Solar Panel Parking at the Cincinnati Zoo

With an eye on nature, why not utilize one of the most natural forms of energy available?

At the Cincinnati Zoo, SolarWorld solar panels provide shade and generate solar electricity to off-set the impact of grid-based power.  These state-of-the-art parking lot canopy systems include about 6,400 solar panels manufactured by SolarWorld (based right here in my home state of Oregon).  SolarWorld is the largest United States manufacturer of solar technology.

This largest urban solar array accessible to the public is 1.56 megawatts (MW).  The canopy system allows for shaded and sheltered parking stalls, and utilization of rooftop space to tap into abundant free solar energy.  SolarWorld is excited about the new solar canopies and large-scale solar project in Cincinnati.

Raju Yenamandra, VP for sales and business development in the Americas, enthused:

It’s gratifying – and fun – to see the technology that SolarWorld pioneered for so long using American labor on U.S. soil star in this Midwest showcase.  When I started my career, solar was a novel but promising power-generation alternative to fossil fuels. Since then, our technology has built a long track record of reliability. Now, this project signifies its arrival at center stage of American life.”

The solar panel system consists of 15 arrays and was developed, engineered and installed by Melink Corp.  The zoo parking facility is about 4 acres in sice, with solar panels covering 800 of the 1,000 parking spaces in the Cincinnati Zoo’s main parking lot.  The solar electricity generated by the panels will offset 20% of the zoo’s power needs, saving millions of dollars over the life of the system.

Affordable homes and solar panels are not mutually exclusive

Information from the official website states:

Announcing the 2011 SolarWorld/LiveLight Energy Street of Affordable Homes home show featuring six solar homes, built to Earth Advantage Silver specifications. All six homes are Energy Trust rated.

• Featured homes will range in size from 2,500-3,250 square feet and will be priced between $410,000 and $450,000.
• 4 builders, 6 homes at Stone Bridge Homes NW “Arlington Heights” community on Bull Mountain in Tigard

So how can builders use the terms “affordable homes” and “solar panels” in the same sentence?

Here’s how it works.  The solar panels are integrated into the overall cost of new construction, which allows homeowners to finance the solar panels along with their mortgage.  Any incremental increase in the mortgage bill is more than set off by savings on monthly electricity bills.

To see these affordable homes with solar panels, the Street of Affordable Homes will run July 7-31, 2011 at Arlington Heights on Bull Mountain in Tigard, Oregon, which is just outside of Portland (and about 3 hours south of Seattle, Washington).  All homes include photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and are designed to meet requirements for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, environmental responsibility and resource efficiency. In addition to touring fully furnished new homes that won’t cost you a small fortune, SolarWorld and LiveLight Energy will give introductory solar demonstrations and showcase materials.

Even if you are not in the market for a new home, you might get some ideas for home improvements to increase energy efficiency at your house.

You can see floor plans, pricing and driving directions at www.streetofaffordablehomes.com.

Putting solar power to work in Los Angeles

A new solar power plant in Los Angeles will power 85,000 homes. The City’s Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is joining forces with SolarWorld – a solar panel manufacturer – to build a 11.6 megawatt (MW) utility scale solar power station that will divert 290,000 tons of CO2 over the next quarter century.

The partnership between the LADWP and SolarWorld will work as follows:  SolarWorld will supply the PV solar panels (more than 46,000 of them) and solar inverters for the Adelanto facility.  The district will construct and operate the station, selling the clean electricity generated by the solar panels to its customers in regions of Los Angeles.

Solar sponsorship for Pro Soccer!

News from SolarWorld this week, the largest solar manufacturer in the United States, may please both sports fans and solar power enthusiasts.  The company has entered into a deal which is the first of its kind for a solar company: sponsorship of a professional soccer team in the United States.

SolarWorld will be the primary jersey sponsor in 2010 of The Portland Timbers, based in Portland, Oregon.

The decision is not as random as it might initially seem.  SolarWorld has its U.S. headquarters and a 500-megawatt (MW) manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Oregon, which is just outside of Portland.  In addition, the state of Oregon is a leader with respect to solar energy in America.

The German-based company will be the Timbers’ jersey sponsor for 2010.  In a press release, Timbers President Merritt Paulson stated:

“We pride ourselves on being a green organization – not just our colors – and partnering with a preeminent sustainable company like SolarWorld is a no-brainer.”

Portland Timbers Pro Soccer

The Portland Timbers, is now a member of the North American Soccer League, and will become a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in 2011.

The sponsorship of the Portland soccer team is not the first foray into soccer for SolarWorld.  It has a marketing agreement with a German Team, FC Cologne, and also provides solar power to an African community studio that will broadcast this year’s FIFA World Cup.  In fact, that project is part of SolarWorld’s Solar2World program that works to bring solar energy to developing countries.

SolarWorld is quite excited about its new soccer sponsorship, not surprisingly.  Boris Klebensberger, President and COO of the U.S. branch of the company, observed:

“Soccer is the most international sport.  As a renewable-energy company involved in every major solar market, it’s only fitting for us to help support the sport in and around our various sites, including near our U.S. headquarters in Hillsboro.”

Somehow, I am inspired to head to Portland to catch a few pro soccer games this season!

Opel has claimed to be “Europe’s first green automobile maker.”  Its focus has been on creating low-emissions, fuel-effficient vehicles.  Earlier this week, Opel announced that it needed $1.25 billion from the German government, in large part due to the dire situation of its parent company, General Motors (GM).  In stepped SolarWorld with a takeover plan.  SolarWorld has asked GM to give it Opel’s four German factories, its German research center, the Opel brand and $1.25 billion dollars.  In return, SolarWorld, Germany’s third largest solar company promises to invest $350 million cash in the takeover and raise $947.4 million in bank loans.  In short, there would be a complete separation of Opel from GM if the deal goes through.

With SolarWorld in charge, will we be seeing cars with solar panels installed?  Not so fast…. there is much to be worked out.  Forbes Magazine speculates that:

“Chances are GM will reject SolarWorld‘s offer.”

Why would they?  GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, has been begging for aid from the U.S. government in the midst of what the company has called the worst auto market since 1945.  He told a congressional panel on Tuesday this week that the American economy would suffer “catastrophic collapse” if domestic automakers fail.

A 2007 Opel Car

I am all for it!  Personally, I think GM would be foolish not to accept the deal offered by SolarWorld.  Moreover, it appears that the Opel subsidiary would be in good hands.  This would not be SolarWorld‘s first foray into new markets.  Just two years ago, SolarWorld shocked investors by taking over the solar activities of Royal Dutch Shell, which it says have now become profitable.

Of course, making cars may be a bit more of a stretch for SolarWorld than reorganizing the solar activities of Shell.   Still, it is worth noting that SolarWorld has been working for years in developing technology for solar-powered vehicles, so powerful that they could even “participate successfully in motor racing,” according to SolarWorld’s CEO, Frank Asbeck.

Any way you slice it, things are about to get even more interesting in the global economy.  Who thought we would see the day when a solar power company makes a serious takeover play for part of the big three automakers?  Analysts in Europe are encouraging investment in SolarWorld stock.  As one noted yesterday:

“The most political of solar company CEOs is trying to send a message to politicians that if they bail out the carmakers, then something has to change.”

I think GM… and the rest of the world…. should go along for the exciting ride!