Canadian Solar - Make The Difference Magazine

MAKE
THE
DIFFERENCE

Imprint: “Make the difference”
Canadian Solar Inc., 545 Speedvale Avenue West Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1K 1E6
www.canadiansolar.com, support@canadiansolar.com

DEAR READER
This magazine showcases the difference Canadian Solar
makes to its customers, its employees, the environment
and all those whose lives are touched by our brand.
I believe the stories featured here make for interesting
reading whether one is part of the solar industry or
not. This is because they illustrate the power of solar to
change lives and the planet we call home for the better.
I hope you enjoy reading this magazine as much as
we have enjoyed being part of the stories behind it.
If you have an insight or interesting story to add, I’d
be grateful if you’d share it with me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shawn Qu.
Founder and CEO, Canadian Solar
03

MAKE
THE
DIFFERENCE
04

CONTENT
The Canadian Solar Stories 06
About Canadian Solar 52
Product Range 54
Locations & Contact Details 58
05

Orcas enjoy a sunset cruise off the solar powered OrcaLab Whale Research Centre at Alert Bay, British Columbia.
06

ALERT BAY, CANADA 3.04 kWh per m 2 per day
WHEN TRACKING
ORCAS, SOLAR
SHOWS THE WAY
Canadian Solar now powers the world-renowned OrcaLab
Whale Research Center, situated on a remote island near
Alert Bay off the British Columbia coast in Canada.
“Thanks to fantastic donations of solar panels and hardware from
Canadian Solar Industries (CSI), OrcaLab has a new and vastly
improved solar energy capacity,” said Dr. Paul Spong, the whale
expert and researcher who founded the facility in 1970. “Almost
unbelievably… we are now virtually free from the need to run a
generator for hours every day to keep our systems running. Life
has changed at OrcaLab, and for the better,” he said.
OrcaLab‘s work centers on research and conservation issues –
preservation of orca habitat; release and rehabilitation of captive
cetaceans, and bringing commercial whaling to an end. Its
operations are centered on the philosophy that it’s possible to
study the wild without interfering with lives or habitat. To this end
a network of hydrophones (underwater microphones) and cameras
positioned around the orcas‘ core-habitat, helps monitor their
movements year-round. The newly donated solar system allows
the off-grid OrcaLab to power its monitoring system with solar
energy, while cutting generator use and fuel costs dramatically.
Further, it increases battery performance, expands the range
of hydrophones and cameras, as well as improves amenities for
summer volunteers.
An added advantage of the solar system is that is requires minimal
maintenance when compared to generators and lasts for
decades. In addition to its primary functions, the solar solution
on the island will help reduce carbon emissions from the generators
by 1.5 to 2 tons per year. “We are honored to be involved in the
ground-breaking OrcaLab foundation‘s research,” said Shawn Qu,
chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar. “And we are proud to be
able to help advance the team‘s ambitious work through this latest
exciting application of solar energy,” he said. “As an industry
leader, Canadian Solar strives to also lead in philanthropic efforts
with organizations around the world, and this is why we are
delighted to support OrcaLab,” added Qu.
07

SOLAR PARK
OR BIODIVERSITY
PRESERVE?
When it comes to improving the environment
solar can offer a lot more than clean energy.
Solar farms have also been shown to offer protection
to rare species of birds, animals,
plants and to foster biodiversity.
This was highlighted by the recent, and perhaps misinformed,
decision by the UK Department of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs to cut subsidies to farmers with
PV installations on agricultural land. According to PV
Magazine, this blatant undermining of solar’s growth
has been labeled “damaging and incorrect” by the Solar
Trade Association (STA), which announced that it
would write to department arguing that the matter need
not be an either/or scenario.
Solar module
CS6P-P
“The government‘s own planning guidance makes
clear that farming practices should continue on solar
farms on Greenfield land,” said the STA’s head of
external affairs, Leonie Greene. “The industry has been
very careful to define good practice to ensure continued
agricultural production. It is damaging and incorrect
to suggest that solar farms are in conflict with food
production. The land is still available for farming and
solar fixings only take up 5% of the land,” she said.
As Leonie Greene points out, most solar farm panels
are set on posts and, typically, only about 5% of the
ground beneath them is disturbed. This means 95%
of any field used for a solar farm remains available for
crops, grazing, or for whatever wildlife and wild plants
are endemic to the area. Importantly, after installation,
the ground remains relatively undisturbed because
there is little human activity apart from occasional
maintenance.
“Solar farms have an important role to play in conserving
our countryside. Not only can solar power save huge
amounts of greenhouse gases, but solar farms can
provide protected spaces for boosting biodiversity,
such as wildflowers and bees, as well as providing greater
income stability for farmers who face increasing
weather risks due to climate change,” she concluded.
“Panels like the Canadian Solar CS6P-P have a lifespan
of 25 years, or more, which means wildlife has the
chance to properly establish itself over the long term,”
said Dr. Shawn Qu of Canadian Solar. As an added
bonus, many species benefit from the diversity of light
and shade that the solar arrays provide. And solar
farms also offer enormous potential for honeybees,
as the wildflowers that grow between the arrays are a
great source of nectar.
08

