Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (Hanwha SolarOne), a top-10 global photovoltaic manufacturer of high-quality, cost-competitive solar modules, today announced the availability of its residential Zep Compatible Solar module in the United States in partnership with Zep Solar, Inc., a US based manufacturer of the first comprehensive platform for module-integrated installation hardware.

The module combines Hanwha SolarOne’s light-weight, durable, and high efficiency HSL Series with integrated grounding and mounting systems from Zep Solar, increasing safety and reducing installation costs, speeding installation by four-to-five times over traditional racking solutions. HSL Series modules manufactured with the patented Zep Groove™ will be available in the beginning of 2014.

“Hanwha SolarOne is always looking for innovative ways to drive down balance of system costs,” said Hanwha SolarOne North American President Steve Kang. “Partnering with Zep is proven to shorten installation time and deliver more value to our customers.”

Zep Solar licenses its Zep Groove technology to PV module manufacturers like Hanwha SolarOne, who then incorporate the special geometry into their PV module frame designs and manufacture “Zep Compatible” PV modules. The company manufactures a full suite of mounting and grounding hardware as well as other accessories that mate with the Zep Groove.

“We are very happy to see Hanwha SolarOne enter as a reliable and sustainable global manufacturer of Zep Compatible PV modules; and being backed by the Hanwha Group lends well to the strength of their offering,” said Mike Miskovsky of Zep Solar.

Backed by a 25-year linear power warranty and 12-year workmanship warranty, HSL Series modules have enhanced quality assurance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification.

Hanwha SolarOne will exhibit the Zep Compatible module during Solar Power International at booth #1300.  Zep Solar’s technical team will also be on hand leading demonstrations of the Zep Solar technology platform at Hanwha’s booth.

Renewable energy is a key element of any net-zero building project.  So when “The Proud Green Home at Serenbe” project was looking for its PV solution, they turned to emerging solar leader LG Electronics.

Located in the sustainable community of Serenbe just south of Atlanta, the Proud Green Home project features a variety of techniques, products and design to create a sustainable home for the future. The Imery Group wanted to work with companies that shared the vision for sustainable building and would provide products and thinking that would help them reach a true net-zero build.

The community of Serenbe is built around sustainability. Everything from the home’s methods of construction to the organic produce on the tables that was breathes sustainability.  This philosophy encouraged The Imery Group to make Serenbe the home of their Proud Green Home net-zero project. They partnered with LG Squared, Inc., a residential designer, to provide creative support in building the ideal home.

“Building a net-zero home is more than sustainable products. It takes a collection of likeminded companies with a goal of energy efficiency to bring all the right products together,” said Luis Imery, founder of The Imery Group, which conceived the project.

Creating a net-zero home means installing an energy source that will generate the same amount of power that the building needs. The architects-builders installed 40 LG Mono X™modules for the home, providing the best in quality energy solutions, according to Imery.

The energy increase from previous models is based on three innovative LG technologies:

• First, LG’s selective emitter technology improves the solar cell efficiency and simplifies the manufacturing process.
• Second, fine line electrodes have been created via significant improvements in the screen-printing process. The resulting broader light absorption area generates a greater amount of power.
• Finally, LG’s own “surface passivation” technology reduces the electrical loss at the solar cell surface. With LG’s advanced surface treatment technology absorbing more sunlight, the power output of the photo-conversion function is much greater than conventional multicrystalline solar cells.

“The LG Mono X™ modules are fantastic for this project as they are the latest and greatest with a maximum output needed to achieve our goals,” said Imery. “This vital component to the project is essential to reaching net-zero as they will produce all the energy the home needs to continue operating.”

A home would not be complete without the amenities and conveniences we’ve come to expect in modern day living.

Working in tandem with the solar panels, the Proud Green Home at Serenbe required the most energy efficient systems to make the net-zero goal a reality. For HVAC, Imery chose LG’s new Multi-V Mini zoned single-phase system. It provides the benefits of VRF (variable refrigerant flow) – lower annual operational costs, minimal or no duct work, and superior comfort with room zoning while maintaining architectural integrity.

