Residential Framed Thin Film Solar Electric Application Debuts in Long Island

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October 2, 2007
Residential Framed Thin Film Solar Electric Application Debuts in Long Island
System Touts Improved Energy Payback Over Conventional Crystalline C-Si Modules
Press Release from Aten Solar Mattituck, NY

A 2.7 KW array of framed thin film A-Si (amorphous silicon) solar electric modules was recently commissioned in Mattituck, NY. This installation is the first of its kind for Long Island and received funding from LIPA's solar pioneering program. The solar electric system was installed by Suffolk Solar Systems, Inc. using products supplied by Aten Solar Corporation; systems integrators specializing in A-Si deployments.

"By the watt, amorphous modules really outshine crystalline modules in the nether regions -near East or West", said Anthony Wolbert, owner of Suffolk Solar Systems, Inc.
The Kaneka brand modules are environmentally friendly with their fast energy payback period and use of lead free solder. A-Si modules produce power in conditions of poor temperature and low light when crystalline modules can not. “These are compelling reasons why residential clients and businesses are opting for thin film” said Yousri Abdou, Director of Product Development for Aten Solar.

This amorphous array faces East, yet produces as much power as a crystalline array facing South. The modules and other equipment were chosen for their aesthetics, performance, and favorable pricing. “By the watt, amorphous modules really outshine crystalline modules in the nether regions – near East or West”, said Anthony Wolbert, owner of Suffolk Solar Systems, Inc.

“We are ahead of expectations; we hope to offer customers alternatives to crystalline based solar modules which can be quite expensive. Our solution looks good and does not break the bank”, noted Yousri.
http://www.atensolar.com/
http://www.suffolksolarsystems.com/

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1. Other thin film companies with expanding applications

Iowa Thin Film Technologies has received a $3.2 million contract from the U.S. Army to supply the military with hundreds of tents that use the company's flexible solar cells to provide electric power.
http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/

First Solar Announces Expansion

PHOENIX, Sep 27, 2007 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) --
First Solar operates manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Germany with total annual nameplate production capacity of 210MW and is currently constructing two additional manufacturing plants in Malaysia with total annual nameplate production capacity of 240MW. This expansion will bring the Company's total annual nameplate production capacity to 570MW upon completion of all announced projects by the end of 2009.

First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSLR) manufactures solar modules with an advanced thin film semiconductor process that significantly lowers solar electricity costs. By enabling clean renewable electricity at affordable prices, First Solar provides an economic alternative to peak conventional electricity and the related fossil fuel dependence, greenhouse gas emissions and peak time grid constraints. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.


http://www.firstsolar.com/

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2. World's Largest & Most Cost Effective Thin-Film Solar Power Plant Opens

World's Largest Thin-Film Solar Power Plant Opens
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 04. 6.07

The largest thin-film solar power plant in the world has opened in Germany, dubbed the “Rote Jahne”. It was built by the contractor Juwi Solar, and it will have a total output capacity of six megawatts. It uses 90,000 solar modules to capture quite a bit of sunlight. Thin-film solar modules are cheaper than crystalline modules and produce more energy per unit of installed capacity. The thin-film cells were made by First Solar. The solar plant is built on a former military airfield, and its module surface area comprises approximately 16.5 acres.

The array will produce around 5.7 million kilowatt-hours of solar electricity every year, enough to power some 1,900 homes.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/worlds_largest_5.php