OPEL Solar, Inc. and Aquarion Water Company Mark the Completion of Innovative Solar Power Plant in Connecticut
OPEL's Single and Dual Axis Trackers Deliver Solar Power and Reduce Carbon Footprint
SHELTON, CONNECTICUT and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 25, 2012) - OPEL Solar, Inc. and OPEL Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE:OPL) (collectively "OPEL" or "the Company"), a leading global supplier of single and dual axis solar tracker systems and high concentration photovoltaic ("HCPV") solar panels, and a semiconductor device and process developer, announced today the completion of the solar installation of a tracker-based solar system at the Aquarion Water Company's ("Aquarion") D.W. Loiselle Water Treatment Plant at Trap Falls Reservoir in Shelton, Connecticut. Construction began in September of 2011, and following the successful completion and generation of electricity, approval of this Aquarion solar facility was given by The United Illuminating Company in December 2011. Commissioning of this Aquarion solar facility advances both OPEL's and Aquarion's commitment to environmental stewardship. The project showcases OPEL Solar's superior solar tracker products. Both Aquarion and OPEL plan to mark this milestone with an opening ceremony after the winter season.
The solar facility uses both OPEL trackers, the TF-800 single-axis tracker and the SF-45 dual-axis tracker. Both trackers follow the path of the sun during the day, thereby producing more energy from any brand of solar panel than could be expected from the same panel in a "fixed" or non-tracking installation.
The Aquarion project is expected to produce approximately 43 MWh of energy per year, representing approximately 22% more energy than would be expected from the same panels in a fixed installation. The project offsets the energy required to operate the Aquarion water facility. The site is a demonstration site to Aquarion to confirm the effectiveness of implementing this type of system at other sites. As part of the agreement, OPEL built and now operates this solar power plant which also demonstrates, to other OPEL customers, the benefits of solar trackers in climates such as in New England.
Leon M. Pierhal, OPEL Technologies CEO, commented, "There is a great sense of satisfaction in completing the solar plant at Aquarion's water treatment facility, which is a local site. Of significant importance is that we have supported Aquarion in achieving its environmental goals, and this is the first installation for OPEL Solar at a private- or municipally-owned water plant." Pierhal added, "Our solar tracker installations are an ideal, cost effective model for private utilities and municipalities worldwide, and now we have another working solar plant to support a growing market segment going forward."
"Having this solar facility to demonstrate to customers visiting our headquarters reinforces the interest in OPEL's solar tracking systems," Pierhal continued. "In the last half of 2011, we refocused OPEL Solar to meet the increasing worldwide demand for solar tracking systems. Over the recent months, OPEL has been actively responding to numerous proposal requests for utility scale projects requiring solar trackers for different types of PV panel technologies, thus positioning OPEL's solar trackers as a business unit in itself, distinct from the CPV business."
Charles V. Firlotte, Aquarion's President and CEO, stated: "We have been working diligently on a series of measures to reduce the company's 'carbon footprint'. By using OPEL Solar's advanced tracker technology, we are generating much more energy than we could have expected from fixed technologies. We are also happy to showcase OPEL's trackers for other companies considering solar tracking projects. It is exciting for the local community to drive past the solar plant and know Aquarion is taking action in deploying renewable energy sources in their community."
OPEL Solar tracker product line can be matched with any type of solar panel technology, providing greater flexibility for integrators and engineering firms choosing a tracker for a solar field installation.
About Aquarion Water Company
Headquartered in Bridgeport, CT, Aquarion Water Company is the public water supply company for approximately 180,000 customer accounts, or more than 580,000 people in 42 cities and towns throughout Connecticut, in addition to six communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Founded in 1987, Aquarion is the largest investor-owned water utility in New England, and is among the seven largest in the U.S. Additional information can be found at the corporate website: http://www.aquarionwater.com.
About OPEL Technologies Inc., OPEL Solar, Inc. and ODIS Inc.
With operations in Shelton, CT and head office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Company, through OPEL, Inc., designs, manufactures and markets high-concentration photovoltaic panels and dual- and single-axis trackers for related CPV and PV systems for energy applications worldwide. The Company, through ODIS Inc., a U.S. company, designs III-V semiconductor devices for military, industrial and commercial applications, including infrared sensor arrays and ultra-low-power random access memory. The Company has 35 patents issued and 16 patents pending in PV systems technologies and for its semiconductor POET process, which enables the monolithic fabrication of integrated circuits containing both electronic and optical elements, with potential high-speed and power-efficient applications in devices such as servers, tablet computers and smartphones. OPEL's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "OPL". For more information about OPEL, please visit our websites at www.opelsolar.com; and www.opeltechinc.com; and for ODIS at www.odisinc.com.