Solar Projects in North America Category Demonstrate the Latest in Innovative System Technologies and Design SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2014 ?Intersolar North America, the most attended industry exhibition and conference in North America for solar professionals to exchange information and develop business opportunities, unveiled the finalists for the Intersolar AWARD for Solar Projects in North America: Eaton, Princeton Power Systems, Inc., Solaire Generation, Inc., Trina Solar, and First Solar, Inc.

The Solar Projects in North America AWARD winners will be announced during a special ceremony on-site at Intersolar North America exhibition hall, Moscone Center West, on July 8. The Intersolar AWARD, now in its seventh year, promotes the industry power to innovate. The Solar Projects in North America category recognizes landmark projects that exemplify a high degree of technological innovation, uniqueness, economic feasibility and benefit to the environment and society. Winners are selected by an independent committee of industry experts and are announced each July in San Francisco.

The 2014 Solar Projects in North America AWARD finalists include:

? Eaton Hyder II Solar Power Plant (Yuma County, Ariz.): For this 200 MWp utility-scale project, Eaton used a direct-coupled throat connection between the PV modules and inverters. The project reduced cable losses and saved on construction costs by avoiding the need to dig trenches.
? Princeton Power Systems Alcatraz Project (San Francisco): To install an independent power system on the landmark Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, developers had to design the system so it could not be spotted from the mainland. They also needed to carefully integrate battery-storage and fuel back-up systems. Once completed, the PV system eliminated more than 80 percent of the fossil fuels previously used to power the island and now educates visitors on the benefits of solar power.
? Solaire Generation Whole Food Market Solar Carport (Brooklyn, N.Y.): Part of a sustainable roofing system, PV modules are combined with a partial glass roof to utilize the sun for heat and power. Visitors of the store can see first hand the benefits of solar energy.
? Trina Solar Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Project (Palo Alto, Calif.): This project exemplifies unique project financing ?the project tapped private funds for a power purchase agreement rather than a lending structure typical of smaller distributed projects. The Oshman Family project now provides the community center with solar energy for $0.04 a kWh, the
lowest cost of solar on public record in California.
? First Solar Agua Caliente Solar Project (Yuma County, Ariz.): Located 65 miles east of Yuma in Arizona on neglected arable land, this project is one of the world largest, producing 290 MW. The project comprises nearly five million thin-film solar modules and includes a unique power plant instrumentation and control system.

Visitors interested in attending the Intersolar AWARD ceremony can find more information on the Intersolar website. The ceremony will take place on-site at Intersolar North America; the time and location on the exhibition floor will be announced in the coming weeks. In the afternoon preceding the AWARD ceremony, finalists will give short presentations about their outstanding projects.
Presentation of the Intersolar AWARD categories Photovoltaics, Solar Projects in Europe, as well as the winners of the electrical energy storage (ees) AWARD will take place at Intersolar Europe in Munich on Wednesday June 4th at 4:30 p.m. at the Innovation Exchange (Hall A3, booth A3.550). Information on all the finalists can be found online.
Intersolar exhibitors and ees exhibitors can register for individual Intersolar AWARD categories and the electrical energy storage (ees) AWARD year round by visiting www.intersolarglobal.com/award. Applications for the Solar Projects in India category may be submitted from July 1 to September 12, 2014.