KACO's Sunny Lounge

"The Sunny Lounge" moved!

2010-11-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Dear reader,

Our Sunny Lounge moved closer to the KACO website. Please visit this link to read on:

The Sunny Lounge

Thank you!

Tell us why & win a trip to Germany for two!

2010-07-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

because...

...it helps put people back to work!

Chuck Rames, Program Director -

Renewable Energy Division, Boots on the Roof

...when my neighbor gets jealous and one ups me with a bigger system, she does everyone a favor!

Ian Karleff, CEO, AS Solar, Inc.

...smart, clean energy is hot...like the sun!

Heather Andrews Bias, PV installer / PV theory instructor with IBEW #357, Las Vegas

...it is so sexy!

Elmar Niewerth, CEO, Session Solar

...it reminds me of my best friend:

Dependable, adaptable, and full of sunshine!

Stephen Lacey, Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com

...I don't have to feel guilty about making toast in the morning!

Tor Valenza aka "Solar Fred", UnThink Solar

www.iheartpv.com

Win a trip to Germany for two!

Please see website for contest rules

Get to know Aten Solar - a solar distribution specialist from New Jersey!

2010-05-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

KACO new energy is thrilled to announce the most recent partnership with distribution specialist Aten Solar.

Aten Solar has been a presence in the solar market for the past 20 years with a heavy focus in distribution for the past 10 years. Their commitment to superior customer service and supplying the most reliable products on the market make them an ideal distribution partner for KACO. They have a reputation in the solar industry for providing their clients with personalized support similarly to how KACO prides itself on interacting with partners. "It's a perfect marriage of ideals" says KACO's Clinton Porter.

As of April 2010 the blueplanet brand KACO 02xi inverters will be readily available off the shelf at the Aten Solar warehouse in Bradley Beach, NJ.

Aten Solar is also part of the Twitter and Blogger community. Please welcome them and follow their Tweets @AtenSolar and read their blog here.

About Aten Solar:

Aten Solar is a leading value added distributor of complete environmental and sustainable products. Engineers from the solar thermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning industries created Aten Solar to meet the demand for solar energy solutions globally. The company's purpose is to provide a unique product mix that is compelling for buyers amidst a plethora of products and technologies. For more information visit the Aten Solar website at www.atensolar.com.

A Solar gift on Earth Day for the White House, President Obama and his family.

2010-04-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Remember our blog post of March 11 "Americans putting solar power on the White House"?
Well, we're getting closer to our goal. Tor Valenza (Solarpowerrocks.com) did a wonderful job getting solar professionals and companies from all over the nation together to offer product donations, their services and support for this great project. 17 companies and individuals committed to participate!

Read all about it here:

KACO new energy and other solar companies offer free solar systems to the White House as a 40th anniversary Earth Day gift
(by KACO new energy, Inc.)

Give a hand to these 17 solar pros and companies offering free solar systems and services to the White House for Earth Day
(by Tor Valenza aka SolarFred)

Solar on the White House - please sign the petition and get involved
(by Sungevity)

Americans putting solar back on the White House - please join the Facebook fanpage

Thanks for your support and have a sunny Earth Day!

KACO XP 100U at "Southwest Build-It-Green Expo" in Phoenix, AZ

2010-03-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

KACO's 100 kW central inverter - XP 100U - on the road

Our partners from Arizona Solar Concepts are showcasing it at the "Southwest Build-It-Green Expo" in Phoenix, Arizona at booth number "R" - they're a very impressive local solar company and absolutely worth the visit! The show is taking place in the Phoenix convention center from March 18 - 20 so there is still plenty of time to get in and find out what's new and noteworthy.

Win with the XP 100U

If you're at the show in Phoenix, take a picture of yourself in front of the XP 100U, email it to marketing@kaco-newenergy.com and receive a KACO treat!

Have sun and fun in Phoenix!

Americans putting solar power on the White House.

2010-03-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

The White House in Washington DC is one of the most famous residential buildings in the world. Presidents and their families move in, live there and after several years they move out again. It is only normal that they bring their own clothes, books and pictures to make the White House their home. When they move out, of course, they take their belongings with them. That's what everybody does, right?

Jimmy Carter took it a step further. He didn't only bring his own stuff, he brought solar to the White House. In 1979 Carter already wanted to create awareness for renewable energy sources and clean tech. So when he moved out of the White House, he took his personal belongings, but he didn't take the solar installation with him. It was meant to stay.

Unfortunately, the system was removed from the roof of the White House only a couple of years later. Learn more about this "road not taken"...

We think it is about time to utilize all of our power to help President Obama to get solar power back on the White House's roof! Fortunately some friends and solar industry authorities have already built the foundation. Look at this and more importantly... BE PART OF IT!

Facebook fan page -
"Americans Putting Solar Power On the White House"
This fan page is growing every day. As off now it has 263 fans! Please join, too!

Renewable Energy World -
"A crash course in solar guerilla marketing"
The initiative was started by the wonderful "Solar Fred" aka Tor Valenza. We've introduced him a while ago in the Sunny Lounge, but can't stop talking about him and his great work at SolarPowerRocks.com He tweets as @SolarFred and you should follow him! He and his team are running the Facebook page, too.

