional crystalline technology, which typically utilizes heavy, glass-mounted panels, the UNI-SOLAR(R) system solutions are flexible, durable, lightweight and easy to install. In addition, independent studies have shown that Uni-Solar Ovonic’s systems produce more energy per rated power than crystalline products, enhancing their overall value in the market.
About Uni-Solar Ovonic
Uni-Solar Ovonic, building on technology invented and pioneered by ECD Ovonics, is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. The Uni- Solar Ovonic 30-megawatt production equipment is the world’s largest and most advanced machine for the manufacture of thin-film amorphous silicon alloy solar cells and related products used for a variety of applications ranging from solar lanterns of 2-3 watts to large solar farms of 500 kilowatts. Because of characteristics unique to Uni-Solar Ovonic’s solar cell technology, such as lightweight, ruggedness and flexibility, they are ideal as building- integrated photovoltaic roofing systems for residential and industrial customers. ECD Ovonics and Uni-Solar Ovonic hold the basic patents covering the continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing of thin-film amorphous silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products. More information is available at http://www.uni-solar.com/ .
About GenFlex
GenFlex is a leading, full-line supplier of single-ply roofing products for the commercial market. Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, GenFlex manufactures, markets and sells its products through a network of distributors, sales agents and authorized roofing contractors. GenFlex is a business of OMNOVA Solutions Inc., a technology-based polymer and specialty chemical business with operations in the global marketplace. For more information about GenFlex, please visit its website at http://www.genflex.com/ .
CONTACT: Subhendu Guha, President of United Solar Ovonic LLC, +1-248-475-0100, [email protected]
Web site: http://www.uni-solar.com/ http://www.genflex.com/
July 5th, 2005 - Posted in Solar Energy News, Solar Energy Products | | 0 Comments
