First Annual Intersolar AWARD for Solar Projects Honors Groundbreaking Installations in North America

SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar North America, the premier solar industry exhibition and conference in North America for solar professionals to exchange information and develop business opportunities in the U.S. solar market, today named Enerworks Inc.'s Oxford Gardens Solar Project, Vanir Energy, LLC's William G. White Jr., Family YMCA and ESA Renewables, LLC's Martins Creek Elementary School Solar PV Project the winners of the first annual Intersolar AWARD for solar projects in North America. The companies and their projects were honored during a special ceremony on the Intersolar North America exhibition floor on July 10 in San Francisco.

The Intersolar AWARD recognizes projects, both large and small, which utilize advance technology, incorporate aesthetic and architectural concepts, and exemplify outstanding services and products. The new solar project category, open to exhibitors at Intersolar North America 2012, Intersolar Europe 2012, Intersolar China 2011 and Intersolar India 2011, recognizes installations demonstrating strong innovation in three fields – solar building, industrial and commercial use, and utility scale projects. All nine award nominees delivered presentations that provided attendees with an overview of each project.

"This year's Intersolar AWARD winners in the new solar project category are great examples of trends we are seeing in solar projects," said Solar Promotion International CEO Markus Elsaesser. "These installations directly benefit the community with dramatic energy cost savings, educational opportunities and new jobs. They also play a key role in contributing to the amount of renewable energy on the grid, and we will continue to recognize those projects that move the industry forward."

Winners in the 2012 solar project category

The three winners represent innovation in terms of system design, technology and project financing. Enerworks' Oxford Gardens Solar Project harnesses the sun in a location where many would least expect it - on a retirement community in Eastern Canada. This 5,594 sq. ft. system, which produces 3.64 kilowatt hours per square foot per day, is currently the largest solar thermal heating and cooling project in Canada. The installation will save Oxford Gardens in Woodstock, Canada 40 percent of its cooling costs and up to 60 percent of its heating costs. Its compact, space-saving features and design attuned to the cold climate differentiates this project.

The second project honored, the ESA Renewables' Martins Creek Elementary School installation in Murphy, N.C., is the third largest solar farm on school grounds in the United States at 999 kilowatts. The system, covering 5 acres, benefits not only the elementary school but the surrounding community as well. The system produces 20 percent more energy than initially projected - 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, or the power needed by 150 average-sized homes. The community has benefitted through the system's innovative and educational monitoring system, as well as through the rural jobs generated by the project.

Finally, the solar system at the William G. White Jr., Family YMCA in Winston-Salem, N.C., by Vanir Energy, LLC, utilized a power purchase agreement to help the non-profit institution realize over three million dollars in revenue for the local economy and generate more than 30 jobs. The 10,643 sq. ft. system, which produces 25,000 therms a year, saves close to 2.63 million pounds of CO2 emissions.

Award recognizes North American project strength

In recent years, the U.S. has been a hotbed of innovation for large utility-scale PV as solar developers looked to capitalize on financing mechanisms that support larger projects and were eager to utilize the vast lands available in the west. Additionally, the rise of solar as a service, through both leasing and power purchase agreements, is also reinvigorating the distributed generation market for residential and small commercial projects. Subsequently, the North American market has seen a proliferation of diverse projects finely tuned to their owner and location.

The new Intersolar AWARD solar project category was developed to recognize the exceptional solar projects in North America. For more information on the Intersolar award please visit: http://www.intersolar.us/en/exhibitor-service-north-america/marketing-promotion/intersolar-award.html. For more information about the other special programs at Intersolar, including the Innovation Exchange, please visit the website: http://www.intersolar.us/en/visitor-service-north-america/programs/innovation-exchange-stage.html.

About Intersolar

With over 3,500 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors spanning three continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry. Intersolar North America takes place annually in San Francisco's Moscone Center. Since its establishment in 2008, the exhibition and conference have developed into the premier platform for the solar industry in North America. Intersolar North America focuses on photovoltaics and solar thermal technologies and is co-located with SEMICON West. It has quickly established itself among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and service providers as an international industry meeting point.

Intersolar's storied history of international exhibitions and conferences spans more than 20 years. Taking place in addition to Intersolar North America are Intersolar India in Mumbai, and Intersolar China in Beijing, which was launched in 2011. The world's largest exhibition for the solar industry is Intersolar Europe in Munich. For more information on Intersolar North America please visit: http://www.intersolar.us/

Intersolar Contact
Solar Promotion International GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim, Germany

Press Contact
ANTENNA | 135 Main Street | Suite 800 | San Francisco, CA 94105-8110
Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen | Tel: +1 201-294-0199 | [email protected]

SOURCE Intersolar North America