Volume II, January 2004

Front Page News | CT Clean Energy | SEBANE Certificate Trading Handbook
ISO New England Requests Voluntary Conservation | Industry News

130 New Massachusetts PV Systems Under Contract in 2003
63 of those systems already installed and operating

Massachusetts communities got a 35% boost in solar installations in 2003 with 130 new solar electric (photovoltaic or “PV”) systems reported under contract of which 63 are installed and operating. The increase in PV installations was made possible through the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust’s (RET) Solar to Market Initiative. The 63 installed and operating systems represent approximately 170 kW (DC).

The Solar to Market Initiative provides grants for PV installations in Massachusetts. The grants are designed to help lower the installed cost of utility interconnected PV systems for homes, municipal buildings, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and similar sized facilities. Funds have been awarded to 19 grantees, which are installing PV systems across the state.

Sam Nutter of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust examines the new PV installation on MIT's student center.

"These solar projects represent the first step in the Renewable Energy Trust's efforts to help make PV a mainstream product for Massachusetts consumers and businesses,” said Sam Nutter, Project Manager, RET. “For our first phase of solar demonstrations, we have tried to focus on high visibility locations to demonstrate that solar-generated electricity is commercially available today and can be easily and quickly deployed in any city and town in the Commonwealth."

While for the most part the PV projects in 2003 were residential, the non-residential PV projects include:

• Two colleges -- Harvard Business School (Boston, MA), MIT (Cambridge, MA)

• Three food stores – Green Fields Market (Greenfield, MA), Chilmark Chocolates (Chilmark, MA), Cronig’s Healthy Additions Market (Tisbury, MA)

• Two community centers -- Newton Community Service Centers (Newton, MA) and Chilmark Community Center (Chilmark, MA)

• Three schools –Edgartown School (Edgartown, MA), West Tisbury School (Tisbury, MA), and Westwood High School (Westwood, MA)

• Two churches – St. John’s Episcopal Church and First Parish Church of Westwood (both in Westwood, MA)

• Three nature centers – Boston Nature Center (Boston, MA), Aquinnah Cliffs (Aquinnah, MA), and Spectacle Island Visitors Center (Boston Harbor Islands)

• One bank – Cambridge Savings Bank (Newton, MA)

• One large retail store – BJ’s Wholesale Club (Stoneham, MA)

• One transportation terminal – Steamship Authority (Tisbury, MA)

• One fire station – Westwood Fire Department (Westwood, MA)

• NSTAR headquarters – NSTAR Electric & Gas (Westwood, MA)
  

The RET grantees will work throughout 2004 to install an additional 275 systems.

For more information, visit http://www.masstech.org/RenewableEnergy/green_power/pv_for_homeowners.htm

^ ^ back to top ^ ^

Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Issues PV RFP

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has issued an RFP for PV installations on commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. The program will fund systems that range in size from 5 kW to 40 kW. $3 million in funding is available.

Instead of a one-time solicitation, this program will be open for three years with three evaluation cycles per year.

In describing its decision to implement a 3-year program, the CCEF highlighted the importance of a stable funding commitment: “We determined that [our] objectives could be best met through a multi-year program. It is our belief that stability of funding will provide continuing interest from participants and the development of an industry base in Connecticut.”

The due dates for proposals are as follows:

• February 13, 2004

• June 11, 2004

• October 8, 2004

• February 11, 2005

• June 10, 2005

• October 14, 2005

• February 10, 2006

• June 9, 2006

• October 13, 2006

CCEF is soliciting proposals that will demonstrate and promote uses of PV that:

• Create awareness, education, and promotion of PV to Connecticut residents;

• Help build PV infrastructure and create employment opportunities in Connecticut;

• Employ innovative approaches that are ideally suited for PV and therefore, extract the maximum value for the installation;

• Demonstrate benefits of distributed generation in areas of electrical load congestion and incorporate energy storage that can be employed in the event of a blackout;

• Exhibit a high probability of successful implementation and operation;

• Promote the environmental benefits of PV.

