PowerSystems Solar Frontier PowerSaver: Turning your roof into an economic asset Cut electricity costs permanently with the self-consumption solutions from Solar Frontier www.solar-frontier.eu
Challenge to the economy Electricity prices just keep going up In the last ten years, electricity prices in countries such as Germany have risen by almost 6% annually. As a result of increases in other allocated costs a change cannot be expected in the foreseeable future. If this trend is projected into the future, in 20 years time prices will have increased by 210%. This means that a kwh costing 17 cents in 2014 will cost 53 cents in 2033. Electricity price trend (scenarios) 70 ct/kwh Even if the rate of increase slows down, it will still have major consequences for manufacturing businesses. Companies that are unable to buy electricity through the Electricity Exchange will be obliged to pay full price for their energy. This will create burdens that will significantly impact the companies financial position, and ultimately competitiveness. Relief for your company Simply generate and use your own electricity instead of buying at ever higher prices 60 50 40 30 20 10 0.0 17 ct/kwh 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2033 Corridor: prices rise between 3% and 5% p.a. * Basis for Solar Frontier calculations Increase 5 % p. a. Increase 3 % p. a.* Cost of buying electricity Source: BDEW electricity price analysis, May 2013 (graph produced by Solar Frontier) Trend line Increase 53 ct/kwh 210% Increase 44 ct/kwh 158% Increase 31 ct/kwh 81% Time Under the conditions described above, when you generate your own electricity you automatically create a whole range of considerable competitive advantages for your company: Clean, permanently cheaper power Reimbursement for surpluses returned to the grid More independence from electricity price trends Improved image for environmentally responsible activity In this case, a solar power plant for generating your own electricity is the ideal solution. Self-consumption means that the solar power generated is consumed directly by the business itself. Not only will you benefit from the outstanding engineering and efficiency of the technology offered by Solar Frontier, but you can also use an otherwise unproductive area resource for the purpose: the roof of your commercial building. To ensure that the figures are right, you should take into account a number of highly specific requirements: Product and service quality, which will guarantee high yields you can count on for many years A financially stable manufacturer that will be there to assist and support you at all times A commercially oriented system plan customized to address your needs profile in every detail The Solar Frontier PowerSaver system combines all these requirements and enables the biggest savings potential. 2 3
How one company in the food industry is cutting the cost of power (example) With real numbers This example of a midsize enterprise with substantial cooling needs illustrates how the anticipated costs of electricity will burden the company in the coming years and the enormous savings potential the company can realize by installing a solar power system. 654,000 Savings* 10% Internal rate of return (IRR) Payback period 8.75 years PV electricity for 8 ct/kwh The advantages in summary Key data for the site 1) (Hessen; Germany) Objective: maximum savings Power demand to be substituted by PV (adjusted for degradation) Estimated price of electricity (without PV) (price increase 3% p. a.) 1st year Total (20 years) 209,000 kwh 4,050,000 kwh 17 ct/kwh 31 ct/kwh How the company permanently keeps its power costs low Over the next 20 years, the company would pay approximately 944,000 for electricity that could be replaced with solar power. With a system planned by Solar Frontier, the costs in the example could be reduced to about 290,000. This corresponds to a potential savings of 69%. This also includes an allowance for ongoing operating costs of the system over 20 years. Cost of electricity (without PV) 35,600 944,000 Potential savings Max. output with feasible installation/self-consumption rate 200 kwp 58% 2) Results (rounded) Total (20 years) Savings 654,000 Payback period 8.75 years Internal rate of return (IRR) 10% 3) Payment per kwh generated (average) 8 ct/kwh 543,000 Self-consumption 193,000 Proceeds from sales (FIT) 82,000 Potential savings 69% 654,000 Usable roof area 1,600 m 2 944,000 290,000 1) Note: figures rounded as nominal values and payment flows 2) Optimization target for the given load profile: maximization of savings 3) With 100% equity Cost of electricity without PV Savings with PV Budget for ongoing operating costs Cost of electricity with PV Savings realized * Ongoing operating costs already included in calculations 4 5
