ESA Renewables Enters Into Four Solar Operations and Maintenance Agreements

ESA Renewables, (ESA), a leading turnkey solar solutions provider, announced it has entered into four separate multi-year operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts. According to the terms of the contract, ESA will operate, maintain and monitor four solar farms in North Carolina. The solar energy generating systems generate a total of four megawatts of solar power. All services are being provided via ESA Renewables’ Hayesville, North Carolina office.
ESA Renewables Monitoring System

ESA Renewables' Monitoring System

A lead engineer and other O&M technicians will utilize ESA’s proprietary monitoring system which has been installed on each solar array to ensure maximum performance, reduce system downtime, and make informed decisions as to O&M services. ESA’s employees are also factory authorized and qualified to install and service Advanced Energy’s inverters which were used in the initial construction of the solar farm.

“ESA is proud to have designed and engineered a renewable energy technology that is an ideal O&M solution to maximizing energy generation,” Jeffrey Burkett, President of ESA Renewables. “We look forward to integrating our technology on many other renewable energy power plants in the near future for effective monitoring and control.”

ESA’s proprietary Monitoring System provides a simplified, centralized, reliable and secure data management system which allows for maximum energy production. This turn-key industrial solution grants immediate access, from anywhere in the world, to pertinent, real-time and historic data including energy balances, display data loggers, power curves and astrological data. ESA’s Monitoring System also provides automatic, fault alerts to system managers allowing for quick response and minimal operational losses.

The four O&M agreements are for solar farms located in southwestern North Carolina, in and around the town of Murphy. They include:

• The Murphy Solar Farm, is approximately eight acres in size and consists of 4,298 ground-mounted solar panels. The solar installation is located on the grounds of the Martins Creek Elementary School in Murphy.

• The Wingate Solar Farm, also located in Murphy, NC consists of 4,340 solar panel. This solar project has been installedon a tract of land which is approximately seven acres in size.

• The Culberson Solar Farm is located on approximately five acres, and is composed of over 3,400 solar panels.

• The Holiness Solar Farm consists of 4,242 solar panels and is located on approximately nine acres.

“These four maintenance agreements, as well as the initial EPC contracts, demonstrate the confidence that asset managers have placed in both ESA’s proven ability to successfully see projects through to completion and in our proprietary monitoring system as a viable renewable energy power plant management tool,” continued Burkett.

About ESA Renewables, LLC:

ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of over 475 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA’s scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, France and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables projects, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455 for more information about the companies capabilities.

Media Contact:
Lindsay Herold
ESA Renewables, LLC
Contract Administrator
407-268-6455

ESA Renewables Announces Construction of 1.3 MW Rooftop Solar Array in New Bern, North Carolina

ESA Renewables (ESA), a leading turnkey solar solutions provider, today announced it has begun construction on a 1.3 MW commercial rooftop solar project in the city of New Bern in Craven County, North Carolina. This project is one of the largest rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays in eastern North Carolina, and will help bring clean, renewable solar energy to New Bern residents. Having executed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Progress Energy ESA expects the PV array to be completed in December of this year.

According to the terms of the contract, ESA will build, operate, maintain the system and additionally install its proprietary monitoring system to monitor operation of the array for the 20-year term of the PPA contract. ESA will sell the entire energy output from the system to Progress Energy which will distribute solar energy to its customers in the area.

“ESA is delighted to take a leading role in the adoption of solar power in New Bern,” said Jeffrey Burkett, president of ESA Renewables. “Renewable energy projects such as this rooftop solar array boost economic development, create jobs and have a positive impact on our environment.”

Over the next few weeks, ESA will complete the installation of 5,376 Canadian Solar modules, which produce 235 watts (W) each and will cover 175,122 square feet of rooftop space on the building’s rooftop. This project is expected to produce 1,691,639 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, enough clean renewable energy to power approximately 200 homes each year.

”This is an exciting project and a landmark installation in a region that hasn’t traditionally been thought of as a prime solar energy market,” said Alan King, general manager of Canadian Solar USA. “ESA Renewables is actively driving and enabling major solar projects across the country that demonstrates the value and viability of solar, and we’re proud ESA has selected our modules to help bring more than a million kilowatt hours of clean energy to North Carolina.”

The inverters ESA selected for the project are Advanced Energy (AE) PV Powered 260kW commercial inverters. “We continue to be impressed by ESA’s leadership in bringing solar energy onto our nation’s electric grid with impactful projects like this,” said Steve Levy, VP of Sales and Marketing for AE Solar Energy. “AE is pleased to be a partner in this project, and we look forward to collaborating with ESA on future solar projects.”

About ESA Renewables, LLC

ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of over 475 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA’s scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, France and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables, LLC, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455.

About Advanced Energy (Nasdaq:AEIS)

Advanced Energy is a global leader in innovative power and control technologies for high-growth, thin-film manufacturing and solar-power generation. Founded in 1981, Advanced Energy is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, with dedicated support and service locations around the world. For more information, go to www.advanced-energy.com.

About Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)

Canadian Solar Inc. is one of the world’s largest solar companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar modules and other solar applications, Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar system solutions for on-grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide. With operations in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, Canadian Solar provides premium quality, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solar solutions to support global, sustainable development. For more information, visit www.canadiansolar.com.