News

7 July 2009

 

OPEL and BETASOL complete first 110kW phase of HCPV installation

OPEL International Inc of Shelton, CT, USA and Toronto, Canada, which makes high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) panels (as well as both roof- and ground-based dual- and single-axis solar trackers for mounting them), and its Spanish partner BETASOL, which builds utility-grade solar farm installations for subsequent sale to investor groups, have completed the first 110kW phase of a four-phase 440kW solar farm in the Spanish province of Tarragona. This represents one of the first commercial-grade HCPV installations supplying electricity to the power grid and generating revenue in Spain.

Last December, OPEL began shipping its Mk-I HCPV panels mounted on dual-axis trackers. The balance of the installation is expected to be completed in third-quarter 2009, after which the project will supply electricity to more than 350 households.

“This installation has attracted great interest of potential customers in both Europe and Africa,” says OPEL’s CEO Robert Pico. “Our partnership with OPEL using its HCPV panels greatly improved the system’s efficiency, thus making the rate of return provided by the Spanish feed-in tariff structure even more attractive to investors,” adds BETASOL’s managing director Jesus Cabetas.

“OPEL’s Mk-I HCPV panel design is a cost-competitive solution concentrating light from the sun more than 500 times on to very high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells,” says OPEL’s VP of marketing Frank Middleton. “This product has conversion efficiencies up to twice those of silicon solar panels and more than three times that of thin-film solar panels, making it an optimum solution, especially in sunny climates such as the Mediterranean basin and the South Western USA.”

OPEL will report on progress as it completes the other phases of the project.

See related items:

Spain’s BETASOL gains funding for second, 2.375MW solar farm using OPEL’s HCPVs

OPEL forms subsidiary to partner with European solar project developers

Search: OPEL CPV GaAs

Visit: www.opelinc.com