17 January 2012

Japan’s Solar Frontier to supply 100+MWp of CIS PV modules to enXco

Tokyo-based Solar Frontier (a subsidiary of Japanese energy business Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.) and renewable energy firm enXco of San Diego, CA, USA (an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company) have signed a supply agreement for up to 150MWp of Solar Frontier’s (copper, indium, selenium) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules. A firm order for 26MWp was completed and delivered in fourth- quarter 2011 for the Catalina Solar Project in Kern County, CA, USA. When completed, the project will be the world’s largest CI(G)S installation and will rank among the largest solar installations of any type globally, it is reckoned.

The plant will be built in two phases – the first phase of about 60MWp is targeted to go online by the end of 2012 and the remainder of the project by June 2013. The plant will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of about 35,000 homes annually and will offset about 74,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

“This is a landmark moment not only for Solar Frontier but the CI(G)S industry as a whole,” claims Gregory W. Ashley, chief operating officer of Solar Frontier Americas Inc in Santa Clara, CA, USA. “We have demonstrated successfully that the unique characteristics of CIS technology are compelling to major customers by delivering more kWh over the lifetime of a project for a lower cost. We see this project as a launch pad for ever greater CIS achievement in the USA and across the world. We are pleased to work with enXco, which has shown its commitment to the industry by continuing to develop and build utility-scale solar projects,” he adds.

“With its gigawatt-scale production capacity, and favorable energy production profile, Solar Frontier and its parent company Showa Shell Sekiyu have positioned themselves through a long and proven development process to be able to meet the supply expectations required for such large utility-scale projects,” says Kristina Peterson, VP, Solar Business Unit for enXco.

Tags: Solar Frontier CIS thin-film PV modules

Visit: www.solar-frontier.com

Visit: www.enxco.com