Given LG’s overall efforts to support sustainable living, nearly all its products and appliances are ENERGY STAR® certified, making them a great addition to any home. For a net-zero home, they are practically a requirement. The Proud Green Home selected a number of LG ENERGY STAR home appliances and electronics including LED televisions, a large-capacity refrigerators and energy efficient washer and dryer.

Even with the plethora of energy efficient technologies in the home, LG Solar is its shining star.  Highlighting this solar installation, the Proud Green Home at Serenbe held its official ribbon cutting this summer. There are plans to monitor energy usage of the home once the family moves in, providing the developers with vital information on the project’s efficiency. This data will affect future building projects that aim for increased sustainability as the focus on net-zero homes with PV continues to grow.

CarbonFree Technology Inc. announced today its development participation in the largest solar project in Canada, and the concurrent closing of debt financing for the project.

Located in Haldimand County, Ontario, the Grand Renewable Solar Project (GRS) is the largest photovoltaic project in Canada and one of the largest in North America. With an equipment nameplate capacity of 130 MW DC, the project will use approximately 445,000 polycrystalline silicon modules installed at a fixed tilt on 736 acres of leased land. The power generated will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority under a 100 MW (AC) 20-year Feed-In Tariff (FIT) contract.

Project equity has been provided by Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure, Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Six Nations of the Grand River – the largest First Nations group in Canada. Samsung originated the project as part of its commitment to investing in solar and wind energy in Ontario.

Debt financing has been secured from a syndicate of banks. The debt will be used both for the construction and for the long-term financing of the project.

In addition to its role in helping structure the transaction, CarbonFree Technology and its development partner s2e Technologies Inc. will provide construction management services while the project is built.

Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project, and will work together with prime subcontractors that have significant prior experience in building major renewable energy projects in Ontario.

An average of 110 workers and a peak of 200 will be on site during construction, including local subcontractors that will be utilized for various aspects of the project. Construction is expected to begin soon and is scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2015.

All of the solar modules to be used in the project will be manufactured in Guelph and in a new facility in London, ON by Canadian Solar, which will also manufacture 65 medium voltage stations (eHouses) at the new facility. The eHouses will contain 130 inverters manufactured in Don Mills, ON by SMA Canada Inc. Racking for the project will be manufactured using components made in several locations across Ontario by Magna International Inc.

From an environmental standpoint, the project will produce enough emission- free electricity to will meet the needs of more than 17,000 Ontario households each year.

“A solar project of this size and complexity involves so many technical, financial and legal issues. We would like to thank all of our manufacturing, construction, equity and debt partners for working so diligently to make Grand Renewable Solar a success,” said David Oxtoby, CEO of CarbonFree Technology.

After more than two years of collaboration, 3M Renewable Energy and tenKsolar are celebrating a number of milestones in increasing energy generation from commercial rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays. In 2011, the two companies first combined the tenKsolar RAIS® commercial solar array with 3M™ Cool Mirror Film 330. This system is able to generate up to 45 percent more annual energy per square foot of rooftop than a typical installation with a conventional solar array, while at the same time reducing PV energy costs and providing net energy savings to buildings by reducing rooftop temperatures.

Today, tenKsolar and 3M are pleased to report that more than 200 installations have been installed at locations across the U.S., Latin America, Europe and Asia. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., the company has enjoyed easy access to its neighbors at 3M, and has also installed a grid-tied tenKsolar RAIS® solar PV (photovoltaic) array at the 3M facility in Cottage Grove, Minn.

A key aspect of tenK’s ability to offer a substantial gain in power and energy generation is a result of the close collaboration between 3M and tenKsolar engineers. Through that collaboration, 3M designed the Cool Mirror Film 330, an all-polymeric mirror film, to offer a low photopic reflectance with minimal heat reflection. The use of the Cool Mirror Film 330, in combination with tenK’s shade tolerant PV modules, allow tenKsolar PV systems to accept non-uniform reflection and as a result provide energy at a lower cost than solar PV system that use only conventional PV modules.

Representatives from both 3M and tenKsolar will be available for joint interviews at the Solar Power International show, October 21-24 in Chicago, Ill.