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Alliance for Sustainable Energy joins SolarTAC—The Largest Solar Test and
Demonstration Center in the United States
Energy Lab Plays Key Role in Developing Next-Generation Technologies
Aurora, Colo. – The Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC),
the nation's largest solar energy technology testing facility, announces the
addition of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Alliance), which manages
and operates the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL), as a sponsoring member.
Located in Colorado, near Denver International Airport, SolarTAC is a
private, member-based, 74-acre outdoor facility where the solar industry tests,
validates, and demonstrates advanced solar technologies. SolarTAC was launched
in 2008 by a public-private consortium, including Midwest Research Institute
(MRI), which is a governing member of the Alliance.
SolarTAC members can work alone or with other members on research and
demonstration projects, as well as fully integrated solar systems before
commercial deployment. Solar energy companies also can use the facility to show
customers how their systems work under real conditions. The facility provides
field-testing for both photovoltaic and concentrated solar power systems,
including access to the electricity grid.
The Alliance recently signed a membership agreement with SolarTAC on behalf
of NREL. Through this membership, NREL researchers gain access to a
collaborative commercial-scale facility that is newer and more extensive than
facilities at its research campus 20 miles to the west in Golden, CO. SolarTAC
will help advance the Laboratory's goal to accelerate the commercial adoption of
solar energy technologies and enhance the Laboratory's critical role in
developing and testing the next generation of solar energy technologies.
"SolarTAC's 'kick-the-tires' environment provides an unprecedented
opportunity for first-hand observation and evaluation of solar technology
performance under real-world conditions," said Casey Porto, NREL's Senior
Vice President of Commercialization and Deployment.
"This membership with the Alliance provides SolarTAC with a world-class
scientific partner for solar research and development," said SolarTAC's
Executive Director Dustin T. Smith. "It is a significant step toward our
memberships' goal of accelerating utility-scale solar technologies into the
marketplace."
SolarTAC originated when six public and private sector entities -- Abengoa
Solar, the City of Aurora, the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, Midwest
Research Institute (MRI), SunEdison, and Xcel Energy -- joined forces to
establish a site where member companies can bring their early commercial or
near-commercial stage solar technologies for testing and demonstration under
actual field conditions.
Media contact information:
- Abengoa Solar : Allison Lenthall, 202.558.7739,
Allison@renewcomm.com
- City of Aurora: Kim Stuart, 720.427.5335,
Kstuart@auroragov.org
- EPRI: Jeff Brehm, 704-595-2521,
jbrehm@epri.com
- MRI: Pam Sharitz-Tesch, 816.360.1968,
psharitz-tesch@mriresearch.org
- Alliance and NREL: Joe Verrengia, 303.275.3891,
joe.verrengia@nrel.gov
- SunEdison: Brad Oswald, 443-909-7200,
boswald@sunedison.com
About the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC and the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory
The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, manages and operates NREL, under
contract to the U.S. Department of Energy. The Alliance is equally owned and
governed by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.
www.allianceforsustainableenergy.org
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the U.S. Department of
Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency
research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for
Sustainable Energy, LLC.
www.nrel.gov
About Abengoa Solar
Abengoa Solar develops and deploys technologies to generate clean energy from
the sun. Abengoa Solar develops, designs, builds and operates in the U.S.
Concentrating Solar Power (C.S.P.) and photovoltaic power plants and
installations. Abengoa Solar also develops its own technology through R&D
projects in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and NREL, among
others.
www.abengoasolar.com
About Sun Edison
SunEdison is North America's largest solar energy services provider. The company
finances, installs and operates distributed power plants using proven
photovoltaic technologies, delivering fully managed, predictably priced solar
energy services for its commercial, government and utility customers. SunEdison
is a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR).
www.sunedison.com
About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated
operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a
comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million
electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its
regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis.
More information is available at
www.xcelenergy.com
About Midwest Research Institute (MRI)
MRI, a not-for-profit scientific research organization with nearly 2,800
employees under management nationwide, performs contract research and laboratory
consulting services for clients in government, industry, and academia.
Established in 1944, MRI is one of the nation's leading independent research
institutes, conducting research in the areas of national security and defense,
energy and environment, life sciences, food and agriculture, and transportation
safety. With headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., MRI also has operations in
Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. MRI is a partner in and chair of the
Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, which manages and operates the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of
Energy.
www.mriresearch.org
About Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory
The Collaboratory is a renewable energy research partnership among the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory and Colorado's premier research universities –
Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University and the University of
Colorado – Boulder. The Collaboratory seeks to develop and commercialize
renewable energy technologies, promote economic growth in Colorado, the Rocky
Mountain Region and the nation with renewable energy industries, and educate our
nations' finest energy researchers, technicians and work force. The
Collaboratory's research centers provide access to four world class institutions
through a single point of contact. Nearly 50 companies, from Fortune 500
companies to clean energy startups, have already joined Collaboratory centers.
www.coloradocollaboratory.org
About the City of Aurora
More than 309,000 people and 10,000 businesses choose to call Aurora home,
making it the third most populous city in Colorado and the 58th largest in the
country. The City of Aurora, ranks the sixth safest among cities of its size,
offers an extensive range of services to create a livable, enjoyable community.
Just minutes away from Denver International Airport, the strategically located
city serves as the gateway to the Rockies. City leaders' vision for growth
focuses the principles of sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable
energy. SolarTAC is located on City of Aurora land master planned for furthering
renewable energy projects.
www.auroragov.org