NORTH CAROLINA, USA
Solar parks and agriculture are complementary.
“Bee populations around the world
are under pressure and, since
humanity is dependent on them to
pollinate a wide variety of crops,
any measure that increases their
numbers can only be a good thing,”
said Dr. Qu.
The benefits don’t end there because farmers can get
a lot more than energy off a solar farm. Bees make
honey. And the land can also be used to feed sheep or
goats, which keep the fauna cropped, which creates
better conditions for wild flower growth, which is great
for the bees… a virtuous circle.
Person Country Solar Park in North Carolina, USA, is
a good example. Canadian Solar and partner Carolina
Solar Energy completed construction of a 650 kW solar
farm on the site of the Person County Business and
Industrial Center. The system uses 3,420 high efficiency
Canadian Solar 190 W crystalline PV modules and
generates approximately 837,000 kilowatt-hours each
year.
“Instead of using a metal racking system, we use wood,”
said construction engineer Eric. “So, as far as the
goats are concerned, the arrays are very like trees.
They provide good shade, absorb sunlight and convert
it to energy without creating CO 2
or other greenhouse
gas emission. Every solar farm is potentially a unique
eco-system that benefits the natural world of which we
are all a part”.
09

IKEA INVESTS IN A
NEW KIND OF
FLAT PACK TO HELP THE
ENVIRONMENT
Nobody knows the importance of combining design
innovation, quality and value quite like IKEA.
Which is why it chose Canadian Solar for its lighting
and power requirements at selected stores
in Australia. IKEA opted for Canadian Solar‘s tried
and tested CS6P-P module to help realise its
commitment to sustainable energy because, in
addition to offering competitive quality and
pricing, the products are backed by a 25-year warranty.
IKEA now powers 7 of its Australian stores with Canadian Solar panels.
10

NSW, AUSTRALIA
“Using what would otherwise be dead space on our rooftops
to reduce power costs and simultaneously reduce our carbon
footprint was an easy decision to make,” said Richard Wilson,
sustainability manager for IKEA Australia.
The rooftop installations comprise 12,122 Canadian Solar PV
modules. And the 3.6 MW project will span seven IKEA sites located
in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Together, the sites
will generate enough clean energy (around 4,658 MWh) to offset
approximately 4,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. The
panels are also grid connected so that any excess energy can be
fed back into the National Electricity Market (NEM) for use where
it is needed.
This is Canadian Solar’s largest commercial PV project roll-out to
date and emphasizes our unique ability to provide customers with
turn-key solutions that reduce the complexities and costs of solar
system installation. We have extensive experience with largescale
rooftop installations across the globe, as well as capabilities
in obtaining the required permits and providing cost-effective
engineering, procurement and construction. Our capabilities also
extend to operation & maintenance services. It was the above
combination that contributed to IKEA choosing us as their PV partner.
Richard Wilson of IKEA adds, “An installation of this size is a
considerable undertaking and it was important to ensure that
we had efficient, reliable, high quality product together with
a competitive offer, expert knowledge and experience.”
“The project is an important step in our long-term approach to
sustainability. Globally our ambition is to switch to renewable
energy and become energy independent by 2020 as laid out in
IKEA‘s global sustainability report. We’re well on the way.”
When one considers that Ikea has 349 stores across 43 countries,
potential savings and benefits to the environment will be
significant as more stores adopt solar energy. “It‘s encouraging
that more and more of the world‘s leading brands are turning
to Canadian Solar to meet their renewable energy needs,” said
Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian
Solar Inc. “Hopefully this will encourage other large originations
to follow suit. The potential implications for the environment are
enormous,” he added.
11

