Jun 9 2010
SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) announced today that it is building a 9.1-megawatt (AC) solar power plant in Alange, Badajoz, Spain for the Naturener Group. This will be the fifth solar power plant that SunPower has designed and constructed for Naturener Group to date, and one of the largest to be commissioned in Spain this year. SunPower will also provide operations and maintenance services under the agreement with Naturener.
"We are pleased to work with SunPower again and continue our development of renewable energy in the Spanish market," said Rafael Sanchez-Castillo, CEO of Naturener Group. "SunPower's turnkey services will ensure that the plant is operational by the end of the year, and their technology will maximize production of clean, renewable solar power for many years to come."
At the 38-hectare site, SunPower will install its SunPower™ T0 Tracker technology, which requires only half the land area to produce the same amount of energy as conventional dual-axis trackers. The Tracker systems position solar panels to follow the sun during the day, delivering up to 25 percent more energy than fixed-tilt systems. Due to sophisticated backtracking algorithms, the system avoids panel shading while increasing energy production. In addition, a smart grid system will enable the solar plant and Naturener's nearby hydraulic power plant to share a utility grid connection.
On the Trackers, SunPower will mount the company's standard-efficiency Serengeti solar panels, which offer the same high quality, reliable energy delivery and 25-year warranty as SunPower's high-efficiency panel offerings.
Construction on the plant will start this month and is expected to employ over 150 people locally.
"Naturener is a leader in renewable energy development, and SunPower's long-standing partnership with them is a clear testament to our ability to consistently deliver the highest quality power plants quickly and cost efficiently," said SunPower Vice President Gian Maria Ferrero. "With 225 megawatts of solar power plants operating today in Europe, SunPower has the experience and technology to ensure investors get the most value out of their solar assets."
Source: http://www.sunpowercorp.com/