Belectric and Smart Energy Capital said that they have created a joint venture to develop and finance utility-grade photovoltaic power plants. The partnership will focus on multimegawatt sites in the United States, and will develop projects on a greenfield basis as well as through acquisitions from qualified developers.
Five buildings at US Navy base Pearl Harbor, known now as the Joint base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in Oahu, Hawaii are in the midst of a US$15 million project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Intended to increase the base’s energy independence by using renewable energy, a combined 2.4MW solar array has been installed using SolarWorld panels, which include its crystalline silicon technology, and is spread across five buildings at the historic base.
Syncarpha Capital has chosen Siemens Energy to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for its new 3MW solar plant in Eastampton, New Jersey. Construction work on the ground-based system is set to begin shortly and grid connection is pencilled in for September.
Solar Power Partners and JCM Capital have signed a deal with Rumble Energy, to provide full development, construction, and long-term equity financing for a 6MW portfolio of commercial-scale rooftop installations located throughout Ontario. The agreement follows the SPP-JCM announcement in December 2010 on the launch of their Solar Fund to develop, finance, own, and operate 200MW of solar projects in Ontario.
Morgan Solar has closed the first installment of its Series B funding round with US$16.5 million. The funding will enable the company to increase its manufacturing and deployment for its Sun Simba concentrated PV module. Existing investors Inversiones Financieras Perseo, of the Iberdrola Group, and Nypro were joined by new investor, The Frost Group. Morgan Solar is in talks with strategic investors to close the remainder of the funding round.
Macy’s Goodyear, Arizona online fulfillment center is modeling a new 3.5MW rooftop solar power system. SunPower designed and installed the solar project, which features a SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile system, and will continue to support the center with operations and maintenance services.
Solar Topps, a solar integrator in Arizona, and Schott Solar have entered into a new solar panel supply agreement. The agreement will see Schott’s solar panels used in future Solar Topps commercial solar power installations, which range from 30kW to 200kW. The solar installations will be based in various cities and business in Arizona including car dealerships, hotels and shopping centers in Tucson, Nogales, Yuma, Tempe and Phoenix.
IKEA’s mission to minimize its impact on the global environment continues with the announcement of six more solar installations to take place on its locations in the Eastern US. Since the beginning of this year, the home design giant has completed a 498kW solar system at its Denver store and a 200kW installation at its Brooklyn facility, while also announcing plans for two solar systems to be installed at store locations in Germany.
Solmentum, a residential power sales company, has completed its 1,000th project putting it over 5MW in sales after only two years of being in business. With the milestone, Solmentum is considered one of California’s five largest residential solar companies when it comes to monthly sales.
Plans are in the works to develop and build a 20MW solar PV power plant on property surrounding the Maryland Correctional Institution outside of Hagerstown. The project would be the largest commercial solar facility in the state.
