Just like the cell phone, once the size of a World War II walkie-talkie, solar panels have made the same leap to minimalism. Bendable panels as thin as cardboard have replaced the blocky stiff ones of yesterday.
Growing alongside the energy-inducing apparatus is solar integrator Mercury Solar Systems in New Rochelle.
The company will relocate by mid-September to a 21,000-square-foot-plus space in Port Chester at 36 Midland Ave., which is more than triple the size of their current 5,000-square-foot headquarters; the transaction is pending a lease finalization.
Mercury also just secured a multi-year direct supply agreement with Energy Conversion Devices Inc., a Michigan-based manufacturer of proprietary, thin-film amorphous silicon-based photovoltaic laminates.
“To design the best products and solutions, we had to look at all the different technology out there,” said Jared Haines, cofounder and president of Mercury Solar Systems. “We have consistently been attracted to UNI-SOLAR products because of their flexibility, light weight, ease of installation, durability and real-world performance.”
One benefit is strong performance in high-wind zones, Haines said. “A very slow methodology of applying gases to a metal sheet is a process that allows for really high temperatures. Theoretically, you will get more production and savings than out of a standard polycrystalline panel,” he said.
Energy Conversion Devices will sell some 15 megawatts of laminates under the terms of agreement to Mercury and will provide technical training and assistance for future design of solar PV systems.
Financial terms were undisclosed.
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“This agreement expands the distribution of our UNI-SOLAR brand products in the eastern United States, a market which we think has a tremendous growth potential,” said Mark Morelli, president and CEO of Energy Conversion Devices. “Mercury is an ideal partner given their expansive commercial infrastructure and successful experience in installing our products over the past several years. We look forward to working with them to grow the commercial rooftop solar market on the East Coast.”
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Haines said business should double within the next year.
“We”™ve done 600 installations to date and by next year, in terms of megawatts installed we”™ve done approximately 7 megawatts to date,” he said. “Over the next 12 months, we”™re expecting another seven, plus an additional three megawatts.”
Of residential projects, Haines said about 55 percent are completed in New Jersey, 40 percent in Westchester County and 5 percent in Fairfield County in Connecticut.
Of commercial projects, about 40 percent are done in New York, 40 percent in New Jersey and 20 percent in other states, Haines said.
With rapid growth come acquisitions.
Mercury acquired K-Star Solar in Long Island and Energy Enterprises of New Jersey within the last 12 months.
More are planned.
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“We are actively pursuing acquisition targets throughout the northeast region,” Haines said. “We will continue to grow into Massachusetts, Ohio, Delaware and we”™re in preliminary talks with a company in Florida and North Carolina. We”™re growing so fast, but we want to make sure we control the growth.”
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Broadly speaking, the federal stimulus act has started pushing funds into the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a research development entity that allocates money from utilities for renewable projects, Haines said.
Through Request for Proposals (RFP), $74 million of New York”™s allocation of ARRA SEP funds will be awarded for eligible energy conservation projects on a competitive basis. Funds are to be used to implement the following types of energy conservation projects: energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean fleet, according to NYSERDA.
The first round of proposals closed on Aug. 24. The second, Oct. 26, 2009.
Mercury Solar Systems is a privately held company that was founded in 2006. It is a subsidiary of Mercury Energy, formerly Aquus Energy. The company maintains offices in Long Island, Queens, Connecticut and New Jersey.