No compromises on quality Three reasons to choose Solar Frontier Self-generated electricity can lower your energy costs significantly and sustainably. But not all solar systems are alike. And not all manufacturers are the same. In order to allocate and safeguard your investment as effectively as possible, there are three key aspects on which you should make no compromises: product, planning, and partner. 01 Superior products & services for highest yields 1. Superior products & services The nominal power output of many systems often reveals very little about actual yields. Another source of uncertainty: How high will the yield be in 5, 10, or even 20 years? The heart of the Solar Frontier PowerSaver system is CIS technology. The outstanding feature of this technology is that it is able to deliver exceptionally high yields even in the most difficult conditions in low light or in shaded sites, for example. For many years, we have ensured that the long-term output of our modules is monitored and verified by independent test organizations such as the Fraunhofer Institute. The result: a documented record of high yields for the very long term. These exceptional delivery profiles are further ensured by technical components such as inverters and cables that have been specially designed to work optimally with the CIS PowerModules. Solar Frontier also supports you with comprehensive performance guarantees and professional service solutions to ensure that the economic advantage of your installation is maintained. 2. Customized planning 03 Financially powerful partner for long-term security 02 Customized planning for optimal solutions 3. Financially powerful partner With operating lives of more than 25 years, even the most minor planning errors in an incorrectly configured system can have a serious impact on the overall profitability of the system. Standard solutions are scarcely able to address this requirement. Our specially trained analysis and planning team designs installations to satisfy specific customer requirements in every detail. With constant reference to the individual objectives of the customer, Solar Frontier creates the ideal system design of the PowerSaver with consideration for both technical and commercial criteria. Solar Frontier is built on over 30 years of solar engineering experience. In Shell and Saudi Aramco we have the backing of immensely strong, financially powerful partners who are pursuing longterm strategy in the energy sector. This means that we will be present and ready to assist you as a stable, reliable partner for a long time to come. 6 7
Products and services Superior modules proven in long-term tests CIS PowerModules for highest yields even under extreme conditions In a confusing photovoltaic market, customers often have difficulty making clear comparisons. Solar Frontier is helping to introduce greater transparency to the com- petition for many years they have offered their modules for use in test installations and monitoring by independent test organizations such as the Fraunhofer Institute. Test site: Futterkamp (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) Site overview System capacity: Reference period: Modules compared: Roof orientation: Characteristics: 30 kwp 2 years + 8 months (01/11 08/13) mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline silicon modules from two well-known manufacturers Southeast Difficult conditions due to low light Competitive advantages + Energy yield with Solar Frontier modules is Many model calculations for solar installations assume optimum conditions: high solar altitude, cloudless sky, clear air, no shadows, moderate temperatures. But for how many hours in the year do these conditions really exist? In this context, the CIS PowerModules (C = copper, I = indium, S = selenium) from Solar Frontier represent the perfect solution, because they return higher yields than competing products even in shade, under cloudy skies, low light, or high temperatures. 