Tag Archives: solar

Mission Solar Energy now manufacturing ‘made-in-San Antonio’ solar panels

By North SA Chamber Editor
Posted on by Email to a Friend

cps energy logoCPS Energy already has more than 130 megawatts of solar power online, bringing clean, renewable energy to customers.

Another 300 MW of sun power is on the way, and that means a lot of solar panels. The good news is, all of those panels will be made right here in San Antonio.

Alamo 1, the first solar farm built as part of our 400-MW agreement with OCI Solar Power, relies on 167,000 panels to generate 45 MW of clean energy. Really… 167,000 panels. Alamo 2, a 4.5 MW farm located on the northeast side, uses 18,000. The latest, a 39 MW farm located in Brackettville, 124 miles west of San Antonio, relies on 150,000 panels.

Four more farms will be built in San Antonio and around Texas over the next three years to complete the agreement. That’s a lot of silicon.

MissionSolar2-617x352Mission Solar Energy employees closely inspect a solar panel for flaws

The panels for the first three OCI Solar Power farms were produced by a foreign manufacturer before Mission Solar Energy set up shop here in San Antonio. The local headquarters and production facility is one of seven new energy companies that have relocated here as part of CPS Energy’s New Energy Economy initiative.

Today, Mission Solar is the only solar panel manufacturing facility in Texas and the only n-type solar manufacturing facility in the country.

“There are two types of silicon used in solar cell manufacturing: p-type and n-type,” says Alex Kim, president and CEO of Mission Solar. “We use n-type because it has a higher efficiency and lasts longer.”

The new 240,000 square foot facility at Brooks City Base (which officially celebrated its opening on Mon., Sept. 22) will manufacture panels exclusively for the remaining OCI Solar farms for the next three years. After that, Mission Solar will target residential and commercial markets.

The Texas-sized factory has a 90,000 square foot “clean” cell manufacturing area. Employees wear lab coats and gloves, and operate multiple inspection stations, to make sure finished solar cells are high quality and offer maximum electrical generation.

Each finished six-by-six inch cell becomes part of a 72-cell panel. The panels are capable of generating up to 325 watts of power each.

“We currently run 50 panels an hour  and will double that once when we’re in full production – all for OCI Solar through 2017,” says Kim.

Mission Solar will soon produce modules 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company will move from one to two lines next year, to produce up to 200 megawatts of manufactured solar power annually. A move to residential production in three years means panels made here may wind up on the homes of you and your neighbors someday.

Yep, homegrown solar power – just like buying a Toyota Tundra made right here in San Antonio.

Mission Solar will need as many as 400 employees for full operation. Already, more the 240, some trained through workforce training programs at the Alamo Colleges, are on board. Almost one out of every five employees are veterans – now working on land once dedicated to the missions of a former Air Force base.

Related Stories:
OCI Solar Power uses sheep as “lambscapers” at solar farm
For sale: residential solar inverters made in San Antonio by KACO
CPS Energy looking to grow rooftop and community solar
San Antonio, now 6th in nation, lauded for solar growth

 

New options to save energy and money this summer from CPS Energy

By North SA Chamber Editor
Posted on by Email to a Friend

cps energy logoWe all know it’s going to be a hot summer, but an El Nino weather pattern could potentially bring even warmer than normal temperatures to the area. Combine that with natural with gas prices that remain high following the harsh winter, and you’re looking at higher than average summer energy bills.

Luckily, CPS Energy has expanded its demand response programs, including new ones that work with window units as well as central air conditioning systems. They help customers lower their bills and help the utility use less power when it’s most expensive (and that keeps costs down for all of us).

The average residential customer is expected to use 1,572 kilowatt hours of electricity per month from June through September, resulting in a bill of $174.37. That’s up about $21 from average bills from the previous summer.

That potential increase means there’s a strong need for energy conservation, said Executive Vice President Jelynne LeBlanc Burley, “so we’re doing everything possible to help our customers lower the amount of energy they’re buying. It gives them a smaller bill and reduces demand on the state grid.

“We have everything from an average of $5,000 of free weatherization improvements for qualifying customers to a kit that allows customers to program their window AC units. We’ve also added rebates for the popular Nest Learning Thermostat™,” she added.

Customers can decrease the amount of energy they use and buy through a number of energy efficient options, including:

  • Casa Verde weatherization program (free) – average of $5,000 in improvements decreases average bill by $27
  • Friedrich’s Kühl Window AC unit – programmable unit to manage temperature settings
  • Nest Learning Thermostat™ – learns temperature preferences and programs itself allowing customer to manage temperature with a smart phone or computer
  • Home Manager (free) – saves an average of 10 percent by allowing customer to manage central AC, electric water heater and pool pump with a computer, smart phone or tablet
  • Smart Thermostat (free) – Honeywell programmable thermostat allows customer to manage temperature using computer or laptop
  • Cool Energy Program smartAC kit (free) – wireless smart plug for existing window AC allows customer to manage temperature with a smart phone or computer.

Most of those are part of CPS Energy’s Demand Response programs, which allows CPS Energy to briefly bump up your thermostat a couple degrees on the hottest summer afternoons, when demand peaks. Customers receive a credit on their bill at the end of the season, which goes through September, for participating.

Customers also can take advantage of rebates for air duct systems, refrigerators, AC units, solar systems and more by visiting cpsenergysavers.com. Energy efficiency tips such as setting a thermostat between 78 – 80 degrees and raising the temperature several degrees when leaving a home for several hours are more ways to save.

Families experiencing financial hardships and military veterans burned during service can get bill assistance through a variety of programs. CPS Energy commits a minimum of $1 million annually to the Residential Energy Assistance Program (REAP). Last year, customers partnering with their energy provider contributed more than $200,000 to assist local neighbors in need.