SOLAR IS COOL
AT “BURNING MAN”
AND BEYOND
More and more participants in the Burning Man arts festival held
in the Nevada Desert every year are turning to solar energy
to meet their energy needs. And this has resulted in a major spinoff
for the local communities in nearby towns. Panels are often
donated to them once the festival is over.
12

NEVADA, USA
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13

First it was solar powered cars. Now it's solar powered race tracks.
RACETRACK
REFUELS WITH SOLAR
POWER
Racing solar powered vehicles is an activity that is
gaining popularity around the world.
And now a racetrack in Germany is following this
lead by powering its facilities
with a high-performance PV installation.
14

OSCHERSLEBEN, GERMANY 3.44 kWh per m 2 per day
Well accustomed to testing automotive technology to
its limits, the owners of the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
were no less demanding when it came to choosing
the right solar technology for their needs.
The Motorsport Arena installed a 500 kW Canadian
Solar system in 2012 and it has delivered impressive
results ever since. “It covers a significant part of the
circuit’s annual electricity consumption,” said Voss.
They lined up several competitive offerings and put
them through their paces. The track owners compared
durability, performance and design and carefully considered
the various advantages and disadvantages of
each system. After this intensive selection process, one
brand emerged the clear winner.
“We decided on PV modules
from Canadian Solar,
becauase an especially robust
solution was important to us,”
said Thomas Voss, Managing Director
of Motorsport Arena.
“And since motor racing is not traditionally considered
the most environmentally friendly of sports, it’s great
that we’ve been able to offset this to some extent,” he
added. The PV installation compromises 2,000 solar
modules covering an area of ​around 3,000 square meters
on the facility’s roof. “Besides the positive effects for the
environment, the solid construction PV panel mounting
system has considerably strengthened the pit roof,”
concluded Voss.
This project once again demonstrates the versatility
of Canadian Solar’s CS6P-P module, which is employed
on a huge variety of installations around the world.
The sophisticated design and first-class production
technology, backed by a 25-year warranty, ensure a
winning performance year in and year out.
“In addition they offer
high quality and a really good
price-performance ratio.”
The Motorsport Arena Oschersleben offsets the fuel burned in racing
by powering its facilities with solar.
15

INVESTING IN A
RENEWABLE
FUTURE, ONE PANEL
AT A TIME
The disaster at Fukushima has inspired many in
Japan to look more closely at safe, clean and
renewable sources of energy. And imaginative
ways of financing them.
One such initiative invites private citizens to help build
“citizen solar parks” by investing in as little as one
panel. They can even choose to rent a panel if they
wish to. The first installation, comprising 360 Canadian
Solar CS6P-P modules is located outside Hokuto City,
Yamanashi Prefecture, and is surrounded by the scenic
nature and farmland it aims to protect. Founder of
the Citizen Solar movement, Mr. Sawa, explained that
he was in the large-scale wind power generation
business until his retirement a few years ago, and
that he has never lost interest in the opportunities
renewable energy offers.
“I chose Hokuto City as the first location because it has
plenty of sunshine compared to other parts of the
country. It also has a cool climate that enables PV
modules to perform more efficiently, the ideal place for
solar power generation,” he said.
All the energy that the solar park produces is sold to
a local power company and fed into the regional grid.
The profits are then returned to investors. “Besides
giving people the opportunity to show their support
for a renewable future by making a real and immediate
difference, the project also lets them enjoy a good return
on their investment,” said Mr. Sawa. The imaginative
project has also done a lot to raise awareness for solar
power by capturing the attention of the media, and
now enquiries from people wishing to invest are pouring
in from all over the country.
“I spent the first years of my retirement educating
children about the importance of moving towards
renewables in order to prevent global warming,” said
Mr. Sawa. “But when Fukushima happened I decided
that education alone was not enough and I came up
with the ‘Citizen Solar’ idea to more directly engage
people in creating renewable energy solutions.”
The first facility, Hokuto 1 was completed in 2013. It was
soon followed by Hokuto 2 and demand is such that
3, 4 and 5 are now also in the pipeline. “Our first two
phases generate about 400 kWh a day between them
and when all 5 phases are complete the project will
generate 900 kWh,” said Mr. Sawa. “It is my hope that
this is the start of something even bigger and that the
people of Japan will work together to build a completely
clean a sustainable energy future for ourselves,” he
concluded.
16

HOKUTO, JAPAN
A man on a mission to create a clean energy future for Japan: Mr. Sawa.
17