Applied Materials -
"Turning the White House into the Green House"
This is a wonderful blog post that explains a bit more about the history of solar & the White House. Also, Applied Materials' blog is always worth a visit. Follow them on Twitter as well @applied_blog

Please join the quest and give solar a well deserved boost by (re)installing it on the most beautiful and important house in the nation!

Join Schletter, Inc. and KACO new energy for our "Solar Workshop, Training & Conference" in Tuscon, Arizona

2010-02-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

KACO new energy and Schletter, Inc. partnered to provide you with a three-day in depth solar training workshop that covers theoretical training as well as hands-on training sessions in order to provide you with a solid package of necessary information and solar practice. Here is a little sneak preview for you...

"The exploding interest in solar power and renewable energy creates a tremendous demand for all levels of solar training in solar power technology, solar application engineering, energy system installation, and solar power equipment usage. This three-day course training is designed to provide industry professionals with a better understanding of the photovoltaic industry, and PV system applications. Course attendees will become knowledgeable in the design of Photovoltaic mounting systems, system statics, roof load calculations, as well as new energy inverters. Attendees will also be able to apply their training in a hands-on course session."

Click this link to get more info like the agenda, speakers, presentation, registration and a lot more:

"Solar Workshop, Training & Conference"

Valentine's day and solar.

2010-02-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

Here is the coolest solar promotion video. It shows how solar marketing can be fun and unconventional. It is shared with us by “The Vote Solar Initiative”, which is a very important authority in the solar industry and here’s why:

“The Vote Solar Initiative was founded after a successful effort to pass a San Francisco ballot initiative for solar on city-owned buildings in November, 2001. With the goal of building the economies of scale necessary to bring down solar’s costs, Vote Solar worked to replicate that grassroots policy success in cities and states around the country. As the solar industry matured, new challenges rose to the forefront, and Vote Solar has expanded its operations accordingly. The fact is, there are still serious regulatory roadblocks impeding solar adoption. Today Vote Solar works at the state, federal and local level to implement programs and policies that allow strong solar markets to grow — and pave the way for a transition to a renewable energy economy.” (www.votesolar.org)

Now, please watch the short video and let me know if you like it as much as we do.

Free KACO calc online tool is there!

2010-01-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

KACO has a new, cool feature out. I guess at this point you are all familiar with our free string sizing tool which is available on our website for you to download.

Well, this is super, but since our goal is to make everything as convenient as possible for you, there is a new online calculator on our website, too. It is extremely easy to use. You just have to enter your particular data into the configuration option fields and you're done. The results will appear immediately. Visit the link above and start.

Have some fun and design your own PV systems!

2009 - a great year for KACO. Worldwide. Here's a little recap.

2010-01-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

Photovoltaics is not only growing strongly in the US - it also encounters high growth rates on a world-wide level.

Worldwide.
Since March 2009, KACO new energy GmbH Italy's new business seat is in Prato near Florence. Our on-site manager there is Guiseppe Mangione, an experienced service technician.
Since April 2009, KACO new energy GmbH Sucursal en Espana, under the management of Daniel Eder, has started to take care of our Spanish customers. The Spanish branch office is located in the Coslada district of Madrid.
And since this summer, we have an office in Lyon, France. Photovoltaic plants which are integrated in buildings are especially made attractive by the French government - it offers the highest feed-in-tariffs in Europe.
At the end of March 2009 the Treasury Department of the People's Republic of China initiated a support program for solar power plants. This step marked the start of the first major solar program on China's domestic market. Since KACO wants to take part in the solar boom to be expected in China, it has established its own sales office in Beijing.

In the US.
2009 was a great year for us in the US as well.

Our team grew, which in times like these is simply spectacular.

[Hi, fellow colleagues! Great to have you!]

Our product line grew, which was exciting, beautiful & challenging.

[See for yourself here]

Our look changed, which is sometimes necessary.

[Especially after 10 years of wearing red.]

Our connection to YOU got closer.
[Thank you, Web 2.0 developers, for making it possible]

Our goals got bigger.
[Stay tuned in 2010...]

KACO's Holiday & Advent Calendar

2009-12-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

Today's date is December 1st 2009.
The year is almost over - there are just a couple of days left...

In order to appreciate the remaining time until the Holidays, KACO will send out a small, daily surprise for everybody on Twitter.
We call it the "KACO Holiday & Advent Calendar 2009". And yes, we think nobody is too old for an Advent calendar - ever.

If you don't know what it is, here's a little insight:

An Advent calendar is a special calendar which is used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Today, most Advent calendars are made for children. Many take the form of a larger rectangular card with many "windows", one of which is opened every day during Advent. Each window opens to reveal an image, a poem, a song or a little story - sometimes even a toy or a piece of chocolate.

Follow us on Twitter and watch out for KACO's Advent tweets - they'll be just as good as a fantastic piece of sweet chocolate...

