The event also commemorated installation of the two millionth solar module manufactured by Sharp in Memphis. The 1MW Knoxville installation is at an undisclosed location that we are told is somewhere off John Sevier Highway.

Press release...

EETN and Sharp Complete Successful Installation of TVA Region's Largest Solar Power Plant; Dedication Ceremony Draws Business Leaders and Top Government Officials

Efficient Energy of Tennessee installs One MW Solar Array using Sharp® Solar Modules Manufactured in Company's Memphis Plant

KNOXVILLE, TN, AUG. 12, 2010 -- Today utility executives joined with business leaders, and federal, state and local officials to inaugurate a new one megawatt (1 MW) solar power system, the largest in Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Region. Now online, the system is comprised of 4,608 Sharp® ND-224UC1 solar modules made in the company's Memphis plant and was developed, designed and constructed by Natural Energy Group in conjunction with Efficient Energy of Tennessee, LLC (EETN), its integrator arm based in Powell, TN. EETN will also maintain the facility.

"This one megawatt solar project exemplifies Tennessee's leadership in deploying solar power and developing clean energy technology solutions that will create good jobs and foster greater energy independence for our country," said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "I'm pleased to see continued investments like the one being celebrated in Knoxville today that are helping us create the clean energy economy of tomorrow."

It is anticipated this solar power array will generate 1,198,920 kWh of clean, emissions free solar energy annually for the Knoxville Utility Board (KUB) grid. This represents the equivalent energy to power more than 120 average-sized American homes. The solar array will eliminate the CO2 / greenhouse gases that would otherwise be emitted by the consumption of 2,000 barrels of oil. In addition, the design, construction and maintenance of this system helped create dozens of new clean tech jobs in Knoxville, in addition the factory jobs that Sharp created at its Memphis plant.

"The City of Knoxville seeks to substantially increase the deployment of solar power in the area. Knoxville's 'Solar America Cities' effort underscores our progress in working toward a sustainable solar infrastructure," said Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam. "This initiative furthers our goal of bringing solar power into the mainstream."

An existing building on the site will be converted to an education center that will include displays of real-time production data, design and installation information, mounting displays (helical piers, etc) and other educational items for public viewing. System construction began in May 2010, and was completed in July; it will be maintained by Efficient Energy of Tennessee, LLC.

"We are extremely proud to have completed and interconnected this signature

Tennessee photovoltaic project, the largest in the TVA region, in less than six weeks with the support of the Knoxville Utility Board, TVA and Sharp," noted Robbie Thomas, president of EETN. "Each organization went above and beyond to create a green energy solution that will set the standard for others across the country."

During the dedication ceremony, a gold-plated Sharp ND-224UC1 panel was installed at the Knoxville site to commemorate a recent milestone-the two millionth solar module Sharp has manufactured at its Memphis facility. Brought online in 2003, the facility assembles a variety of solar panels for residential and commercial installations. Since coming online, the factory has increased production capacity, and its manufacturing staff has tripled. In total, the Memphis facility has produced enough solar modules to fully power more than 65,000 homes.

"We're very proud of our collaboration with EETN in helping Tennessee further its sustainability and clean energy goals," noted Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. "Renewable energy projects such as this one, comprised of solar modules made in the U.S. at Sharp's Memphis manufacturing plant, are not only healthy for our environment , they're healthy for our economy as we help create new clean tech jobs in Tennessee and throughout the nation."

"This is a historic moment for the state of Tennessee as we rapidly establish ourselves as a solar industry leader. In 2010 we have commissioned the first one million watt solar PV array, and Sharp produced two million solar panels in its Memphis Tennessee facility. We are very excited to have been involved in the achievement of these extraordinary milestones," said Harvey Abouelata, vice president of sales & marketing for EETN.

About Natural Energy Group

Natural Energy Group was founded and funded by a group of local investors led by Mike Malicote with a mission of helping organizations like cities, airports and government organizations get into large-scale solar power. The initial project will help show the potential of the technology. Efficient Energy of Tennessee President, Robbie Thomas, is an investor in Natural Energy Group.

About EETN

Efficient Energy of Tennessee (EETN), located in Powell, TN was created to provide affordable, quality, sustainable solutions to rising energy demands in Tennessee and the surrounding areas. EETN currently specializes in energy grant writing, solar PV design and installation as well as power factor correction technology for both residential and commercial customers.

Website: (link...)

PR Site: (link...)

Social Network: (link...)

