Businesses from across the spectrum of the US solar industry have been recognised by the Intersolar NA AWARD programme.
The gongs highlight the best new technologies, projects and initiatives contributing to the growing US industry.
“Our exhibitors submitted many groundbreaking technologies and projects, which made the job of our jury very difficult,” said Markus Elsässer, CEO of Solar Promotion International, the Intersolar organisers.
“The winners exemplified the central goal of Intersolar—to develop products and bring online installations that advance the adoption of solar and help to continue to create an affordable, cleaner and safer energy future,” he added.
Winners announced in San Francisco included Trina Solar’s Park City social housing project in National City, California.
The solar PV retrofit is the largest multi-family affordable solar housing project in California generating 775,000kWh annually. The power can be shared between the homes and will help to lower bills for resident and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 5,000 tonnes.
MRI Global was recognised for its management of the Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC), the largest test facility for emerging solar technology in the US.
SolarTAC is a partnership between the industry, research community and the government. The 30-hectare site in Aurora, Colorado Research, caries out testing and demonstration of solar energy technologies, components and grid integration.
For the first time, the PV Production Technologies category was announced at Intersolar
Merck/EMD Chemicals won the AWARD for developing a simplified process using isishape SmartEtch etching paste, the Merck Selective Emitter (MSE). The etch-back, single-doping process provides better efficiency on both mono-and multi-crystalline Si wafers and simplifies the process by minimising the number of material applications and removals.
LayTec was recognised for its X Link Measurement System, which enables faster evaluation of the level of EVA cross-linking after lamination. The LayTec X Link Measurement System, which was created in collaboration with Fraunhofer USA, can be integrated into any solar module production line and is the only available non-destructive procedure, which helps to reduce costs.