They will also be listed here:

KACO's Advent-Tweet 1:
Solar Outdoor Christmas Lights. Do you use them? What do you think? Are they cool?

KACO's Advent-Tweet 2:
How to have a green Christmas - Rent a living tree

KACO's Advent-Tweet 3:
Treehugger's Green Gift Guide for the pop culture fan

KACO's Advent-Tweet 4:
When Santa turned green

KACO's Advent-Tweet 5:
Eco friendly gift bags by Ecorations

KACO's Advent-Tweet 6:
Meet our solar heroes from the Cypress Mandela Training Center

KACO's Advent-Tweet 7:
Greetings from the CanSIA conference in Toronto! It's cold here!

KACO's Advent-Tweet 8:
Eco Christmas Week - The snowman's song

KACO's Advent-Tweet 9:
SolarPowerRocks! Indeed. Learn all about solar from the experts.

KACO's Advent-Tweet 10:
The KACO online string sizing tool is there - use it on our website, no download needed

KACO's Advent-Tweet 11:
Want to get away for the holidays? Travel responsibly.

KACO's Advent-Tweet 12:
Talking points to win an argument for renewables

KACO's Advent-Tweet 13:
Think your website isn't good enough? 10 tips...

KACO's Advent-Tweet 14:
Watch Solar TV!

KACO's Advent-Tweet 15:
Enhance your solar quotes for the new year

KACO's Advent-Tweet 16:
Top decision drivers for "going solar" in 2009

KACO's Advent-Tweet 17:
Learn more about our big boy the XP100 central inverter

KACO's Advent-Tweet 18:
Get your kids excited about solar

KACO's Advent-Tweet 19:
Get some (KACO) Sun in the cold season

KACO's Advent-Tweet 20:
Find the renewable energy blog you like at Renewable Energy World

KACO's Advent-Tweet 21:
Calculate your carbon footprint

KACO's Advent-Tweet 22:
In case you still need gifts, here you can get solar toys and Christmas gifts

KACO's Advent-Tweet 23:
Green Christmas - a global warNing song

KACO's Advent-Tweet 24:
The holidays are about friendship, support and not being along! Thank you for being our friend! Happy, happy holidays!

KACO's Solar Power 2009 - after hour 3.0

2009-11-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

This is the third and last Solar Power International 2009 "after hour" post. Today I'd like to introduce four important solar personalities to you and show an official Renewable Energy World video in which they share a bit of expertise with us.

But let's slow down first...

...we all visit solar exhibitions to see what's new, correct? We go there to discover great innovative products and services by courageous companies who'll push our industry forward - that's what we all want, I guess, right?

At this point I'd like to talk about an innovation that was very present at Solar Power International, but not to find physically at a booth or in a conference. It's not a solar product yet it can help the solar community immensely to share news, thoughts, opinions and to be connected with each other at all times - worldwide.

Well, I think at this point you know exactly what I'm talking about. Yes, it's social media - tweeting and blogging. And yes. It does work. And here's why:

Connect with dedicated industry experts, clients, suppliers, media and just about anybody who shows an interest in solar in an extremely easy way. See it as a 24/7 networking event with people from the entire US (and the rest of the world) that happens on your sofa or in your kitchen if you wish. It is ridiculously convenient and a good tool to create brand awareness and exposure.

Get solar news first and help spreading what you think is important - Please realize: this is your chance to actively endorse what you think is necessary to spur our industry as a whole. You can make change happen, too!

It is cheap if you do it in house. It costs your time, but no sign up or monthly fees are required. Without spending a lot of money you'll be able to reach as many solar folks as you want and get them to talk to you, share their knowledge with you & the other way around. They will visit your website, read your news and so on.

It is very easy to use. Once you've played around with it a bit, you'll see, it's not only a great networking, news and marketing tool - it's actually a lot of fun, too!

As I mentioned earlier, in this post I would like to introduce four gentlemen, who are all solar experts and actively involved in the online community.

Kudos to:

Tor Valenza from solarpowerrocks.com - This website is a mandatory read for everyone in the industry. Period. It makes solar simple and fun while providing excellent and very accurate content. They even manage to explain complex and difficult solar topics in an understandable way. In my opinion this is exactly what our industry needs. Please rock on, solarpowerrocks.com!
Tor tweets as @solarfred

Roy Gayhart from WholeSolar - WholeSolar LLC is part of an affiliated group of wholesale distributors and manufacturer's representatives who share a passion for solar energy. Roy is very active online and shares great content on the WholeSolar website and blog. He tweets as @solaroy and @wholesolar

Deep Patel from GoGreenSolar.com - Is the #1 online destination for solar products, wind power and energy efficiency. Their customers have access to products, services and financing to take over control of their energy expenses. Deep tweets as @deeppatel and @gogreensolar

Justin Hoysradt from Abundant Energy, Inc. - Abundant Energy has been Florida's leading solar energy company and installer for the last 22 years. They have offered factory direct solar energy systems, such as solar and water heating, solar pool heating and solar PV systems. They maintain those systems through their full warranty and service division.
Justin tweets as @jhoysradt and @AbundantEnergy

Video

They all sat together at Solar Power International in Anaheim and discussed social media (Twitter in particular) as a tool in the solar industry. And the great thing is - they share it with everyone in video form. Please enjoy:

Twitter Can Be A Great Solar Tool

KACO's Solar Power 2009 - after hour 2.0

2009-11-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Solar Power 2009 "after hour 2.0"!