8.5% greater than with the mono-crystalline silicon modules offered by our competitors + Energy yield with Solar Frontier modules is 7% Specific yield/year 8.5% higher yield than mono-crystalline silicon modules 7% 1,000 higher yield than poly-crystalline silicon modules 950 997 higher than with the poly-crystalline silicon modules offered by our competitors 900 + Increased savings 932 919 monocrystalline Solar Frontier CIS polycrystalline Highest yields with CIS technology Good low-light behavior High energy yield even in early morning, late evening, in misty weather, or if roofs are aligned east to west. Test site: Fraunhofer Institute (Kassel, Germany) Official test site of Fraunhofer Institute Specific yield 900 IWES High shadow tolerance If even a part of the crystalline modules is in shadow (e.g. from trees, chimney stacks, or other buildings) the output of almost the entire module is reduced dramatically. With CIS PowerModules, only the area that is actually overshadowed is affected the rest of the module still produces electricity. High temperature stability The performance capabilities of conventional technologies are significantly affected on hot days. In contrast, CIS PowerModules generate high yields in the summer months as well. 904 Site overview Reference period: Modules compared: Roof orientation: Characteristics: 12 months (2011 2012) mono-crystalline silicon modules from a well-known manufacturer South The roof faces south, the direction considered most favorable for the competitor product 828 800 817 805 Silizium amorph Silizium mono Solar Frontier CIS Silizium poly Specific yield/year Specific yield/year Competitive advantages + Energy yield with Solar Frontier modules is 9.2% greater than 1,000 Light soaking effect This phenomenon is similar to what happens when an engine warms up: as soon as the CIS PowerModules are exposed to sunlight, the nominal output of the modules increases by as much as 5%. with the950 mono-crystalline silicon modules997 offered by the competitors + Even on 900 a south-facing roof, the direction considered most 932 favorable for the competitor product, Solar Frontier performs 919 Solar better. Frontier monopoly- + Increased savings 8 crystalline crystalline CIS 9.2% 1,200 higher yield 1,100 1,242 1,137 monocrystalline Solar Frontier CIS 9
Products and services Superior technology first-class service 10 year system guarantee 25 year performance guarantee The perfect combination: CIS PowerModules and MIRALUX substructures Our PowerService: completely worry-free completely reliable In Solar Frontier, you have a partner you can call on with all of your questions about planning, mounting, operating, and financing your system. We provide a range of services for each of these aspects: Our installations are mounted using MIRALUX systems. These systems have been optimized for use with our modules and offer a number of advantages: Very lightweight with exceptional stability Mounting times up to 50% faster, since hooks or screws are not used Aerodynamic construction: suction effect on the roof assures stability even in high winds Use of the special coating material, Magnelis, offers outstanding corrosion protection The roof skin is not punctured the roof warranty is therefore not compromised Flexible and efficient implementation The Miralux substructure can be implemented efficiently with the CIS PowerModules in any direction, so your company s power generation profile is as broad as possible and fully optimized. In other words, power is generated from early morning to late evening, and overproduction in the middle of the day is minimized. The overall result is a good ratio between installed output on the one hand and self-consumption on the other. Installation and maintenance Solar Frontier works with partners whose installation and maintenance expertise has been proven over many years of cooperation. They are all thoroughly familiar with our systems and have specialized in Solar Frontier CIS technology. We will be glad to recommend an expert in your area. Of course, you are also free to work with a partner of your choosing. Monitoring Upon request, we will also monitor your system thus ensuring long-term oversight of its performance. Together with maintenance by a local, specialized installer, this amounts to added security for you. System guarantee We offer a 10 year guarantee for the complete system, consisting of modules, inverters, substructure and cables. Solar Frontier will be your contact in a guarantee case and will manage the interfaces with other suppliers. Performance guarantee The performance of CIS PowerModules from Solar Frontier is also impressively stable over long periods. We guarantee the output of our modules for 25 years: output of 90% is guaranteed for the first ten years, 80% for the next 15 years. Financing Do you want a financing solution that fits your situation as perfectly as your solar installation? Solar Frontier has cooperated with proven financing partners for many years. Upon request, we will work with you to reach the ideal model for your commercial situation. Moreover, we can determine if you are eligible for government subsidies. 10 11
