VRB Power strikes again… another solar deal
Fresh from the sale of a 10 kWh storage system to an Australian solar home project, Vancouver-based VRB Power has sold another 10 kWh system to SOLON AG, a top solar PV module producer in Germany.
SOLON said it plans to evaluate the VRB system in both grid-connected and grid-independent scenarios where solar energy is the primary source. Specifically, the company will test the storage system with its so-called “mover” system — a multiaxis solar tracking system that SOLON has put in locations throughout Germany. Also interesting is that SOLON will look at whether the VRB technology makes a good storage fit with utility-scale solar arrays.
On the surface this small, single sale may seem like no big deal, but considering SOLON is a major player in one of the hottest solar markets, this could prove fruitful over the long run as VRB attempts to gain a foothold and credibility in Europe.
Consider the following comment from Andrew Zwinkels, project manager for SOLON AG:
“Through this purchase SOLON will begin the development of truly independent solar energy,” said Zwinkels. “Applications will scale from our small autonomous power systems expanding up to entire solar parks like our 12 MW Erlasee facility. We believe that this is an essential technology and in association can help to increase the utilization of solar photovoltaic energy.”
That’s quite an early endorsement from a promising partner. Clearly, Europe is the place to focus if VRB wants to truly prove that its technology can eliminate the handicap associated with intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar.
VRB’s vice-president of marketing and business development, Mark Kuntz, is clear about the company’s focus: “VRB Power intends to expand its relationships in Europe with a focus on nations with strong renewable initiatives and markets that economically support the use of energy storage.”
The company may be making baby steps, but it appears to be heading in the right direction. At the very least it has started to tweak the interest of same major players, and if it can deliver on its promises the business will take care of itself.
Tyler Hamilton is editor-in-chief of Corporate Knights magazine and a business columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. In addition to this Clean Break blog, Tyler writes a weekly column of the same name that discusses trends, happenings and innovators in the clean technology and green energy market. This blog is a personal project started in April 2005. It is not an official blog of the newspaper.
