SolFocus Concentrator PV Panels are CEC Approved
First Concentrator PV (CPV) Products to be Eligible for California Rebates
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Sept. 22, 2008 –SolFocus announced today that its flagship commercial product, the SF-1000P Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) panels, has met the rigorous safety standards of the California Energy Commission (CEC) and has been approved by the CEC to be placed on the Eligible California Solar Initiative (CSI) Solar Electric Equipment List. This listing assures customers that the solar equipment has been thoroughly tested for safety and meets the requirements of the CEC.
The CEC listing is required for residential, commercial, and larger systems up to 1 MW to qualify for rebates against the cost of installing new solar equipment as part of the California Public Utility Commission's California Solar Initiative incentive programs and the CEC's New Solar Homes Partnership. Only equipment listed by the CEC is eligible for these incentives. SolFocus has become the first manufacturer of CPV systems to be listed by the CEC.
“Not only is this an important achievement for SolFocus as we have reached the phase of commercialization of our CPV systems,” commented SolFocus President Mark Crowley, “but the thumbs up from the CEC is another proof point that CPV technology is a serious, scalable source of clean, renewable electricity.”
SolFocus CPV technology uses a system of reflective optics to magnify the light from the sun 500 times onto small, highly efficient solar cells. SolFocus CPV systems use 1/1000th of the active, expensive solar cell material compared to traditional photovoltaic panels, thus accelerating the trajectory for solar energy to reach cost parity with traditional energy sources. SolFocus CPV panels, which are built primarily with readily available and cost-effective materials such as aluminum and glass, deliver zero emissions energy, have the lowest carbon footprint in manufacturing, and are over 95-percent recyclable.
Certification specialist Six 9’s Reliable, L.L.C. worked with SolFocus in achieving this first of its kind listing with the CEC.
About SolFocus
The SolFocus mission is to enable solar energy generation at a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) competitive with traditional fossil fuel sources. To achieve this goal, SolFocus has developed leading concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology which combines highefficiency solar cells (approaching 40%) and advanced optics to provide solar energy solutions which are scalable, dependable and capable of delivering on the promise of clean, low-cost, renewable energy. SolFocus is headquartered in Mountain View, California with European operations headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and manufacturing in Mesa, Arizona as well as with manufacturing partners in India and China.
About Six 9’s Reliable, LLC
Six 9’s Reliable, LLC, is a professional engineering consulting company. The company is focused on solving compliance and reliability engineering issues, principally for new and emerging technologies. Sr. compliance and reliability consultant Jeff Collins has worked with SolFocus in driving certification for new technology. Six 9’s Reliable has offices in Santa Clara and Irvine California.