Customized planning Technical optimization of the system Technically tailored The service life of a solar installation is 25 years and longer. This means that every planning detail can significantly affect your yield and actual cost savings. So we place a specially trained team of experts at your disposal to assist you in all aspects of analysis, consulting, and planning: After your company s load profile has been determined, it is used as the basis for optimizing the system, to ensure that it supplies as much as possible of your daily power consumption needs. Example 1: Commercial operation (production on business days only) Solar power generation Power consumption (Load profile) Load profile analysis Solar energy generation profile simulation Installation site yield data simulation Roof surface analysis kw Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday The result is a tailored planning program perfectly adapted to your individual situation, including an optimized CAD layout. Example 2: Commercial operation (continuous production) kw The planning basis: your company s load profile The basis for our planning is a detailed analysis of your load profile. This shows exactly how much electricity your company consumes in order to continue operating at different times of the day. In order to be able to conduct the most accurate analysis possible, we evaluate this need in quarter-hourly intervals. This enables us to optimize your system for your specific requirements. Experts at work It is obvious that with Solar Frontier you are dealing with experts on the job. Not only was the technical planning of the system performed with exceptional care, it was also executed very quickly despite the very particular requirements regarding the roof of a football stadium. Load profile in quarter-hour intervals The detailed load profile analysis in quarter-hour intervals is used to adapt the system exactly to the needs of the company. A proposal for a CAD layout is prepared and delivered in this context. Power consumption (without PV) Power consumption (with PV) Charlie Clay, Managing Director, Life Long Energy 12 (Nottingham, England) 13 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 kw Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 24:00 Time Solar power generation
Customized planning Commercial optimization of the installation 8.75 years Payback period 10% Internal rate of return The results of the technical analysis serve as the basis for more detailed economic viability calculations. These calculations constitute a forecast of the yields that can be expected in conjunction with the evaluation of investment and running costs in the operating phase. In the course of this exercise, financial indicators such as payback time or internal rate of return are calculated. Upon completion, you then receive a substantiated report which you can use to make your investment decision according to commercial criteria. For an assumed increase of 3% in the cost of electricity, any manufacturing business would experience a significant financial burden. If a system planned by Solar Frontier is installed, this cost block can be reduced permanently. The payback period for the system in our example is just 8.75 years. This corresponds to a highly profitable internal rate of return (IRR) of 10% (these figures already take into account a budget for maintenance and operation). Key data for the example Objective: maximum savings Location Hessen (Germany) Industry Food Period under consideration (corresponds to FIT reimbursement period) 20 years Performance guarantee for modules 25 years Possible length of use > 25 years Nominal output 200 kwp Self-consumption rate 58% Results (rounded) 1st year Total (20 years) Power demand to be substituted by PV (incl. allowance for degradation) 209,000 kwh 4,050,000 kwh FIT reimbursement (assumed as of 30.06.2014) 11.2 ct/kwh 193.000 Budget for operating costs 17/kWp 20/kWp (average) Payment per kwh generated (average) 8 ct Cost of electricity without PV (rate of increase 3%) 35 ct/kwh 35 Savings potential, payback period, and internal rate of return with PV 30.7 30.7 30 30 Internal rate of return 10% 25 25 20 20 17.0 17.0 15 15 10 944,000 10 Cost of electricity without PV 5 5 ct/kwh 4.0 Payback period 8.75 years 654,000 Savings 290,000 Cost of electricity with PV Payback period 8.75 years 0 0 Internal rate of return 10% 2014 2020 2025 2030 2033 2014 2020 2025 2030 2033 Figures valid as of May 2014 Figures valid as of May 2014 14 15
