Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 2:18:45 PM - by Nate Lew

A Tucson firm has announced the release of a solar energy system packaged in one-megawatt clusters.

Solon Corporation, the largest U.S. manufacturer of crystalline solar panels, developed the Velocity MW Solar System to make solar project installation easier.

Solar plants like the one Solon built for utility Tucson Electric Power can provide solar-generated electricity to renters and low-income homeowners who want an alternative to rooftop installations. Recognizing utilities' need for solar energy systems that are quick to install and reliable, "we thought a lot about the ways in which design and engineering can benefit utility scale solar installation," Solon CEO Olaf Koester said.

Koester went on to say that the risks of a solar installation are addressed "head on with [the] Velocity MW System."

The system is comprised of modular one-megawatt solar fields that can be scaled easily. With their modular design, Solon says, the Velocity panels are installed quickly and with minimal headaches, allowing utilities to get solar energy on line as rapidly as possible. As more utilities offer solar energy to their customers, systems like Solon's will aid the deployment of solar panels as part of a grid of renewable and conventional energy technologies.