Winsa ‘goes solar' and slashes electricity bills with 650-kWp system

ISTANBUL – October 15, 2014 – Upsolar, a leading provider of solar PV modules, today announced the commissioning of one of Turkey's largest PV systems, a 650-kWp project located in Kocaeli. Developed by engineering firm Upgrade Energy, the system is Upsolar's largest installation in Turkey to date.

The rooftop system—which features 2600 UP-M250P modules—will deliver clean power to a factory owned by Winsa, a manufacturer of PVC windows, doors and shutter systems.

"The cost of electricity in Turkey is increasing an average of 11.5 percent each year, with a nine-percent increase in October alone," said Ioannis Markatatos, Turkey and Middle East Director for Upsolar Group. "In this volatile energy market, the financial benefits of renewable energy have never been clearer. Customers across Turkey are increasingly looking to solar as both a means to reduce dependence on the local grid and a compelling long-term investment.

"Adopting solar energy affords us the opportunity to significantly reduce our electricity bills and redirect this capital to support the growth of our organization," said Ergün Çiçekçi, General Director and Board Member for Winsa. "Upsolar worked together with Upgrade Energy to develop tailored technology and service solutions to meet our needs, including a free yearly inspection of our system for the next 20 years. We're proud to be an early-mover in Turkey's solar market and hope to inspire others to follow in our footsteps."

All Upsolar systems are built with a high-quality bill of materials and backed by industry-leading product and performance guarantees to ensure superior performance over the lifetime of each array.

This project marks the latest step toward Upsolar's goal of powering 29 MW in new projects across Turkey, as well as the company's third collaboration with Upgrade Energy. Earlier this year, the companies commissioned systems totaling 1.65 MWp in Belgium and Croatia.