EAGLES AND BIRDIES
SET TO WIN
ON SOLAR GOLF
COURSES

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Savings from solar power are reinvested in additional school materials.
LEARNING FROM
SCHOOLS THAT SAVE
WITH SOLAR
Many schools around the US are switching on to
the benefits of solar energy.
First stop is Fresno, California where students have sent
their administrators to the top of class for investing in
solar power. Millions of dollars will be saved on energy
and the money will be used to improve student facilities.
“We specified high quality materials for the system
like the CS6P-P panels from Canadian Solar, which
contributed to the high quality of the project,” said
Don Ulrich, Assistant Superintendent of Facility Services
for the Clovis Unified School District.
Regional voters had the foresight to authorize the
financing for a 5.86 MW solar project that will provide
immediate energy cost savings to support the district‘s
core mission, educating children. “Early indicators tell
us our solar power system will produce enough energy
to save an anticipated $2.4 million dollars a year,” he
said.
“The ambitious Clovis Project exemplifies the school
district‘s foresight to reduce energy costs. With education
budgets tight across the U.S., this significant saving
can be redeployed, directly benefiting students for
20

CALIFORNIA, USA 3.7 kWh per m 2 per day
generations to come,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc.
“Our team is always proud to provide affordable,
high-quality solar energy solutions for educational
institutions, as we share in our commitment to
help create a sustainable and brighter future for our
children,” he concluded.
Panels will soon line the rooftops of shade structures
like the one pictured at 21 sites: 19 of them at schools,
and two of them at district headquarters. The $25
million project is expected to generate six megawatts
of power or the equivalent of 6,000 homes.
Martins Creek Elementary School installs one of the Largest PV
Arrays in North Carolina – Utilizing Canadian Solar Modules to
Generate Green Power and Educational Opportunities.
“The school will use the impressive solar array’s monitoring
system, a proprietary system developed by ESA
Renewables to continuously track power output, as an
educational tool teaching children how solar works and
raising their awareness of energy conservation and
environmental consciousness,” he said.
The solar revolution happening at schools extends
far beyond Fresno. Martins Creek Elementary School
recently installed one of the largest PV arrays in North
Carolina, utilizing Canadian Solar modules to generate
green power and educational opportunities. “Martins
Creek Elementary and Middle School contracted ESA
Renewables to complete a 999 kW array of Canadian
Solar CS6P-P modules, generating clean renewable
energy for the community,” said Thomas Körner,
General Manager of Canadian Solar USA.
The PV system reduces carbon emissions equivalent to
the amount that 4,681 trees would sequester per year,
and the project also brought with it new jobs, helping
to support local economic growth.
The Bancroft School, a private boarding school in Worchester,
MA has also discovered a new way to energize
its 541 students: solar power. Composed of 486 of
Canadian Solar’s top-performing CS6P-230P polycrystalline
modules, Bancroft’s 106 kW fixed tilt ballasted roof
mount system will produce more than 117,000 kilowatt
hours of electricity annually, or approximately 25% of
the building’s energy needs over an entire year, which
makes it the largest private installation within the City
of Worcester. In addition, it will reduce CO 2
emissions
by 127 tons annually, the same amount that 637 trees
sequester in a year, and will save the school an estimated
$8,000 to $10,000 in annual energy costs.
Bancroft School, a private K-12 Boarding School in Worchester, MA
has discovered a new way to energize its 541 students: solar power.
The installer company, Future Solar Systems, also provided
the school with a basic and advanced curriculum for
solar and wind power, which will enable Bancroft teachers
to use the Canadian Solar system as a tool to educate
students about the importance of renewable energy in
meeting our future energy needs and protecting the
environment.
21

A TOP-5 EMPLOYER
THAT PUTS
PEOPLE FIRST
Canadian Solar was recently ranked 4th in the 2015
Randstad Awards – out of about 150 competing
corporations. It’s the second year running we’ve
made the top five, but what we found even
more encouraging were the sub-categories in
which we ranked first.

