Chevron Commissions 190kW Photovoltaic Installation with Abound Solar Modules
Demonstration project in Bakersfield, CA to explore performance of CdTe thin-film technology
Loveland, Colo. (March 22, 2010) – Abound Solar, a leading manufacturer of cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, announced today the commissioning of a commercial-scale ground mount PV installation as part of Chevron Technology Ventures’ Project Brightfield. The ground-mount facility built on land in Bakersfield, CA formerly occupied by a refinery, has a nameplate capacity of 190kW and is projected to produce more than 300 MWh per year. The array of Abound Solar’s AB1 modules comprises one of the largest components of Chevron’s Project Brightfield, a test facility to compare the performance of multiple emerging solar technology products. The power produced by Abound’s CEC (California Energy Commission)-certified modules, manufactured in Colorado, in combination with a Schneider Electric Xantrex GT250 central inverter will offset the electricity needs of Chevron’s nearby facilities and reduce the company’s greenhouse gas footprint by over 200 tons of CO2 annually.
“Abound Solar is proud to be involved in Chevron’s Project Brightfield and eager to compare the performance of our thin-film modules against any other leading technology on the market,” said Tom Tiller, Chief Executive Officer of Abound Solar.
“Chevron is a leading developer of renewable energy projects worldwide,” said Julian Hawkins, Abound Solar Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This project, based in California, the largest market for solar photovoltaics in the United States, is a tremendous show of support for Abound Solar’s technology and its ability to deliver high performance while driving down the cost of solar electricity for large-scale installations.”
About Abound Solar
Abound Solar was founded in 2007 to commercialize a proprietary process for manufacturing cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules. Built upon 15 years of development at Colorado State University and with support from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Abound Solar has developed a robust, commercial-scale, continuous process for producing solar modules that significantly reduces the cost of generating solar electricity. Abound Solar entered full-scale commercial production of its low-cost, thin-film solar modules at its first factory in Colorado in November of 2009 and is shipping to customers around the world.