Greentech Lead America: Austin Energy, a
community-owned electric utility company, has partnered with HelioVolt, an
Austin-based solar manufacturing company, for the first commercial install of
locally manufactured solar modules in Austin on the roof of the Yellow Bike
Project, a non-profit advocacy group for bicycling that operates community bike
shops and teaches bike mechanics and maintenance.
The project is Austin Energy’s first pilot and
research leasing rooftop space at non-profit and commercial
locations. Austin Energy will own the system and will pay $350 a year for the
leased space of Austin’s Yellow Bike Project.
The partners will install a 12.4 kilowatt system that
will deliver 16,125 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually into the grid. The
system will utilize modules which manufactured by HelioVolt.
HelioVolt’s thin film solar modules are composed of
Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS). CIGS solar material performs well in
real world conditions such as off-angle installations, cloudy days, and module
soiling. The glass laminate modules are compatible with existing industry
installation tools and practices, and do not require complex and expensive
custom mounting solutions.
“This project demonstrates the power of
public-private partnerships. HelioVolt is proud to manufacture in Austin and to
collaborate with Austin Energy on local solar energy distributed generation
projects,” said B.J. Stanbery, founder and chairman, HelioVolt.
“The efforts by the Austin City Council, the City of
Austin and Austin Energy to accelerate the clean energy industry in Austin are
paying off by creating local jobs, local economic growth and local investments
that stay in this community,” said Larry Weis, general manager, Austin
Energy.
Austin
Energy activates 30 MW solar farm in the Village of Webberville
Earlier this year, Austin Energy activated a 30 megawatt
(MW) solar power plant located within the Village of Webberville, Texas.
This is the first utility-scale solar deployment for Austin Energy. This new
facility helps Austin Energy bring the utility to achieve a 35 percent
renewable energy mix by 2020.
editor@greentechlead.com