GUELPH, CANADA
We were voted number one in ensuring our employees
enjoy great work/life balance and we enjoyed the
same distinction in terms of offering interesting job
content. We were also ranked #1 in corporate social
responsibility for our approach to environmental and
social issues.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that we placed
second for the training investment we make in our staff
and #2 overall for Western Canada.
"As a Canadian company with a successful track record
in Ontario, we are honored to be recognized as one
of the top employers by Randstad Canada," said Dr.
Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Canadian Solar. "Our company is committed to providing
a diverse, vibrant, and professional work environment
for all employees worldwide and we thank survey
respondents for selecting Canadian Solar," he said.
Making a difference to the lives of employees is as
important as satisfying customers, not least because it
enables Canadian Solar to attract and retain the best
people in the business.
"It’s great to see that our efforts to deliver an employeefriendly
working environment, rewarding job content,
goal-orientated training and strong management paying
off year after year,” concluded Dr. Qu.
Randstad Canada, the country's leading staffing, recruitment
and HR services company and is dedicated to
helping companies recruit the best talent and to support
Canadian workers trying to find attractive employers.
The ranking is decided by over 9,500 workers and job
seekers in search of employment opportunities, so
the winning companies are truly the people's choice.
Perhaps not that surprisingly, salary and employee
benefits topped the list as being the most important
factor for 23 % of respondents, while 14 % were most
interested in long-term job security, and those driven
primarily by pleasant working atmosphere and good
work/life balance came in at 9 % and 7 %, respectively.
"Having a favorable employer brand when recruiting
can mean the difference between attracting the
best people for the job or being overlooked," says Tom
Turpin, President of Randstad Canada.
23

SAN DIEGO, USA 5.06 kWh per m 2 per day
RONALD MCDONALD
HOUSE CHARITIES
ADD MORE WARMTH
TO CARING
When Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego
wanted a solution the obvious choice was Canadian
Solar. The house supports families with seriously
ill children in a local hospital, and this is the first
Ronald McDonald House in California to use solar
energy.
The San Diego based institution will serve more than
20,000 families this year alone, and was looking for
a system that was both reliable and inexpensive.
The solution: a 116 kW roof-mount photovoltaic solar
electric system that will help offset the electrical
costs with clean energy.
“The Ronald McDonald House Charity ensures families
in San Diego receive the necessities they need as they
care for their sick child, and we are so pleased to be
able to provide our high-quality modules to this pivotal
community facility,” said Thomas Körner, U.S. general
manager of Canadian Solar Inc.
“Through its leadership in California by implementing a
renewable energy solution, the Ronald McDonald House
Charity of San Diego will reap significant financial savings
while contributing to environmental sustainability for
years to come,” he said. The solar installation consists
of 518 Canadian Solar CS6P-P 220 W polycrystalline
modules. These modules are among the top-ranked in
the industry in PV USA (PTC) ratings, which are quickly
becoming universally accepted standards for measuring
real-world module energy production and performance.
Canadian Solar, and other companies involved in the
project all donated price reductions to benefit the charity.
“Ronald McDonald House Charities
decided to pursue solar energy
to create a healthy and sustainable
environment for the children
and families we serve, and to help
greatly offset power costs,”
said Bill Lennartz, president and CEO of Ronald
McDonald House of San Diego.
”Our partners have been vital to our success as a
resource to families going through the most challenging
times of their lives, and we are excited to now be
producing clean solar energy to help us provide care
to even more families.”
The Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego
solar electric system was designed and installed by
HelioPower and will produce an average of 147,846
kilowatt hours per year. The environmental offset is
equivalent to curtailing the release of 151,420 pounds
of carbon dioxide each year, or planting 554 new trees
and sequestering the carbon dioxide over their lifetime.
24

GREAT IS
A GREAT PLACE
TO START
Does a manufacturing process really need 360 quality
control points? Some would call that obsessive,
wasteful even, and they’d be right. We worked out
you only need 359 quality controls to make the
best products possible.
26

