By Greentech Lead Team: Yingli Green Energy, a solar
energy company and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated photovoltaic
(“PV”) manufacturers, announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Yingli
Americas, has renewed its strategic partnership with GRID Alternatives, an
Oakland-based nonprofit solar installer, throughout 2012.
Yingli Americas has been partnered with GRID Alternatives
since 2011. The partnership has provided 1MW clean power to over 400 low-income
homeowners across California, saving them an estimated US$11 million over the
systems’ lifetimes, while giving hands-on solar installation experience to
thousands of workers.
“Supporting our local communities through corporate
social responsibility initiatives is something we care deeply about, and we are
very proud to be official partners with GRID Alternatives. Our combined teams
were a great fit from the start given our common goals for protecting the
environment and helping those in need,” said Robert
Petrina, managing director of Yingli Americas.
Yingli Americas will supply another 1 MW of solar energy
this year through a combination of donated and fair-market priced modules,
donating an even larger portion than it did last year. The project is expected
to power more than 800 disadvantaged families including expansion
into Colorado.
“Renewable energy is inherently about helping people
who need energy most, and with more than 800 disadvantaged families powered by
the end of this year, we’ve gone beyond what we imagined possible at the onset
of this program,” said Helena Kimball, head of marketing, Yingli Americas.
GRID Alternatives‘ mission
is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy
efficiency services, equipment and training. It has provided no or low-cost
solar electric systems for more than 1700 families since 2004 while serving as
a “classroom in the field” for solar job trainees.
“Yingli’s continued support for GRID Alternatives’
mission means millions more in long-term savings for low-income families that
need them most, thousands more learning opportunities for green job seekers and
a win for the environment,” said Erica Mackie, executive director and
co-founder of GRID Alternatives.
Recently, Yingli Green Energy signed an agreement with
IBC SOLAR to supply 180 MW of multi-crystalline and mono-crystalline (Panda) PV
modules.