Today KACO will introduce some really interesting, important industry people and companies we met in Anaheim.

The first company that is exceptionally noteworthy (and I guess you've probably heard of them already) is called "Boots on the Roof".

We've written a previous post about them, but can't mention them enough.
Boots on the Roof is the premier wind and solar training provider in the US, with the mission of training the next wave of renewable energy contractors, engineers, architects, sales professionals and business entrepreneurs. For contractors their solar PV and solar thermal boot camps cover design and installation topics for residential and small commercial solar electric and solar hot water projects.
On the image you see Chuck Rames who is the Program Manager, Renewable Energy Division.

Learn more at:
Boots on the Roof
Twitter/bootsontheroof

Here is a very cool interview from SPI 2009 with Jamie Ormond from Boots on the Roof:
Training From The Grassroots Up - Renewable Energy Video

The next company of interest is AS Solar, Inc..

AS-Solar is an internationally operating distributor and project developer for solar technology.
Along with their subsidiaries in Spain, Portugal, Benelux, France, Italy, Romania and Hungary they are present on the most important global markets in the field of PV which gives them an extraordinary expertise when it comes to solar.

Learn more at:
AS-Solar

Since all good things come in threes, here is the third featured person for this SPI 2009 after hour:

Heather Bias from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Heather is a very active member of the online solar community and her ideas and suggestions are highly appreciated here at KACO. She tweets as the "PVAddict" and is a successful PV installer & PV teacher/educator in the Nevada area. Also, she gave our 100kW central inverter the nickname "Günther" which we think suits the big boy well! Thanks, Heather!

It is very unfortunate that we didn't take a picture at Solar Power. Next time we'll do it eventually! Promised.

Please meet Heather at:
Twitter/PVAddict

This is it for today's after hour. Thanks for visiting KACO's "Sunny Lounge" again. Stay in touch for the next three featured solar enthusiasts in KACO's third and last "after hour" - remember, all good things come in threes...

Take care.

Solar Power International 2009 - the after hours

2009-11-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

There are so many "Solar Power International 2009" stories I'd like to tell you right now, but I'll start with some visual teasers for today. Here are some cool images of exhibitors, visitors, booths, receptions, Disneyland and so on. I figured it'd be nice for the solar enthusiasts who weren't able to attend this year's conference to get a feeling of how Anaheim's convention center looked like during the past week.

I need to say one thing though...
This show was humongous compared to previous years. I attended SPI for the first time in 2006 when the convention was held in San Jose, CA - honestly, I don't know the actual numbers, but I had the feeling the size was at least four times as big this year... correct me if I'm wrong, please!

Well, let's start with the first official "KACO - SPI 2009 after hour" - Enjoy and have some fun...

The opening reception on Monday...

KACO's booth #2138... and our 100kW inverter the XP100.

The floor.

The official Solar Power International Party was at Disneyland this year! It was so much fun. There was food and drinks for everyone and a lot of the rides were open. On the image below you'll see from the left Frank Phlippen, Svea Jeske (that's me) and Clinton Porter. The last image shows Ralf Schulze and Karsten Mall from KACO & our friends...

I will post more info & pictures shortly. This was the first after hour and you should have a solid overview of the SPI2009-look by now.

I'll introduce some very special friends & some interesting companies in "KACO's after hour 2.0"!
Stay tuned, please.

New version of our KACO calc is ready to download

2009-10-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Would you like to see all the different options for your PV system layout at a glance?

Would you also like to get these results in just a minute?

Would you agree that it is a nice thing that everyone can retrieve PV system layouts completely free of any charge?

Of course you would. Well, let's get you started then.

In case you don't know our famous KACO calc yet, it is a free tool for the professional layout, design and financial calculation of grid-connect PV systems. This string sizing tool has been developed to aid users with their PV system design.

Download it and try it out
The KACO calc is very easy to use, extremely helpful and the best thing is: it is completely free!

Just click on the link below and it'll lead you to the download page

KACO calc version 2.8.6

This new & updated version includes a wider temperature window, additional CEC modules and of course KACO's entire product range.

Let us know what you think of our string sizing tool! We always appreciate feedback.

KACO is proud to announce the Winners of the Golden Ticket Rally

2009-10-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

KACO's Golden Ticket Rally is officially over. We are proud to announce the 5 lucky winners of free "Solar Power International 2009" expo passes.

Congratulations!

AWS Electrical & Solar
twitter.com/awses

Matt Lafferty
twitter.com/solpro

Heather Bias
twitter.com/PVAddict

Jen Lynch
twitter.com/jenlynch

Tom Danaher
Harmony Farm Supply

Please send me the following info in an email so I can go ahead and register you as soon as possible! The info is required by the SPI registration website.

