NEWS
begin implementing projects under the solar
bond approved by the citizens of San Francisco
in November 2001. Planning for the first solar
electric system sponsored by Proposition B
began in November 2002, with 675 kW of solar
panels to be installed on the Moscone Center,
the well known exhibition facility. This solar
project is a focal point of PUC’s efforts to create
a solar community in San Francisco.
In the category of developing a sustainable
solar business, the winner was PowerLight
Corporation in Berkeley, California. The
company has deployed a wide range of market-
ing communications strategies to generate public
awareness of the economic and environmental
benefits of grid-connected solar power. This
aggressive marketing and communications
approach is just one of the reasons that Power-
Light has been successful in the solar electric
industry. Through creating a high profile for its
customers, the company creates additional value
for its products, and a stronger solar market.
In addition to these categories, Salt River
Project (SRP) in Arizona was recognized on its
centennial anniversary this year. SRP’s
dedication to renewable energy has made it a
leader in the solar community; SEPA says it
wanted to honor SRP’s 100 years of service to
the people of Arizona.
An award of Individual Achievement went to
Jim Torpey of New Jersey-based Madison
Energy Consultants, for his service to SEPA and
its board of directors. SEPA also commended all
of the 2003 award recipients as ‘outstanding
examples of how solar electric power can be, and
has been, integrated into the community and the
energy business’.
For more information about SEPA, go to:
www.SolarElectricPower.org
IntegraBus increases
reliability of new
BP Solar module
BP Solar’s newest PV module, the BP 3125
with a 125 W/12 V specification, marks the
debut of the company’s IntegraBus technol-
ogy, in a 157 × 157 mm multicrystalline cell,
which the company claims is the largest cell
currently available commercially.
The IntegraBus increases reliability by
exponentially reducing the heat increase
experienced by the module when the diodes are
turned on, as a result of cell shading. BP Solar
says these features give the BP 3125 enhanced
reliability and the highest rated power output for
a 12 V product. For this reason, the company
expects the module to be especially popular for
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Photovoltaics Bulletin
off-grid applications such as telecoms, water
pumping and remote home systems.
The BP 3125 is available in two versions. The
3125U features a high-capacity junction box,
which the company says is ideally suited to
caravanning, boating, camping, industrial
systems and remote homes where 12 V loads are
present. The BP 3125S, featuring polarized
multicontact connectors, is designed in particular
for large off-grid installations and on-grid
residential systems.
For more information on BP Solar, go to:
www.bpsolar.com
Rooftop PV powers
artists at Boston facility
Vermont-based Northern Power Systems has
been hired to engineer, build and commission
an advanced, PV-based, on-site power system
for Artists for Humanity (AFH) at the
nonprofit organization’s new EpiCenter
facility at 100 West 2nd Street in South
Boston, Massachusetts. The custom-designed,
48 kW turnkey power system will gather
clean, sustainable energy using a PV array
mounted on the roof. It is the largest such
roof-mounted PV panel array in Boston.
By supplying load support and peak power,
the system will help AFH spend less on
electricity and more on its programs. Working
with urban young people in the Boston area,
AFH empowers youth with art and entre-
preneurship by providing education and
employment in fine art and graphic art.
The group needed a new facility, and
purchased a derelict building at the West 2nd
Street location. Demolition of the old building
began in May, with construction of the
EpiCenter scheduled for completion next April.
NPS is currently working on the design of the
PV system, and will begin its construction in the
second quarter of 2004, anticipating completion
of the system in late spring.
NPS will design, engineer and install the
rooftop systems, using ASE-300 PV modules.
With a rated power of 300 W, the ASE-300 is
claimed to be the world’s largest and most
powerful PV module. SMA Sunny Boy 2500 AC
inverters, noted for their high efficiency and
high reliability, were selected to convert the
solar-produced electricity from DC to AC.
According to AFH executive director Susan
Rodgerson, the solar power system is a key
element that supports the organization’s goal of
creating an environmentally conscious and cost-
effective green building. ‘As social entrepreneur-
ship innovators, we are excited to apply the
principles of social mission and business-like
discipline to the design and operation of our new
facility, and the rooftop solar system from
Northern epitomizes this spirit,’ she comments.
‘By involving architects, developers and
designers to channel our youths’ energy,
creativity and vision, we are creating a cost-
effective and ecologically responsible workspace
for AFH’s commercial and fine artists.’
AFH worked on the building development
with the contracting and engineering firm T.R.
White, which acted as its representative for the
project. T.R. White had previously worked with
NPS on a PV and building monitoring system at
the Woods Hole Research Center in Falmouth,
Massachusetts. A committee including represent-
atives from Artists for Humanity, T.R. White,
Arrowstreet (project architects) and Mark Kelley
III (environmental consultant), was responsible
for selecting NPS as the PV contractor.
To fund the EpiCenter project, AFH received
nearly $4m in contributions and pledges, includ-
ing a $200 000 challenge grant from the Garfield
Foundation and contributions from individual,
corporate and foundation donors. A grant from
the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will
help cover costs associated with incorporating
renewable energy into the new building. The
organization also worked with MassDevelopment
to finalize bond financing for the project.
For information on Northern Power Systems, go to:
www.northernpower.com
For information on ASE PV modules, from RWE
Schott Solar, go to: www.asepv.com
For information on Artists for Humanity, go to:
www.afhboston.com/Information/GeneralInfo2.html
For information on Green Buildings and Schools in
Massachusetts, go to: www.mtpc.org/
RenewableEnergy/green_buildings/
funded_projects.htm
High-voltage solar cell
for battery charging
Clare Inc in Massachusetts has launched the
CPC1810 solar cell product, and introduced
what it says is a new solar cell technology. The
enabling capability behind the PV cells,
manufactured using the company’s state-of-
the-art, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technol-
ogy, is its optically coupled solid-state relays.
The CPC1810 solar cell is activated by either
sunlight or artificial light, and produces a floating
source voltage up to 7.5 V and current output of
12 µA. Initial samples are packaged in a 4-pin
TO-39 can with a clear surface for light
transmission. Additional package options will be
available in the near future, as well as individual
die or whole wafers.
November 2003