The 50kW solar pavilion system was selected as winner of the Ground Mount category by Solar Builder readers.

Bristol, TN—November 18, 2013—Holston View Elementary in Bristol, Tenn., has won Solar Project of the Year from Solar Builder magazine. The 50kW solar pavilion system – consisting of 200 MAGE Solar AC modules powered by SolarBridge Technologies microinverters – was selected as winner of the Ground Mount category by Solar Builder readers.

Ecological Energy Systems installed the solar canopy system featuring AC modules as a safe, efficient alternative to a DC system. Mounted on a Schletter carport system, the canopy can house all 400 elementary school students underneath and provides a unique educational experience as a functioning outdoor classroom/ ‘learning lab.'

The system is the brainchild of Holston View Principal Jerry Poteat and Pete Morenings of Ecological Energy Systems. Choosing ACPV technology over the more conventional DC system enables the school to get maximum energy from its investment, according to Poteat. Financed by a power purchase agreement (PPA) the school incurred no out-of-pocket costs for the system and expects to generate the equivalent of eight homes' worth of electricity per day.

The array's monitoring system gives the students an online view of every module's power production and translates the output in real-world equivalent terms such as lightbulbs, trees and carbon emissions avoided. The pavilion's concrete slab base will double as a giant game board – another opportunity to teach students about alternative energy and ecological responsibility – and a few algebra and science skills along the way.

To read more about this innovative project, go to http://www.magesolar.com/about/news/back-to-school:%20outdoor-solar-classroom/

Winners are featured in the November/December 2013 issue of Solar Builder magazine, online at solarbuildermag.com and on the free Solar Builder app in the Apple Newsstand. Nominations were accepted online from Jan. 1 to Sept. 6, 2013. Solar Builder staff narrowed the nominations down to five projects in each category based on construction application, innovation and community impact. Voting was open to Solar Builder readers and the public via solarbuildermag.com from Sept. 13 to Sept. 30, 2013. Winners and runner-ups were determined by votes, and the Solar Builder staff awarded two honorable mentions to the remaining projects.

About MAGE Solar

MAGE SOLAR USA is a global alternative energy company with offices in nearly two dozen countries and installations on every continent. MAGE SOLAR's robust product line of premium quality, high performance modules include US-assembled and ARRA-compliant modules as well as ACPV models. Featuring an industry-best 30-year power guarantee warranty MAGE SOLAR has been ranked No. 2 of all manufacturers for US customer service. MAGE SOLAR's exceptional product production offers end users an industry-leading ROI. Visit http://www.magesolar.com/ for more information.

About SolarBridge Technologies

SolarBridge Technologies, a leader in integrated microinverter technologies for the solar industry, is accelerating the adoption of rooftop solar energy in residential and commercial applications. SolarBridge's patented Pantheon microinverter mounts directly onto solar panels, greatly increasing system efficiency, safety and reliability, while reducing the cost of solar installation and maintenance. The Pantheon microinverter is designed to match the lifetime of solar panels, enabling manufacturers to provide a 25-year warranty on TrueACTM modules. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.solarbridgetech.com.