GLOBAL
Then the job becomes changing what’s possible. For
example, we’ve tried and tested our PV products again
and again, to the point where we’re so confident in
them that we offer a 25-year performance warranty.
Even more testing and the consistent excellence of
our products in the field have grown that confidence
to the point where we will soon be offering a 30-year
option. And, if we can hit the 30-year mark, well then…
you get the idea.
As much as we’re focused on delivering the best products
of tomorrow, we’re also proud of the standards we
set today. These are illustrated by the terms of our performance
warranty, which guarantees that the actual
power output of a module will be no less than 97% of
the labeled power output during its first year of
operation, and will decline by no more than 0.7% annually
so that by the end of year 25 the actual power output
The design process includes every test imaginable:
durability, UV resistance, degradation rate and extreme
temperature variation, as well as mechanical performance
in the face of torrential rains, high winds and heavy
snowfalls. There’s no room for inferior components or
workmanship. And this ensures our panels will work
across a wide range of applications as well as stand up
to harsher conditions than competitive products.
Getting down to specifics, 158 of our 359 quality
control points are for incoming materials, while 62
are for raw materials processes and the others for
production control. Every module goes through the
following:
· Electroluminescence (EL) testing: a 100% EL
screen test to eliminate cell or module defects.
· Cleaning: 100% module visual inspection and clean
before packing
· Testing and analysis: performance reliability,
mechanical and chemical tests of raw materials and
components. This is done in warehouse, on the
production line, in the testing lab and at other 3rd
parties.
· Machine testing: advanced automatic equipment in
testing and manufacturing process.
will be no less than 80% of the module‘s labeled power
output. In addition, Canadian Solar has expanded its
product warranty covering workmanship and material
defects to 10 years.
“We are proud of our ability to offer an enhanced
warranty policy that, combined with our positive power
tolerance and our insurance policies, provides the best
value in the industry,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc.
“These enhancements underlie our confidence in our
manufacturing and quality control processes, and our
commitment to the success of our customers,” he added.
And Dr. Qu’s confidence has a solid foundation:
From incoming material selection to the assembly of
finished products, Canadian Solar applies strict
step-by-step procedures that ensure the performance
of each component in every module.
· Lab testing: In 2008 Canadian Solar commissioned
the first module manufacturer-owned photovoltaic
reliability testing laboratory to meet ISO/IEC 17025
(Accreditation Criteria for the Competence of Testing
and Calibration Laboratories). The laboratory has
total area space 3130 square meters and employs
23 full time technicians.
In addition, as a tier one module manufacturer, our
products are used all over the world. As a result they’ve
been tested by local standards authorities, banks and
independent auditors in Australia, USA, Japan and many
other countries, where they’ve delivered excellent
results and proven top performance across the board.
Even so, we see this as no more than a great beginning.
The future of solar energy promises so much more.
Which is why we have a staff of over 400 scientists,
engineers and technicians working on it today.
27

GOING
NUTS FOR
SOLAR
A US nut processing company that exports to over
30 markets around the world has enthusiastically
embraced solar energy to fuel its operations on the
fertile grounds of California’s Central Valley.
And the business‘ enthusiasm for solar is based on a
lot more than its power generation capability. Setton
Pistachio, the 2nd largest pistachio processor in the
United States, harvests both environmental and fiscal
savings with its 1.7 MW system, the largest in California’s
Central Valley.
Going solar was a two-fold decision for Setton – the
significant amount of energy they required for their
agricultural operations and the company’s commitment
to sustainability. They chose Canadian Solar products,
and Cenergy Power to design and implement the solution
because it has extensive experience in the agricultural
sector. “Our decision to go solar with Canadian Solar
and Cenergy was made simple by their outstanding
track records, reputation for quality, and power quality
capabilities,” said Lee Cohen, General Manager, Setton
Farms.
“We are a family business and the decisions we make
have to be good for customers and our growers, partners
and suppliers. This project was an obvious next step in
practicing what we preach about our dedication to the
valley‘s environment and sustainable business practices,”
added Cohen.
In total 7,600 Canadian Solar CS6P-P modules were
deployed in the project. Together they provide a
1.7 megawatt solar plant that produces over 2.6 million
kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean renewable energy per
year – to sort, roast, and package millions of pounds of
pistachios in Setton’s 300,000 square foot processing
facilities.
“Canadian Solar modules provide our customers with
many benefits including higher than average PTC
ratings, excellent workmanship, and reliability. Their
modules consistently provide high efficiency when
kilowatt hours are measured with respect to production
numbers,” said Andrew B. Goldin, VP of Field Operations,
Cenergy Power. The solar installation will reduce Setton
Pistachio’s monthly energy bills along with their carbon
footprint. It will continue to generate renewable energy
for its owners for decades to come, stabilizing their
energy budget, and creating security for their future
power needs.
And, as an added advantage, the project costs were
offset by federal and local incentives lowering the
initial investment and establishing a payback period of
4 short years. It is also estimated that the installation
will generate $14 million in energy savings over 25
years. Of course, it was great for the environment too.
Potential CO 2
production avoided as a result of this
installation is approximately 1,880 metric tons, which is
equivalent to planting 400 acres of pine forest annually.
In addition to the above project, Canadian Solar also
partnered with Cenergy in delivering a 540 kW
PV System to a San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Facility.
Minturn Huller, an almond huller and sheller cooperative
in Chowchilla, California serves more than 260 almond
growers in the valley and runs almost 24 hours a day,
7 days a week from mid-August to November. Their PV
system has 2,702 Canadian Solar CS6P-200PE eModules,
which saves the facilities an estimated 20 % off their
annual electric bill - savings of approximately $40,000
per year.
28