Photos: (link...)

About Sharp

Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, based in Huntington Beach, California, is a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Sharp is a world market leader in solar cell production, and offers both standard and integrated roof modules for home, business and utility applications.

Sharp Corporation is a worldwide developer of one-of-a-kind home entertainment products, appliances, networked multifunctional office solutions, solar energy solutions and mobile communication and information tools. Leading brands include AQUOS® Liquid Crystal Televisions, 1-BitT digital audio products, SharpVision® projection products, Insight® Microwave Drawer® appliances, Plasmacluster® air purifiers, and Notevision® multimedia projectors. For more information visit Sharp Electronics Corporation at (link...) or find us on Facebook at (link...).

Sharp is a registered trademark of Sharp Corporation

rikki's picture

Undisclosed location off John

Undisclosed location off John Sevier? Am I missing a joke?

The array is on 11E about a mile north of where 25W splits off, easily visible from the road.

Rachel's picture

The array is on 11E about a

The array is on 11E about a mile north of where 25W splits off, easily visible from the road.

Otherwise known as Andrew Johnson Highway, Asheville Highway, and "Helma's."

Saw it the last time I went to Jefferson City to see the folks. I was wondering if there was another one on John Sevier Hwy.

R. Neal's picture

I didn't know where it was.

I didn't know where it was. The press release and the website do not say. I asked and was told it was off John Sevier. So no, no joke. I hadn't been keeping up with it. Guess I'll have to go over there and take a gander.

rikki's picture

Apparently, someone mixed up

Apparently, someone mixed up Andrew Johnson Hwy with John Sevier Hwy.

Bill Lyons's picture

Oops

I'm sorry. I am the one responsible for whatever kind of slip happens between the brain and the keyboard, in this case mixing up names of highways and famous Tennesseans.

smalc's picture

It is anticipated this solar

It is anticipated this solar power array will generate 1,198,920 kWh of clean, emissions free solar energy annually for the Knoxville Utility Board (KUB) grid.

I am a little confused on the capacity. It's called a 1 megawatt array. I take that to mean that at optimal conditions it will deliver 1 megawatt. Then the annual watt-hours generated would be number of hours generating annually multiplied by 1,000,000 watts (simplified by assuming it's either 100% or zero generating).

R. Neal's picture

yeah, good question.

yeah, good question.

R. Neal's picture

According to the press

According to the press release, "the system is comprised of 4,608 Sharp® ND-224UC1 solar modules."

The product specs for the Sharp ND-224UC1 say it is a 224 watt panel. So 224 * 4608 = 1,032,192 which would be a MW.

So something's confusing? Maybe it's me.

(They also cost about $800 each, meaning the array cost up to $3.6 million, but they got a quantity discount, I'm sure.)

smalc's picture

Sounds like the array does

Sounds like the array does indeed have a 1 MW capacity. Whoever wrote the press release didn't know how to translate that into delivered power, I suppose.

That brings the question to my mind, what kind of efficiency can the Knoxville expect from solar panels?

rikki's picture

I'm puzzled by that 1.9MW

I'm puzzled by that 1.2MW figure too. It's a 1MW array, which is as large as TVA's Generation Partners program allowed (they've since reduced the maximum size).

There are 4 260kW inverters turning the power from DC to AC, and yesterday at about noon they were putting out 181kW each. It was too hot for optimal power, and haze probably shaved off a bit of production too.

I don't know what EETN paid for all those panels, but one installer I spoke with yesterday said bulk pricing can bring the cost per panel below $300. TVA views a 10-year, 1-MW GP contract as costing $3M, and people were tossing "3 or 4 years" around as the payoff period for this array, so it must have cost about $1M.

Factchecker's picture

I think it's a pretty fair

I think it's a pretty fair rule of thumb to multiply the rated value by 100 to get the expected, real world number of kWhrs per average month. So that would mean 1MW should produce roughly 1.2M kWhrs/yr. That is spot on with the press release.

The daily output is sort of a bell shaped curve and some days can be very cloudy. Also the system has losses, especially the inverters. So the rated panel power and the real output are two different things. I'm surprised those panels could be that cheap--that's really great. But still that's $1.4M for panels, plus there are the inverters, mounts, install labor, design, land, etc. I would have guessed closer to $5M before tax incentives.

smalc's picture

Ah, maybe so. But you would

Ah, maybe so.
But you would think the 100 factor would vary greatly according to location. (Phoenix>Knoxville>Seattle)

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