Sapa sells HatiCon to Mounting Systems GmbH

Sapa has sold its HatiCon operations to the German company Mounting Systems GmbH. HatiCon produces, markets and sells aluminium extrusion-based mounting systems for the solar industry. 

The agreement reached today means that Mounting Systems GmbH, will with immediate effect take over the operations for HatiCon Germany GmbH including the US company HatiCon Solar, LLC.

The divestment concludes a process in which the management of Sapa’s aluminium building systems business area also had evaluated new restructuring measures following challenging market conditions in the solar industry in Europe.

“Combining Mounting Systems and HatiCon will be an opportunity to create on strong and competitive player in the photovoltaic and solar thermal mounting systems industry”, says Karsten Lundgaard, executive vice president and head of Sapa Building Systems. Sapa delivers aluminium solutions to customers in the solar industry across the world, however, HatiCon has been the only unit in Sapa delivering branded systems to this industry. “Going forward Sapa will not be operating with branded systems in this industry but rather continue as a supplier of aluminium extrusions to companies like Mounting Systems and Haticon”, concludes Lundgaard.

For over 20 years Mounting Systems develops and manufactures innovative racking system solutions for photovoltaic and solar thermal applications. With acquiring HatiCon, Mounting Systems continues growing as a specialist for innovative and high-quality racking system solutions for photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, both nationally and internationally.

“Uniting Mounting Systems and HatiCon is an important milestone for our company”, says Stefan Spork, Managing Director of Mounting Systems. “With acquiring HatiCon, we gain valuable know-how in racking systems solutions, especially for on-roof systems. This fits perfectly in our product portfolio and the services we offer and will benefit our customers”, adds Stefan Spork.

HatiCon’s production activities and head office are in Pinnow, Germany. The company also has offices in Güterfelde, Germany, and Ontario, California. HatiCon employs about 100 people.

The companies agreed on keeping the purchase price confidential. The brand “HatiCon” and all associated functions, like administration, management and infrastructure, will be continued for now.

Sapa is the world leader in aluminium solutions, shaping a lighter future through a global reach and local presence within extrusions, building systems, and precision tubing. The company has 23,000 employees in more than 40 countries, and the headquarters are located in Oslo, Norway. www.sapagroup.com

Mounting Systems GmbH is one of the largest manufacturers of fastening systems for photovoltaic and solar-thermal power plants in the world and module frames. With over 20 years of experience in the market, the company is a highly skilled developer and manufacturer in this business segment, headquartered in Rangsdorf near Berlin. Mounting Systems is also serving its customers from its own sales and production site in West Sacramento, USA and sales offices in UK, France and Japan. 

SolarCraft Completes Solar Power Installation for Congregation Shomrei Torah

North Bay Synagogue Sees the Light 

Novato, CA (October 2014)—Novato and Sonoma based SolarCraft announced the completion of a 34 kW solar panel system at Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa, CA.  Designed and built by SolarCraft, the North Bay Synagogue’s system will reduce their carbon footprint while saving thousands in utility costs in the years to come.

While the Congregation has been wanting to do solar for a few years for all the right reasons, but it was not until a new financing option very favorable for non-profits was introduced by SolarCraft that they saw a sound financial returns. Essentially, the financing payments for the solar power are less than paying PG&E each month. As Robert Gould, Director of Commercial Projects, states, “we are honored to be helping houses of worship, like Shomrei Torah, to dramatically reduce their climate footprint, which is very congruent with their values, as well as saving them money, which allows them to provide the valuable services to the community.  We are seeing a number of houses of worship and spiritual communities going solar.”     

The solar photovoltaic system is ground mounted on a hillside below the building and consists of 104 SunPower high-efficiency solar panels spanning nearly 2,180 square feet.  The system’s solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and is expected to generate approximately 56,100 kilowatt hours of energy annually, reducing their PG&E bills by 90% and providing clean energy to the Synagogue. Furthermore, Sonoma Clean Power’s favorable rate for solar customers, which give credits for energy exported to the grid, will generate additional savings.

The system’s solar electric panels allow the Congregation to generate enough electricity each day to power 17 average homes.  It will spare the air nearly 25 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually.  

Over 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 1.4 million miles of driving. 

About Congregation Shomrei Torah

Shomrei Torah was founded in 1974 by a group of eleven Sonoma County families. The name they chose for their new congregation translates as “Keepers of Torah” in honor of our Holocaust Torah, which was rescued from Strakonitz, Czechoslovakia, and is on permanent loan from a foundation in Westminster, England.  Today, the 440 member households of Shomrei Torah comprise the largest Jewish congregation in Sonoma County, and the fastest-growing congregation in the North Bay.