CALIFORNIA, USA 5.62 kWh per m 2 per day
“Our decision to go with Canadian
Solar was driven by the quality
and value of their products along
with the outstanding service
and support of their team,”
Andrew B. Goldin of Cenergy
29

SOLAR TAKES
WATER
FROM POLLUTED
TO PURE

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solar energy work for you,
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FLOWER POWER
MEETS
SOLAR POWER
Solar powered greenhouses are not a new idea.
Technically, green houses – and plants – have always
been solar powered. So how can photovoltaics
make a difference to the commercial hothouse
industry and agriculture in general?
“There is enormous potential for the
use of solar power in agriculture,”
said Colin Parkin, General Manager
of Canadian Solar Inc.
“PV solutions enable farmers to
create environments where they can
control temperature and light at
vastly reduced cost, when compared
with conventional power sources,”
he said.
These can be smaller scale projects like the 20 kW
clear-module one pictured here in Heihe, China,
which uses innovative transparent panels to let light
32

ONTARIO, CANADA
Solar module CS6P-P
through to the plants below, to much more ambitious
projects.
A 250 kW system in Moose Creek serves as an excellent
example, not least because it is Eastern Ontario’s
Largest Solar Rooftop Installation. It is owned by local
farmer, Mr. Castonguay. “Besides saving on electricity,
I am actually generating direct revenue from the
installation,” he said. “In addition, it significantly reduces
my farm’s carbon footprint and contributes to a cleaner,
renewable environment.”
The system, made up of 1,339 CS6P-P 230 W Canadian
Solar modules, is big enough to meet far more than
his own needs. It is connected to the Ontario grid and
creates additional revenue by supplying enough energy
to power approximately 30 homes annually and, not
least, helps eliminate the production of 279.80 metric
tons of carbon every year. Solexium Solar Solutions,
installer of the system, chose Canadian Solar modules
for their excellent quality and high efficiency wattage.
They were also attracted by the 10-year warranty on
materials and workmanship, and the 25-year linear
power output warranty. The future looks extremely
promising for PV in agriculture.
Solexium solar solutions completed the 250 kW construction of
Eastern Ontario’s largest solar rooftop installation in Moose Creek.
Smaller scale projects like the 20 kW one pictured here in Heihe,
China, are also gaining popularity.
33

EXETER, UNITED KINGDOM 1.08 kWh per m 2 per day
UK WEATHER SERVICE
PREDICTS SOLAR ENERGY
FOR THE NEXT
25 YEARS, AT LEAST
The United Kingdom’s national weather service, the
MET office, has installed Canadian Solar’s famously
reliable CS6P-M modules at its Exeter Headquarters.
As a world-renowned provider of 24/7 weather, climate
and environmental forecasts and research, the Met
Office’s Exeter HQ Energy Centre sought a reliable source
of clean energy that would reduce CO 2
emissions and
complement their existing sustainability initiatives.
conditions at locations around the world. The new
system is already generating around 1,000 kWhs of
electricity per day - enough to meet the demand of one
of the organization’s three supercomputers used to
carry out research into climate change.
They decided on a 1000 module, 250 kWp rooftop PV
system from Canadian Solar, not least because the
panels have a 25-year warranty and have proven themselves
to be dependable under widely varying weather
Installed by SunGift Solar, a renewable energy specialist
offering customized solutions in the UK, this PV system is
one of the largest rooftop installations in the UK. “When
you’re carrying out thousands of installations every
year, you need top quality modules from a manufacturer
that has a trusted global reputation,” said Gabriel
Wondrausch, Managing Director of SunGift Solar.
“That is why we specify Canadian Solar modules for many
of our jobs. They have that distinctive quality – bankability –
which gives us absolute confidence that the modules will
continue to perform at a high level and give consistent
results throughout their lifetime,”
said Gabriel Wondrausch.
34

035

REMOTE
COMMUNITIES GAIN
ACCESS TO
REAL POWER
36

RED LAKE, ONTARIO, CANADA
To find out more on this story, or about how you can make solar energy work for you, scan this QR code.
37

