Evergreen Solar makes solar panels used in a variety of applications for the home, business, and recreation. They provide for clean, earth-friendly energy and are particularly useful in remote locations where there are no utility lines. Hydro Aluminum’s North Liberty, Indiana operation provides extrusions for the frames that hold the panels together.
"We have three main markets: on grid, especially in places like Japan, Germany and some states in the US that have incentive programs; off grid, for vacation homes, remote telecommunications and signage; and rural electrification,” explains William Kanzer, director of marketing communications. “There are 2 billion people without electricity, and solar panels can provide the power they need without having to run utility lines all over the countryside.
”The company is growing fast – from 3MW of capacity last year to 15 MW this year – and in fact has been named to Deloitte & Touche’s “New England Technology Fast 50” list. What separates Evergreen Solar from the rest of the pack is it’s proprietary “String Ribbon” process, which creates the solar energy collecting cells in a more efficient way. Two strings are drawn continuously through a bath of silicon, creating a ribbon of material, which is laser-cut with virtually no loss of material. The components are assembled in 115- watt modules measuring about 2 feet by 5 feet, held together in an aluminum frame of L-shaped extrusions.
Regardless of where they are headed, the panels all have one thing in common: they must stand up to anything Mother Nature can throw at them. Wind, rain, hail, and not least, sunshine. Aluminum extrusions from Hydro form the frame that holds the panel together. The frame is light yet strong, and most of all, resistant to corrosion. And that’s no small advantage for a product that carries a 25-year warranty.
“We do have a strong relationship. Hydro is our primary supplier due to quality products and flexibility with delivery,” says Alan King of Evergreen Solar.
Says Ted Stull, head of fabrication at Hydro’s aluminum plant in North Liberty, Indiana: “We also helped design a more robust frame that could stand up to heavy snowfalls, giving them a leg up on their competition.”
Contact Evergreen Solar
Tel. (508) 357-2221