My contact is: sjeske@kaco-newenergy.com
You can also send me a direct message on Twitter @KACOnewenergy

Your full name
Your email address
Company name
Title

This is usually the speech of the winners, but I think it's necessary to say...

...Thanks to everybody who participated in our "Golden Ticket Rally".
...Thanks to everybody who follows us on Twitter.
...Thanks to everybody who reads our humble blog.
...Thanks to everybody who is our partner, friend, silent companion.

We very much appreciate all of you. Keep the great work up!

KACO new energy releases the 02xi residential inverter series

2009-10-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

Please check out our latest official press release at Renewable Energy World:

KACO new energy releases the 02xi residential inverter series
Shared via AddThis (Renewable Energy World press release)

Follow RE World on Twitter!
Follow KACO new energy on Twitter!

350. Our common goal for the future.

2009-10-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

Do you know 350.org yet?

It is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis.
Their focus is on the number 350 - as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.

BACK THEN.
275 ...parts per million of carbon dioxide
Until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained around 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. This amount was ok, because the atmosphere of our planet needs some CO2 and other greenhouse gases to make live possible.

ALMOST IDEAL - but still fiction.
350 ...parts per million of carbon dioxide This is the level that NASA's James Hansen and other scientists have determined is needed to stabilize the global climate again. This is the safe limit for humanity!

SCARY REALITY.
390 ...parts per million of carbon dioxide
Our planet's atmosphere today contains 390 parts per million CO2.

That number is rising about 2 parts per million every year!

Please check out the 350.org website for more information and ways to get involved. Just click on the number and you'll be redirected:

350

Thank you!

Source: www.350.org/about/science

KACO's Golden Ticket Rally

2009-10-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

We are giving away 5 tickets to
"Solar Power International"
Anaheim, CA - October 27th - 29th!

Participating is ridiculously easy. Just use the comment function below this blog post and tell us what the name of our "Big Boy" is. (Hint: Read the previous blog post)

Just comment with the following info and you're in.

KACO's new big boy is the ________________
Your name or Twitter name:
Your email or Twitter contact:

The giveaway ends on Wednesday, October 21st 2009. We will take all comments and draw 5 lucky winners. Please note, every name will only be counted once - multiple comments by the same person are not allowed.

Good Luck and we look forward to seeing you at booth number 2138!

Boxed intelligence. Meet KACO's big boy.

2009-10-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have been introduced at Intersolar 2009 in San Francisco, but a lot of you haven't met the XP100 yet.

That's a shame.

Let me help you out. Piece by piece. Feature by feature. I am thrilled to officially introduce to you our new big boy - here in cyberspace.

The XP100 central inverter

Boxed intelligence.

That's all I'm saying for now.
Watch out for updates. They're coming. Eventually.

Thank you for participating

2009-09-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank everybody who took the time to participate in our poll on the most important inverter features.
It was so important for us to get your feedback. We highly appreciate working with all of you.

Thanks again, keep the good work up & keep us posted!

PS: I hope we'll see you at Solar Power International in Anaheim!
Our booth number is 2138.

KACO needs to learn from YOU!

2009-09-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

KACO is constantly in the process of developing new and innovative products - just like our current blueplanet 02xi series.

And of course, our engineers are geeks, nerds, perfectionists who are always on the mission to invent something newer, stronger, better - yes, BUT....

...You are the installer.
...You know best what's most important.
...You know what you need and what not.
...You can make changes.
...Your input is necessary.

Don't forget to VOTE!

You'll find the poll for the most important inverter features right next to this post.

Any feature missing in the poll, but you need to mention how important it is?

Use the comment option and let us know!

KACO develops innovative battery charger for Volkswagen

2009-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

We at KACO are taking our name very seriously. The new tag line new energy encompasses the breadth of our dedication to becoming an integral part of the new energy economy.

Taking part in the large-scale project initiated by Germany's Federal Government and Volkswagen, KACO is taking the responsibility of being a new energy company a step further.

The project, which is called "Flottenversuch - Elektromobilitaet" or in English "Fleet Test - Electric Vehicles", was initiated and is being realized by industry partners and German Universities. The project will be subsidized with 32.5 Million Euro for four years. The idea behind it is to run a fleet of 25 cars powered by renewable energy!

Goal of this project is the further technology development of the "Plug-in-Hybrid" technology. Vehicles equipped with this technology do not exclusively run on a
conventional combustion engine, they also drive with a battery which can be recharged by simply plugging it into an outlet.

Not only will the battery support the general acceleration of the car, which will increase the driving comfort a lot - it'll also regain some otherwise lost braking energy which makes it notably friendly for the environment!

All in all the battery is supposed to decrease the mileage dramatically.The "Plug-in-Hybrid" technology allows the driver to switch to driving on battery support only, which is perfect for short distances and city traffic.

The further development from hybrids to vehicles that only run electronically is very difficult. Conventional batteries don't last long enough and are very expensive.
"We want lithium-ion batteries to be used in these types of vehicles," says Prof. Winter of the Institute for Physical Chemics, WWY Muenster, Germany. "These batteries have three times the energy potential of conventional auto batteries. That would be sufficient enough to run the vehicle completely on battery in city traffic and to commute to work - especially it can be easily recharged while parking."