Solar Frontier a financially powerful partner Today, tomorrow, and for the future Production facility in Miyazaki (Japan) Atsugi Research Center (Japan) Solar Frontier offers you double security: the security of a superior technology and the security that comes from working with a financially powerful group. Expertise, financial power, experience Solar Frontier is the largest, fastest-growing manufacturer of CIS PowerModules in the world. At the same time, we have gained over 30 years of solar engineering experience. In Shell and Saudi Aramco, we have the backing of immensely strong, financially powerful partners. In 2011, in Japan, we began operation of the world s largest CIS PowerModules manufacturing facility. Since then, our annual production capacity has been in the gigawatt range. Besides our head office in Tokyo, we have branches in Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the US. We employ more than 1,500 colleagues worldwide. Environmentally friendly in every respect Power generation using solar energy is extremely gentle on the environment and frugal with resources. But there are considerable differences among the various solar technologies particularly with regard to the production methods, raw materials consumption, and the use of environmental contaminants. Our PowerModules and processes are characterized by: Non-use of cadmium and lead We are one of the very few manufacturers complying with the stringent RoHS regulations (Restriction of Hazardous Substances). Our partners, too, who deliver cables, inverters and sub-structures are RoHS compliant and contribute to the ecological balance of our products. Extremely low consumption of raw materials particularly compared with silicon modules Non-use of cardboard packaging and use of recyclable packaging (we have our own return program) New standards through continuous improvement With over 250 employees working in Research & Development, we are continuously driving the development and optimization of CIS technologies. The Atsugi Research Center (ARC) in Japan, representing an investment of more than 60 million, was founded specifically for the purpose of transferring the efficiency levels achieved in research to the production line and developing production facilities in the gigawatt range. The ARC has already broken several world records including a transformation efficiency level of 17.8% on a carrier measuring 30 x 30 cm. Environmentally friendly production with minimal raw materials requirement (Comparison of CIS PowerModules with crystalline silicon modules) 60 kg 2.5 MW 2.5 MW 7,500 kg 16 Solar Frontier uses barely 60 kg of raw materials to produce CIS PowerModules with a total output of 2.5 MW. Production of crystalline silicon modules with the same total output requires over 120 times more raw materials, 7.5 tons. 17
Summary A few steps to the complete package from Solar Frontier Act now: Reduce the cost of power. Increase your independence. 06 Monitoring & maintenance Ensuring optimal yields 01 Analysis Evaluation of load profile 02 Planning Technical and commercial optimization From the initial analysis to everyday operation: Solar Frontier provides consulting, assistance and support with a comprehensive service package covering every aspect of your solar power installation for self-consumption. Our priority is to offer sustainable, high-quality solutions that address the general objective and the details thereof, customized to your needs. r A named contact partner will be assigned to you, and responsible for your project through-out its lifetime. Would you like to learn more? Talk to us! We will be glad to show you, without obligation, how you, too, can lower your power costs significantly and permanently, and at the same time gain greater freedom from the rising cost of buying electricity. Your contact person: Christian Gaschler Solar Frontier Europe GmbH 05 Installation By experienced and qualified specialists 04 03 Financing Through selected partners and attractive conditions Bavariafilmplatz 8 82031 Grünwald Germany phone: +49-89-92 86 142-0 fax: +49-89-92-86 142-11 e-mail: christian.gaschler@solar-frontier.com www.solar-frontier.eu System CIS PowerModules Mounting system Inverter 18 19
Europe Solar Frontier Europe GmbH Bavariafilmplatz 8 82031 Grünwald Germany Italy Solar Frontier Europe GmbH Sede Secondaria per l Italia Via Domenico Cotugno 49/A scala B 70124 Bari Italy Asia (headquarters) Solar Frontier K.K. Daiba Frontier Building 2-3-2 Daiba, Minato-ku Tokyo 135-8074 Japan Near East Solar Frontier K.K. Technical & Scientific Office Eastern Cement Tower, #306 King Fahd Road Al Khobar Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Americas Solar Frontier Americas Inc. 3945 Freedom Circle Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA Phone: +49 89-92 86 142-0 Phone: +39 080 89 66 984 Phone: +81 3 5531 5626 Phone: +966 3882 0260 Phone: +1 408 916 4150 www.solar-frontier.eu www.solar-frontier.com Disclaimer: The content of this brochure is provided with due care. For the correctness, completeness, and topicality of the content no responsibility is accepted for any reason whatsoever. BRPowerSaver-46-PEE41