World’s Largest CIGS Thin Film Solar Array Goes Live (Tucson, AZ)

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPR1320.htm

Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, today announced the full operation of the largest solar electric array worldwide using CIGS photovoltaic technology. The 750-kilowatt system, located at Global Solar’s manufacturing facility in Tucson, is the first commercial-scale deployment of the company’s highly efficient CIGS thin-film solar technology and will help power its manufacturing plant.

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SOLON Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of SOLON AG, produced and installed the PV modules and designed the array. Covering 310,000 square feet at Global Solar’s manufacturing plant, the system features a ground-mounted solar array that uses 6,600 SOLON solar modules incorporating CIGS thin-film solar cells. Offering cost and manufacturing advantages, CIGS thin film is poised to become a leading solar technology.

“This new solar system solidifies the vitality and longevity of CIGS technology in the thin-film space,” said Mike Gering, president and CEO of Global Solar Energy. “We are proud to be instrumental in this industry first and excited to be a part of one of MMA’s cutting-edge projects. As the only CIGS provider to have its technology powering a commercial-scale solar array, Global Solar Energy continues to prove itself as a solar industry leader.”

Global Solar is purchasing the power generated from MMA Renewable Ventures under the terms of a long-term commercial financing agreement. The thin-film solar power system will generate more than 1.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable electricity annually at Global Solar’s 100,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The ground-mounted solar energy system will offset 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide over its expected 25-year lifetime.

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