KACO's top management and engineers were understandably excited to make their uniquely innovative contribution to this important project.

That's why KACO has developed an onboard battery charger for the Volkswagen Golf TwinDrive.
When driving short distances this VW Golf is powered by an electric motor which is fed with electric current from alternative energy sources and has a reach of 50 km or 32 miles. The combustion engine only starts when the distance is longer than 32 miles.

The battery charger developed by KACO is an innovative device based on before mentioned state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery technology.

The development which convinced with its very compact construction and modern CAN communication interface draws on KACO's long standing experience in the field of rail vehicle applications.

KACO would like to point out the outstanding cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute on this project!

Sources: Informationsdienst Wirtschaft, www.uni-muenster.de/Chemie.pc/winter/

Mayor Newsom Proposes United Nations Global Warming Center at San Francisco's Hunters Point Shipyard

2009-08-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

KACO's CEO Peter Flachsmann was asked to speak at a mayoral press conference at San Francisco's city hall about the development of a new Clean Tech Center featuring a United Nations West Coast Headquarters.

On July 30th Mayor Gavin Newsom unveiled a proposal to locate a UN center focused on global warming and green technology at the former Hunter Point Shipyard. The proposed center would be part of the United Nations "Global Compact" and would be focused on promoting sustainable and clean technologies. A UN Global Compact Center would likely include a clean tech business incubator, offices of the UN Global Compact, and a retreat / conference center to facilitate the exchange of sustainability best practices and other innovations related to combating global warming.

"Locating the UN Global Compact Center in San Francisco will reinforce our city's commitment to global justice and sustainability," said Mayor Newsom. "Once completed, the UN center can serve as an anchor for other sustainable businesses at the Shipyard in much the same way that the University of California and the Stem Cell Institute have anchored Mission Bay's burgeoning biotech and life sciences cluster."

After years of planning and voter approval last June, the Hunters Point Shipyard and the adjacent Candlestick Point are slated to be revitalized as a vibrant new development of over 10,000 new homes - more than 32% of which will be offered at below market rates, over 300 acres of new parks, a major new retail and arts center, and over 2,000,000 square feet of commercial space destined to serve as the largest cluster of green technology companies and institutions on the western seaboard. All told, the project is expected to generate over 10,000 permanent new jobs and more than 2,000 construction jobs per year for over 15 years.

Source: Hunters Point Community

"We are excited to partner with the City of San Francisco to work towards securing a center for the UN Global Compact in San Francisco," said Gavin Power, the Deputy Director of the UN Global Compact. "California, in general, and San Francisco, in particular, has been at the forefront of environmental sustainability and justice for many years and all of the right ingredients are here - including the technological and academic institutions as well as the financial and entrepreneurial resources - to have a UN green tech center at the Hunters Point Shipyard really make a difference."

"Locating a UN green tech center on the Shipyard is a great opportunity for this community to overcome the Shipyard's legacy of environmental injustice," said Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who represents the Bayview and Hunters Point. "For decades, the Shipyard has been both an economic and an environmental blight on the surrounding community. To have this site transformed into a center for green collar jobs and a place where the environmental problems of the future may be solved would be sweet justice indeed."

Please visit the website of the Hunters Point Community for more information!

"Environmental justice entails not just having the Shipyard cleaned up, but also revitalizing the Shipyard to create jobs and parks and affordable housing," said Dr. Veronica Hunnicut, Chair of the Mayor's Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee.

Next steps will include working with the UN to refine the proposal and to develop an advisory board to help guide project development and fund raising efforts.
Source: www.sfgov.org

KACO will definitely follow and support this incredibly important project. We will keep you updated on the progress!

Boots on the Roof - literally!

2009-08-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

KACO is always excited to get to know new industry partners and friends! The company we're about to introduce to you is very special and more than noteworthy. We are extraordinarily impressed by Boots on the Roof from Fremont, CA.

Boots on the Roof is the premier Wind and Solar training provider in the US, with the mission of training the next wave of renewable energy contractors, engineers, architects, sales professionals and business entrepreneurs. KACO appreciates this mission statement since we think that Boots on the Roof is exactly the kind of training company this industry needs.

You will find the various courses they offer here: Boots on the Roof courses

The training facility in Fremont is absolutely state of the art. The many classrooms are incredibly well equipped and the spaces and equipment they provide for the hands-on training are simply top notch! While walking through their facility, we all were immediately convinced that this is the way to go if you consider becoming a solar contractor, installer or sales person.

Boots on the Roof not only takes care of their students while they are joining the courses by providing transportation, hotel rooms and a fantastic lunch area so the students can completely focus on the classes - They actually take it a step further by organizing an "Alumni-Network" on the internet where former students can communicate with each other to exchange news, ideas, requests etc.

Please check out their information on the following links:

Boots on the Roof Website
Boots on the Roof on Twitter

If you are currently considering to an education in the field of renewable energy, KACO highly recommends this company.

