20 April 2011

OPEL’s single-axis trackers chosen by Greenlight Power

OPEL Solar International Inc of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which makes high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) panels (and both roof- and ground-based solar tracker systems), is supplying TF-850 single-axis trackers to Greenlight Power Company (a full-service solar energy development firm) for the launch of a 125kW project to be installed at a solar farm in a business park in Kent County, MD. This is the first phase of a 1.4MW solar development at the site.

The trackers should increase the project’s energy production by about 24% over what would be expected from the same solar panels using a fixed installation, it is reckoned. The output will be sold to Choptank Electric, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, which is a member-owned electric distribution utility with headquarters in Denton, MD that serves more than 52,140 residential, commercial and industrial accounts in parts of all nine counties of Maryland's Eastern Shore. This first phase of the Greenlight project is expected to produce about 182MWh of energy annually.

“The boost in energy production from our tracker can improve the economics of any solar project that has an energy-production-based solar renewable energy credit (SREC) program like Maryland’s,” says OPEL Solar’s CEO Leon M. Pierhal. “The choice of the TF-850 tracker validates our recent strategic decision to supply clean, solar energy directly for industrial structures.” OPEL says that its tracker product line can be used with any type of solar panel technology, providing greater layout flexibility for integrators and engineering firms choosing a tracker for a solar field installation.

“Adding the OPEL Solar tracker made both business and energy sense for this important first phase of our Maryland project,” comments Greenlight’s president Greg Brown. “Based upon the advice from David Schroeders of Blue Sky Solar [a consulting/EPC provider based in Venice, FL, USA], we decided OPEL Solar’s single-axis trackers are a great addition to this project that we believe will also benefit many future projects,” he adds.

Blue Sky Solar Group’s founder David Schroeders is a civil engineer with more than 20 years construction and engineering experience. The firm is currently building projects in nine states in the USA.

Tags: OPEL Solar CPV

Visit: www.opelinc.com

Visit: www.greenlightpowercompany.com

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