SolarCraft is one of the most trusted and experienced solar energy contractors in California.  Since 1984, this certified Green Business has been providing high quality solar electrical, solar pool heating and solar water heating services to homeowners and businesses, employing licensed and certified solar installers.  With more than 5,000 satisfied customers and over 2.5 million square feet of solar collectors installed, SolarCraft is committed to Quality Design, Quality Materials and Customer Service. www.solarcraft.com

TerraVerde Renewable Partners Helps Burton School District Reduce Energy Costs

Innovative Combination of Cutting Edge Energy Storage Systems and Solar Power Projected to Save the District About $6 Million

LARKSPUR, Calif., September 16, 2014 – TerraVerde Renewable Partners, an independent energy advisor that helps schools, public agencies and private companies reduce energy costs, today announced that its client, Burton School District, has entered into a contract with SolarCity for the installation of advanced energy storage systems and solar generation systems across nine of their sites.  The new systems are projected to save the school district about $6 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years. The Burton School District paired battery storage and solar project will be one of the first of such projects to be implemented under California’s advanced energy storage rules released in late spring.

“We have been chipping away at energy efficiency projects for years, picking all the low hanging fruit,” said Tracy Tucker, Director of Maintenance and Operations at Burton SD.  “We chose to engage TerraVerde for analysis and development of our generation and storage project because they were able to look into the feasibility of doing complex projects at no up-front cost to us. There was no financial risk to the district and they have refined a process specifically to meet the needs of public schools and the requirements of Proposition 39.” 

The District engaged TerraVerde’s energy advisory services to ensure that they received competitive pricing on high-quality, integrated energy systems designed to address its goals. Through its unique approach, TerraVerde helped the District: understand energy costs; explore all options for energy cost reduction; minimize financial risk; and conserve staff resources. 

“Burton School District is an excellent example of tactically pursuing practical measures combined with a forward thinking vision to address low cost generation after reducing as much demand as possible,” said Doug Stoecker, Senior Vice President, TerraVerde.  “The District was comfortable evaluating cutting edge measures, like energy storage, due to their prior investment in efficiency, and our independent analysis and validation of the technology, projected savings, and the interplay with an optimally designed solar system.”

By using Proposition 39 funding for Energy Storage, and a PPA to acquire clean, cheaper solar power, the District is able to significantly reduce both the demand and the usage portions of their electricity bill.  The result is an installation that provides a hedge against the price increases and changes that are likely to come with the current utility “rate reforms”.

About TerraVerde Renewable Partners

TerraVerde Renewable Partners, headquartered in Larkspur, California, is an independent energy advisor that helps schools, public agencies and private companies reduce energy costs.  Selected as CASBO’s Strategic Alliance Partner : Energy Advisor, the firm provides School District’s with comprehensive Proposition 39 program development services.  As an independent and objective third party, TerraVerde evaluates the feasibility of energy cost reduction projects at no cost to the client.  On behalf of its clients, TerraVerde creates and manages a competitive bid process to secure qualified providers of installation and financing services, oversees implementation of the project, and provides ongoing asset management and performance reporting services to ensure that energy cost savings goals are achieved. For more information, please visit: www.tvrpllc.com.

Sun Light & Power Cements Partnership With Soled Benefit Corporation

Investment in San Rafael-based solar electric finance specialist unites two California Benefit Corporations to provide low-cost clean energy for schools, municipalities and public service organizations

BERKELEY CA -- Berkeley-based Sun Light & Power, a leading California solar contractor established in 1976, has acquired a significant stake in SolEd Benefit Corporation., a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) provider and energy finance firm headquartered in San Rafael.

The acquisition marks the beginning of a nonexclusive partnership between two California Benefit Corporations dedicated to providing practical and affordable energy solutions to schools, municipalities and public service organizations.

Gary Gerber, founder and president of Sun Light & Power, says the arrangement will give his customers better access to a full range of financing options, including PPA contracts that allow customers to pay only for the energy they use, while the developer owns and maintains the system and takes the renewable energy tax credits. SolEd’s PPA approach leverages cost-effective energy efficiency measures and sophisticated financial models to lock in significantly lower energy costs over the long term, with little or no up-front cost to the customer, and increasing savings over time. “We wanted to enhance our ability to help our clients navigate the complexities of solar energy financing and incentives,” Gerber says. “A strategic partnership was clearly the best way to achieve that goal, but we took our time finding the right match, with people who truly share our customer-centered values.”

As California Benefit Corporations, both firms are committed to harnessing the power of business for the public good, facilitating reduced costs for solar power installations while maintaining a healthy and sustainable bottom line. “Our mission is to provide host customers with the lowest lifetime cost of energy,” said David Kunhardt, CEO of SolEd. “Sun Light & Power has been delivering quality for repeat customers for decades, and is also a B Corporation, the perfect partner for SolEd.”

While both firms will continue to work with other partners in their respective areas, the close relationship between SolEd and Sun Light & Power will support a more integrated customer experience encompassing all phases of project development and implementation. The two firms are poised to function as co-developers on major projects, fusing SolEd’s considerable expertise in resource assessment, financing and reporting mechanisms with engineering, procurement and construction services backed by one of California’s oldest and most respected solar energy contractors.