Buildaroo video about KACO recorded at Intersolar

2009-08-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome Buildaroo video about KACO!

New & Noteworthy

You should get to know Buildaroo if you don't know them yet. Buildaroo.com is a startup based in Berkeley, CA with a mission to make buying and building green both fun and easy.

They are currently focusing on producing video interviews of green building products, device providers and regulatory agencies. But over the next few weeks they will be rolling out updates to allow you to search for sustainable building products & professionals, education and news.

Buildaroo on Twitter
KACO on Twitter

KACO's Net Zero Emissions Manufacturing

2009-07-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

KACO has for a long while been stressing the importance of high quality manufacturing processes in the production of our inverters. Now we'd like to showcase the tireless dedication of our German management and owner to the principles of carbon reduction and sustainable manufacturing techniques. KACO has been a leader in the PV inverter field for many years and as an industry leader has found it necessary to provide guidance to other manufacturers that have not yet realized that in the business of solar according to KACO president Ralf Hofmann

"it's not just about what you do - but how you do it"

KACO has redesigned all of the manufaturing facilities to ensure proper implementation of sustainability oriented manufacturing principles. All manufacturing takes place in Germany, where we have direct control over the environmental impact of our operations. The president of KACO has commented that it is of utmost importance to him and to the company that KACO provide clean energy producing products made from clean energy.

The employees at KACO in Germany are encouraged to ride public transportation whenever possible and are given free train tickets for personal use if they ride public transportation on business trips. The group has been given a fleet of bicycles and small electric cars to travel between our separated facilities, located within the same town. Tree planting days near the factories are common place to help capture local CO2 emissions.

Components for the inverters are sourced from the most environmentally ethical of business partners. KACO insists on using PV and a combined heat and power facility to provide the warm water and the electricity they consume. KACO uses no fossil fuel or nuclear generated energy to make their inverters. The onsite PV system now generate over 350,000 kWh of electricity annually.

This has made KACO one of the few manufacturers on the planet that can rightly claim a net zero carbon footprint for their business operations.

KACO US operates out of San Francisco's Presidio near the Golden Gate bridge and is officially a "San Francisco Green Certified Business". After facility tours and many weeks of collaboration with SF Environment our office is now proven to be one of the greenest in the Bay Area.

We've also brought online a 22kW system on the Grass Valley facility using four of our 3601xi inverters, a 1502xi inverter and two of our 2502xi inverters. We are now producing solar energy with KACO inverters on our own facility. This is something that KACO US is extremely happy to share with you and we hope that you will share this with your partners and friends.

Intersolar 2009

2009-07-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

We'd like to thank everybody who visited our booth at Intersolar!

This was a very special show for us, since we've showed our cutting edge residential 02xi-series as well as our XP100 which is a 100kw commercial inverter.

But in the end all the visitors made this event so awesome!

This industry is moving forward into a bright future with all these interesting people involved.

We are so looking forward to see all of you again as soon as possible.

Whenever you have questions, ideas & requests, please let us know anytime! We very much appreciate it!

Also, check out our new and improved website and let us know how you like it:

KACO New Energy

KACO's magic cube

2009-07-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Regardless of our joy about the continuously increasing share of photovoltaics in the energy mix of numerous countries, there is a simple fact that we should keep in mind:
A great part of the human population has to live without and will never receive a public energy grid; one to two billion people have to live without electricity altogether.
Therefore it is only logical for KACO to strengthen its commitment in the field of off-grid energy supply. The "re Cube" has been designed specifically for the use in regions whose infrastructure does not allow the development of public grids.

It constitutes a mobile power supply unit, which - in contrast to other common systems - works without diesel blocks and is fully (100%) based on renewable energy sources. Using a 1.3kW PV generator, it converts sunlight into current and subsequently stores it in a battery bank.
The system is supported by a wind generator, which compensates for the lack of solar energy at nighttime or during months of reduced solar radiation. The "heart" of the system is a KACO K 3000 off-grid inverter, capable of providing short-term peak power of 9kW.

Typical weaknesses of the off-grid concept have been eliminated with a special focus on providing a turnkey system that is perfectly adapted to our customers' requirements.
The implementation of stand-alone systems was unsuccessful in many cases because components were just "put together", did not match, or quite simply, weren't compatible. Decentralized energy supplies are more difficult to plan, construct and operate as compared to exclusively grid-tied systems. Therefore it seems to make a lot of sense to adapt a system to customer requirements and make it available to them as a fully configured unit:

plug-and-play

On-site installation does not necessarily call for skilled electricians - equipped with a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and a wrench, two people can set up a fully functional "re Cube" within just a few hours.
The "re Cube" is available in different versions, which are individually adapted to customers' needs. A prototype is currently being subjected to performance testing under real-life conditions in North Iraq.

KACO Solar & The Cypress Mandela Center in Oakland, CA

2009-06-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

KACO makes every effort to be an active participant in our local communities.

