Apr 30 2007
SunPower Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency, commercially available solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, today announced a number of solar power plant projects being built or supplied by its PowerLight subsidiary. These projects will expand PowerLight's market-leading footprint in Spain to more than 61 megawatts.
PowerLight is partnering with Solarpack Corporacion Tecnologica, S.L. on three major projects in Spain, two in the province of Seville and one in the province of Badajoz, for a total of 17 megawatts. PowerLight announced one of those projects, the approximately 4.8 megawatt power plant in Llerena, earlier this month. PowerLight is managing the design, engineering, procurement installation, operation, and maintenance of these three solar power plants on a turn-key basis.
For Elecnor, S.A., PowerLight is supplying proprietary solar tracker technology and equipment to the 21 megawatt, 80 hectare Hoya de los Vicentes project in Jumilla near Murcia, Spain, which is nearing completion. The proprietary PowerTracker(R) solar tracking technology tilts the solar panels toward the sun as it passes across the sky, increasing annual energy production by up to 25 percent compared with fixed-tilt systems. PowerLight previously delivered solar trackers for Elecnor's 23 megawatt La Magascona power plant in the town of Trujillo, Caceres.
"Spain has one of the best solar resources on Earth and we applaud the government's active leadership in bringing solar power to market," said Marco Antonio Northland, PowerLight general manager, Europe. "With excellent partners like Elecnor and Solarpack, we look forward to responding to Spain's power needs with reliable, clean and affordable solar energy."
Northland will be addressing an audience at the European Energy Forum in Barcelona on Thursday, April 26 on the topic of solar tracking technology. The presentation will begin at 12:00 noon local time at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona, Pavilion 5. SunPower and PowerLight are participating as exhibitors at the Forum at Stand 15.