January 15, 2008

Puertollano, Spain: SolFocus First to Install Solar Array for 3 MW Spanish CPV Project

SolFocus, designer and manufacturer of solar energy solutions including concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems, intelligent tracking systems, and solar thermal technology, and Spain's Institute of Concentration Photovoltaics Systems (ISFOC) today announced the installation of the first CPV array in the ISFOC's 3 MW project in Castilla-LaMancha. This is the first 200kW of the 0.5MW that SolFocus will install over the next few months for this worldwide solar initiative aimed at accelerating the development and adoption of CPV technology.

SolFocus Concentrator PV System in Castilla-LaMancha

The ISFOC project is sponsored by the government of Castilla-La Mancha. SolFocus' installation of the first power-producing system in the project is a major milestone in achieving the objectives of the program, which supports participating companies by carrying out important R&D efforts on their installed systems. This includes studies and norms, developments on measurement technology for large systems, reliability testing, maintenance, and analysis of solar radiation and energy produced.

SolFocus broke ground at the ISFOC Puertollano site in October of last year with the civil construction and underground electrical work.? The SolFocus array that is installed is rated at 6.2kW and has performed over its design output, which is significant at the early stage of this project.

According to Dr. Pedro Banda, Director General of the ISFOC, "This is a very important occasion as it brings the industry one step closer towards commercial deployment of CPV technologies. For this unprecedented and ambitious program, the ISFOC has selected CPV technologies that are the most advanced and have the brightest futures." He added, "SolFocus' first installation marks the official launch of the power-generation phase of the program."

SolFocus, with European headquarters in Madrid and United States headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., has over 40kW of test arrays installed at various sites. SolFocus selected the ISFOC project for its first large-scale installation because of the project founders' vision for CPV and plans to address the key challenges of commercializing this technology.

"We share the belief with the ISFOC leadership that CPV is the disruptive technology that will have a major impact in moving solar energy toward a more cost-effective and scalable mainstream energy source," commented Pedro Ladr?n de Guevara, SolFocus VP and General Manager, Tracker Division.

"The focus of the ISFOC on addressing the most important components of CPV, including performance, energy production, safety and reliability, is directly in line with SolFocus' goals this year, as the company moves into full-scale commercial deployment in late 2008."

The ISFOC was established in 2006 to be a center of reference on the power, reliability and productivity of commercial CPV systems. The innovative approach taken by the ISFOC is becoming a model for similar projects under consideration around the world.

Further details about: SolFocus