Orange County Convention Center

I'm pleased to write this product recommendation for SolarWorld SW-175 monocrystaline modules. These modules were installed last year as part of a highly-visible public project at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). The project was awarded a $2.5M state grant, involved several state and local government partners, and had a total value in excess of $8M. This project features a one-megawatt rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system which is the largest of its type in the southeast United States.

Johnson Controls, Inc. was awarded a design/build contract by Orange County for a project called the Solar Photovoltaic Demonstration Facility and Climate Change Education Center. Essentially, the scope of the project was to install a one-megawatt PV system, four smaller "demonstration" PV systems, and to build -out an education center. The one-megawatt system used 5,808 SW-175's and two of the smaller systems used an additional 124 of the same modules.

As you may be aware, SolarWorid modules are recognized in the industry as being high quality and highly reliable. Based on our experience thus far, we certainly agree. OCCC has also been impressed by the electrical output of our one-megawatt system. Energy production during the first 12 months of operation exceeded projections by 18.4%. Further information about the OCCC Solar Project, including live energy production and environmental data, can be found at www.occc.net/community/solar_project.asp

Jerry Daigle
Deputy General Manager