The RFP is available on the CCEF web site: http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/

A pre-submission information session will be held on January 20, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell, Connecticut.

This is the CCEF’s second PV program. The first program was announced in October 2002, and selected seven projects for funding in March 2003.

^ ^ back to top ^ ^

SEBANE Publishes Certificate Trading Handbook

SEBANE has published a handbook for trading renewable energy certificates in New England. The handbook was developed with funding from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust.

The New England Generation Information System ("NE GIS") is the system that tracks the environmental attributes of electric generation in New England. The GIS produces the certificates that enable renewable generators to capture the additional value of renewable generation.

While the NE GIS creates an opportunity for PV system owners to earn additional revenue, it is also dauntingly complicated. The SEBANE handbook provides a step-by-step guide to participating in the NE GIS.

The handbook covers the following topics:

• Sources of value for the output of PV systems

• The NE GIS and the certificates it creates

• Working with an aggregator to trade certificates

• Trading certificates on your own

The handbook is available on the SEBANE website at http://www.sebane.org/major_initiatives/initiative_view.asp?id=6

^ ^ back to top ^ ^

New England Sets New Record for Winter Peak Electric Demand

Due to extremely cold temperatures, ISO New England, operator of the region's bulk electric power grid asked electric customers across New England take voluntary steps to conserve electricity on January 14, 15, and 16.

Preliminary data shows that regional electricity demand set a new winter-peak of 22,525 MW on January 14, and another peak of 22,727 on January 15. A third new peak of 22,800 MW was forecast for Friday, January 16. In addition, the severe weather conditions created high demand for natural gas, which has impacted a large number of gas-fired power plants operating in the region.

^ ^ back to top ^ ^

Industry News

Evergreen Solar Ships 50,000th String Ribbon Solar Panel

SEBANE member Evergreen Solar, Inc. of Marlboro, Massachusetts (Nasdaq: ESLR), a developer, marketer, and manufacturer of photovoltaic products for the worldwide market, has manufactured and shipped its 50,000th solar panel incorporating its proprietary String Ribbon(TM) technology.

Richard M. Feldt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen Solar, said, "This shipment marks another milestone in Evergreen Solar's continued growth and innovation. From its beginnings, the Company has been notable for its ability to deliver using a new, efficient manufacturing process. Our current expansion plans will enable Evergreen to quadruple manufacturing capacity over the next 12 to 18 months."

PowerLight Listed in the Inc. 500

SEBANE member PowerLight made Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest growing privately-held companies for the fourth consecutive year. PowerLight ranked 103rd on the list, with five year sales growth of 1,469%.

“PowerLight is thrilled to receive this honor for the fourth year in a row,” said CEO and founder Thomas Dinwoodie. “Ranking in the Inc. 500 reflects the fact that solar electricity is being widely used by large businesses and government agencies to meet their energy needs.”

Proton Energy Systems and Distributed Energy Systems Complete Acquisition of Northern Power

Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRTN), a leader in on-site hydrogen generation products and regenerative fuel cell technology, has completed its acquisition of SEBANE member Northern Power Systems, Inc., a leader in the design, manufacturing, and installation of integrated and on-site power systems. Together, as subsidiaries of a new corporate parent, Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (Nasdaq: DESC), the companies plan to offer an array of practical energy technologies, including Proton’s advanced hydrogen generation products and Northern’s state-of-the art renewable and fossil-fuel power systems.

Beacon Power Receives Certification for Smart Power M5 Inverter System from Underwriters Laboratories

SEBANE member Beacon Power Corporation (Nasdaq: BCON), a leader in sustainable energy storage and power conversion systems, announced that the Smart Power M5 system has been approved for listing by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in both the U.S. and Canada. The Smart Power M5 is designed for use in grid-connected solar power applications, and addresses the needs of customers who have concerns about the stability and reliability of the electrical grid. The Smart Power M5 immediately converts to an independent battery back-up mode when the grid fails, continuing to provide power to critical loads.

^ ^ back to top ^ ^