California Center for Sustainable Energy

Two large buses carrying more than 75 “solar tourists” set out from CCSE on the Commercial Solar Tour in the early morning of Thursday, Oct. 1. The trip provided participants with a unique opportunity to see inside a solar PV manufacturing plant and visit two large-scale rooftop solar installations and hear directly from the system’s owners and installers to learn about solar technologies and system performance.

First stop on the tour was Siliken Renewable Energies’ PV solar panel production facility in Otay Mesa, which opened in 2008 and currently has a 24 MW capacity. Two semi-automated production lines put out 205 W to 240 W poly-crystalline modules that when completed are tested for power production in radiation simulators. Kevin Blake, Siliken director of sales, led the tour and conducted a lengthy question and answer session. Siliken is involved in every aspect of the solar industry including silicon refining and building their manufacturing equipment, and turnkey solar projects. The variety of options offered to residential, commercial and utility-scale customers is uncommon in the industry.

Next, the tour went to Santee Lakes, where the Padre Dam Municipal Water District operates a large recreational and camping facility in addition to providing water services to about 100,000 residents in eastern San Diego. In February, they activated an 862 Kilowatt PV system at Santee Lakes built through a partnership with Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. and SunEdison. More than 14,000 thin film PV modules cover three large parking structures, providing 300 shaded spaces for RV storage. "Our vision is to conserve and protect our natural resources. Santee Lakes is part of that vision," said Allen Carlisle, the district’s director of parks and recreation. “By hosting a solar energy system in the preserve, Padre Dam is taking another step to protect and improve the local environment.”

The final tour stop was Point Loma Nazarene University, a 90-acre campus on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where four PV systems mounted on four buildings provide a combined 302 kW. The system utilizes Kyocera panels installed by SPG Solar, Inc. and owned by Solar Power Partners through a power purchase agreement. According to tour host Richard Schult, the campus director of physical plant, the projected is the result of dedicated work from students, faculty and staff who united on the common interest of bringing clean renewable energy to campus. The system won a 2008 Orchid Award for sustainability from the San Diego Architectural Foundation and a 2009 SANDEE Award for special achievement in energy from CCSE. The university hopes to increase their use of solar to 1 MW.

CCSE thanks Siliken Renewable Energies for sponsoring the Commercial Solar Tour.