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Company News:
Xantrex solar inverters installed at 300 kW plant in Spain
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BARCELONA, SPAIN, August 18, 2006 – Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) has been selected by Spanish solar energy company Alternativas Energeticas Vaquero to supply its solar inverters for a 300 kilowatt (kW) solar tracker plant in Toledo, Spain. Xantrex is a premier supplier of inverters that is active in the Spanish solar market, with more than 10 megawatts (MW) sold in Spain.
The objective of the project is to combine water, animal life, plants and buildings into an integrated facility. The solar plant will be composed of six 100 kW installations, with the first phase including three Xantrex GT100E central inverters. Xantrex inverters efficiently convert direct current (DC) power from solar panels into high-quality alternating current (AC) electricity for sale to the utility grid. The GT100E commercial solar inverter is a 100 kW three-phase advanced power electronics system for grid-connected solar arrays.
The plant’s solar array has 18 double-axis trackers. Each tracker has 90 modules for a total of 17,100 watts peak (Wp). The first phase of the solar plant has 307,800 Wp for an estimated annual production of 630,000 kilowatt hours (kWh).
Solar power is an attractive investment in Spain because the Spanish feed-in tariff is 0.44 Euro/kWh, higher than the price of electricity from conventional sources, resulting in an expected payback period for this solar plant of less than 10 years. The solar installation was connected to the grid in December 2005 and as of June 1st, 2006 the total production was 232,511 kWh.
In addition to the economic benefit, this solar plant has many environmental benefits, with annual reductions of 630,000 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2), 840 kg of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 1055 kg of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
"I am very proud of the result of this turnkey project," said Jose Antonio Vaquero of Alternativas Energéticas Vaquero S.L, system integrator and installer of the solar plant. "Thanks to the high efficiency of the Sanyo modules, the double axis trackers and the reliability and efficiency of Xantrex solar inverters, I can confirm that this is one of the more efficient solar plants in Spain within this power segment. Thanks to the Xantrex monitoring system, we can provide real time communications and it also has diagnostic and archive functionality."
“Xantrex inverters are field proven, efficient, and reliable, offering system integrators and owners an excellent return on their solar power investment,” said Xantrex CEO John Wallace. “We are excited about the opportunities in the European solar market. We have invested in new product development and have launched a full line of commercial solar inverters with units from 100 kW to 500 kW and plan to launch more products later this year. Xantrex has proven solar and wind experience with more than 3,000 MW of renewable power conversion applications installed worldwide. We expect Xantrex products to be the choice for an increasing number of renewable energy customers in Europe. We will achieve this by delivering outstanding products, reducing installed cost, and providing industry leading after-sale support.”
Xantrex uses a disciplined approach to design its solar grid tie inverters for long life and reliability. Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) methods expose the components to extreme thermal and mechanical conditions that go beyond conventional testing methods typically used by other inverter manufacturers. The result is rugged, top-quality products that are built to withstand all types of environments. The GT100E is expandable and easy to operate, with higher energy production at lower power levels than the competition. The unit’s thermal design allows it to operate at up to 45 degrees Celsius without de-rating. The GT100E incorporates advanced Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology to maximize the energy harvested from a PV array. The GT100E inverter has a Euro efficiency rating of 94.7%. It meets all CE requirements, is approved by the TUV Rhineland, and fulfills the Spanish Royal Decree 1663/2000.
Xantrex has a local service network in Spain, with commissioning support, product training, a help hotline, and maintenance service. Xantrex also offers warranty extensions and performance warranties for its industrial grid tie inverters.
About Alternativas Energeticas Vaquero
Alternativas Energeticas Vaquero is a turnkey system integrator and installer with more than 10 years of experience in the Spanish market. The company works on the design of PV systems to the implementation of projects, from financing to maintenance, providing professional support for projects and helping with legal and administrative tasks.
Alternativas Energeticas Vaquero offers integrated complete energy solutions that are economical and environmentally attractive and help create a better world. It offers the leading brands in the solar segment, with global solutions personalized for its clients with the highest standards in service and quality, while focusing on the environmental aspects of renewable energy.
About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. (www.xantrex.com) is a world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced power electronic products and systems for the renewable, portable, mobile, and programmable power markets. The company’s products convert and control raw electrical power from any central, distributed, renewable, or backup power source into high-quality power required by electronic and electrical equipment. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company has facilities in Arlington, Washington; Livermore, California; Elkhart, Indiana; Barcelona, Spain; and Reading, England. Xantrex is publicly listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "XTX".
Note that this news release contains forward-looking statements related to Xantrex Technology Inc. Such statements reflect the current views of Xantrex with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements.
For further information, please contact
Raquel Espada
011-34-93-556-0972
raquel.espada@xantrex.com
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