Skyline Solar Appoints Dr. Lars Podlowski to its Board of Directors
CTO of SOLON SE Brings Extensive Experience in Large Scale Solar Installations and European Market Dynamics to Skyline’s Board in Support of Future Market, Geographic Expansions
Intersolar 2009
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Skyline Solar, a manufacturer of High Gain Solar (HGS) arrays for the commercial, industrial, government and utility markets, today announced the newest appointment to the Skyline Board of Directors, Dr. Lars Podlowski. Dr. Podlowski has spent more than a decade in solar industry technical and management roles, and is currently a Management Board member and CTO at SOLON SE. He combines extensive technical expertise in the implementation of large scale solar products, systems and plants with an intimate knowledge of European markets, which will help Skyline Solar as the company looks to expand globally into markets like Italy, Spain, Greece, the Middle East and Africa.
As part of the company’s move into international markets, Skyline CEO Bob MacDonald and other Skyline executives will attend the Intersolar Conference this week in Munich, Germany. Skyline Solar executives will be available to introduce the newly launched company to potential partners, customers and media attending the world’s largest solar event of 2009.
“Skyline Solar has gone from Series A funding to first installed PV power plant in eight months. I have been impressed with Skyline’s progress and am excited to work with them as they transition to manufacturing and deployment of large scale solar power plant equipment,” said Dr. Podlowski.
Skyline’s HGS architecture delivers ten times more energy per gram of silicon versus traditional flat-panel systems in sunny locations and offers industry-leading energy density. Skyline HGS arrays combine industry-proven silicon cells, durable reflector materials and single-axis tracking into a complete, easy-to-deploy system. Built primarily out of commodity materials with globally available manufacturing processes from the PV and automotive industries, Skyline HGS simultaneously improves financial payback and scalability. As a result, Skyline Solar believes the HGS architecture is the fastest path to grid parity.
“Dr. Podlowski’s executive experience leading technological innovation for SOLON, one of Europe’s largest solar module manufacturers and a leading supplier of photovoltaic systems for large-scale solar power plants, will be a great addition to the Skyline Solar leadership team,” said Bob MacDonald, CEO of Skyline Solar. “We are elated to have him on board as we develop our strategic position in the rapidly evolving solar landscape, especially within the competitive European market. As we move into full production of the Skyline HGS system later this year, we expect Europe to be a major strategic market for the company as project developers and financiers look for solutions that offer the performance and durability of tracked silicon at a cost competitive with thin-film solutions in sunny climates.”
For nearly two decades, Dr. Podlowski has been integral in the scientific development and innovation of solar modules and the realization of large-scale solar plants throughout Europe, making Europe the leader in solar power capacity. Today, he is CTO for a company that has expanding business and supply chain operations in North America. Prior to SOLON SE, Dr. Podlowski founded SolarWerk GmbH (Teltow) which was acquired by SOLON SE in 1999.
On May 4, 2009, Skyline announced the launch of the company and its HGS architecture after achieving key product, financing and customer milestones.
Company Milestones
- Construction of the Company’s First Demonstration Plant—Skyline Solar entered into a public-private partnership agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to construct its initial demonstration plant in San Jose, Calif.
- Pilot Manufacturing & Component Certification—after a year of under-sun reliability and system testing at the company’s Mountain View headquarters, Skyline has submitted components of its HGS system for certification and has entered pilot manufacturing in the U.S. and Asia.
- 24.6 million in Series A Venture Financing—Skyline Solar has received an equity investment from New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and several other financial and strategic investors.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Funding—in the first quarter of 2009, the company signed a developmental contract with the DOE for $3 million. Skyline Solar was selected as one of six solar photovoltaic technology companies to receive funding under the DOE’s Solar America Initiative. The company was cited as developing a technology that could “make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity.”
- Key Executive and Board Member Appointments—in addition to Dr. Podlowski, Skyline Solar has attracted top executive talent from a number of relevant industries, including finance, manufacturing and logistics.
Intersolar Meeting Requests
Industry executives, partners, customers and media interested in meeting with Skyline Solar at Intersolar 2009 in Munich can contact Katy Garlinghouse at Schwartz Communications (+1-415-512-0770 or skylinesolar@schwartz-pr.com).
About Skyline Solar
Skyline Solar manufactures High Gain Solar (HGS) arrays incorporating industry-proven silicon cells, durable reflector materials and single-axis tracking into a complete, easy-to-deploy system. Skyline HGS delivers ten times more energy per gram of silicon than traditional flat panel systems. Built primarily out of commodity materials and assembled using globally available manufacturing processes, Skyline HGS simultaneously improves financial payback and scalability, thereby accelerating the path to grid parity.
Skyline was founded in 2007 and is led by veterans of the solar energy and high volume manufacturing industries. The company is funded by NEA, other VCs and strategic investors. Skyline also received funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate production. Skyline went from prototype to first grid connected customer in less than one year and is now engaging partners and end customers for production systems starting in late 2009. For more information, visit www.skyline-solar.com
Contacts
Schwartz Communications
Jason Morris or Katy Garlinghouse, +1 415-512-0770
skylinesolar@schwartz-pr.com
Source: Skyline Solar
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