In the fall of 2008 KACO was introduced to the Cypress Mandela Training Center which is a non-profit organization that provides continuing education assistance to individuals for free.
Located in Oakland, a city of approximately 400,000 with one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the United States, the Cypress Mandela Training Center, Inc. offers a 16-week pre-apprenticeship program for Bay Area men and women over 18 years old. Training is both hands-on and in the classroom and prepares students for skilled trades jobs that are relevant to today’s construction industry.

The center not only provides construction training - in the past six months it has implemented a green building program with a heavy focus on energy efficiency and PV system installation training.
KACO has donated a working 1501xi inverter to expand their program and to provide their trainees the opportunity to work hands on with solar energy.

Download our free company magazine and read the whole article HERE ...
Watch a Cypress Mandela Training Center video HERE ...

PV training in Mt. Laurel, NJ on July 10th

2009-06-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our next educational PV training will take place in Mt. Laurel, NJ on July 10th covering the following topics and much more:

Basic PV knowledge
Advanced PV information
Residential system design
Installation of a PV system
Grounding
Industry associations and need to know insider info

TIME:
9AM - 4PM

LOCATION:
The training is hosted in conjunction with our partner Krannich Solar. For more information, please visit their website by clicking on the name.

Krannich Solar, Inc.
7000 Commerce Parkway
Suite B
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

As usually, we'll provide a DVD full of information to take home as well as literature on the expanded product line incl. the leading KACO accessories.
All attendees will receeive three NABCEP continuing education credits.

Lunch, Coffee and beverages will be served.

To participate click here and submit the sign up form. Payment of $125.00 will be due to attend.

We look forward to meeting you in Mt. Laurel!

The new "blueplanet 02xi" series - HERE

2009-06-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

Please download the specifications for the first releases of our new and exciting "blueplanet 02xi" series here:

blueplanet 1502xi

blueplanet 2502xi

If you are interested in more info material, please leave a comment with your contact here or send me an email: sj@kacosolar.com

The KACO calc pro - FREE string sizing tool

2009-06-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

The KACO calc pro is a very easy to use tool for the professional layout, design and financial calculation of grid connect photovoltaic systems.
All current and frequently used panels are available and if you cannot find a specific one, just go ahead and add it yourself or give us a call and we'll enter it for you!

Please download our innovative string sizing tool here - it is FREE!

Intersolar North America, July 14th - 16th

2009-06-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

KACO Solar, Inc. at booth 9447!

KACO will be exhibiting at the "Intersolar North America 2009" tradeshow in San Francisco again, since last year's exhibit was a huge success and this year is said to be even better.

Intersolar states on their website that in 2009 the exhibit has tripled its floor space and features an expects 500 exhibitors and 15,000 trade visitors in San Francisco’s Moscone Center West on July 14-16. The conference, held at the InterContinental Hotel next door, will also increase its size and program to over 25 tracks, circa 150 speakers and 1,600 expected attendees.

At the show you will get to know our company, the vastly expanded line of products and accessories as well as us, KACO's people. We're all looking forward to meeting you to exchange information, ideas and everything that's new in our growing industry!

We hope to see you in San Francisco soon...

The KACO Sun

2009-06-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know our fabulous company magazine "KACO Sun" yet, I'd like to introduce it at this point.
We are publishing the "KACO Sun" three times a year and it contains topics like US industry news, worldwide KACO news, social commitment, tradeshows & events, product news and much more. Below you can see the front page of the current issue. If you'd like to get a free printed version, please let me know and I'm happy to send it to you!

KACO PV Training in Stevens Point, WI

2009-06-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

KACO Wisconsin Training, June 18th 2009

We would like to invite you to sign up for our upcoming PV training session on June 18th, 2009 in Stevens Point, WI. Our educational training will cover the following:

Basic PV knowledge
Advanced PV information
Residential system design
Installation of a PV system
Industry associations
Need to know industry insider info

TIME:
9AM - 4PM

LOCATION:
Holiday Inn, Stevens Point - Convention Center
1001 Amber Ave.
Stevens Point, WI 54481

We provide a free DVD full of information to take home as well as literature on the KACO product line. All attendees also receive three NABCEP continuing education credits. We give you the insight you need to use the KACO products with a focus on our new and industry leading line of accessories.

Breakfast, lunch and beverages will be served.

To sign up click here and submit the sign up form. Payment of $125.00 will be due to participate.

We look forward to seeing you in Stevens Point next week.

Welcome to KACO Solar's "Sunny Lounge"

2009-06-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

This blog will keep you updated with solar industry news and what's new with KACO.

We are a manufacturer of grid-tied PV inverters from San Francisco, California. All our products are being manufactured in Germany where our headquarters are located.
Right now we are proudly introducing our residential "blueplanet 02xi series" to the USA and Canada.

These inverters have the highest efficiencies in their class - over 95.5% CEC efficiency, which is impressive.
They include field selectable grid voltage as well as selectable positive or negative grounding.
The LCD display is programmable and comes with a night switch
An integrated and lockable AC/DC disconnect is included
The series has 1/2" or 3/4" knockouts on sides, bottom & rear of the units

I will provide you with spec sheets shortly, but meanwhile check out the download center on our website with all our other products and services.