MUNICH, GERMANY
SOLAR GETS
BEER
FROM THERE
TO HERE
Perhaps not that surprisingly, one of the first
companies to respond to the The Munich Solar
Initiative was a brewery. Augustiner is one
of the region’s oldest and best-known brewers
and Oktoberfest suppliers and is now taking a
very modern approach to fuelling its logistics
center.
Perhaps not that surprisingly, one of the first companies
to respond to the The Munich Solar Initiative was a
brewery. Augustiner is one of the region’s oldest and
best-known brewers and Oktoberfest suppliers and
is now taking a very modern approach to fuelling its
logistics center.
“More than any other big city, Munich is showing the
way in the production of clean electricity and we aim to
deliver about 7.5 billion kWh of renewable energy by
2025, which will correspond to the city’s entire electricity
consumption,” said then-mayor Christian Ude when
establishing the initiative.
The brewing company recently installed a total of 1628
solar panels on its roof. And the highly efficient
CS6P-P from Canadian Solar will achieve annual electricity
production of around 420,000 kilowatt-hours.
Augustiner ordered the installation on the back of an
initiative from the Munich municipality that incentivizes
businesses to adopt clean sources of energy. The municipality
has stated its goal is to make Munich the first
city of over a million people to run entirely on renewable
energy resources.
The brewery installation is a strong step in the right
direction. Its annual output is roughly equivalent to the
amount of energy 120 households consume in a year.
“The new installation is also highly effective from an
environmental point of view. The fact that the Augustiner
logistics center now uses clean energy means that the
production of around 370 tons of CO 2
will be prevented,”
said Valentin Fliess of Canadian Solar Germany. “So all
those who enjoy Augustiner can thank solar energy for
more than the fact that their favorite beer is successfully
distributed. They can take added enjoyment in the
knowledge that it is now a more environmentally friendly
beer too,” Fliess said.
38

USA
SOLAR WILL
LIGHTEN
"THE BURDEN"
Energy. Some nations have more than they need,
and others need more than they have. This fact lies
at the heart of many of the conflicts we see in the
world today and is the subject of a thought-provoking
new documentary film called The Burden, of which
Canadian Solar is a co-sponsor. The documentary
premiered in Washington on March 27, 2015, as
part of an environmental film festival.
“The Burden” refers to our dependence on fossil fuels
and the stress that this places both on the environment
and on those engaged in, or affected by the various
energy-related conflicts around the world. At an environmental
level fossil fuels are a security threat to the
continued well-being of humanity and, more immediately,
the conflicts they cause result in considerable suffering
and political instability.
The only solution is, clearly, to reduce fossil-fuel
dependence and, in time, eliminate it completely through
the continued development and implementation of
renewable, clean energy sources like solar.
“The price for guarding oil is too high. In Afghanistan
every 1 in 24 fuel convoys ended with a casualty,”
according to the film, not to mention that the US
Military spends $85-billion a year protecting oil
chokepoints.
Given the above fact it is not surprising that the US
Military takes the view that the more it can use, and
encourage others to use non-renewables the better,
and it is on track to meet its goal of 1 GW of renewable
energy by 2025.
Renewables offer benefits over and above clean energy.
The solar industry is also a big employer of veterans,
not least of whom is Kevin Johnson, Iraq war veteran,
West Point graduate & Director of Federal Business
Development at Canadian Solar USA, who has attended
first screenings of the movie with the director.
“The Burden is well worth watching,” says Kevin.
“It features issues and solutions that could have an
important impact on the future of humanity,” he said.
As the fighting arm of the world’s strongest superpower,
the US military is pretty much continuously engaged
in conflicts around non-renewables. In addition, it relies
heavily on oil products to fuel its war machine, the resupply
of which only adds to the hazards of any military
operation. The film makes the point that the US military
is the single largest institutional consumer of oil. And
this comes at a cost.
Scan this QR-code to watch "The Burden"
41

HOW
GREEN IS YOUR
CLOUD?
According to recent research from human rights
organization Greenpeace, the Internet is now
responsible for 27 tons of radioactive waste a year.
In fact it consumes more electrical power than
a good-sized country – and most of this energy
currently comes from pollutant, non-renewable
sources.
A single Google search uses as much energy as a lowvoltage
11 W light-bulb uses in an hour. Which may
not sound like much until one factors in that there are
around 6-billion Google searches a day. And that’s
just Google, never mind Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
and the rest of the online world.
The Internet as a whole now consumes around 2% of
all power produced on Earth, or about 300 TWh annually.
That’s roughly equivalent to 30 nuclear power plants
worth of energy translating into into at least 18,5 million
tons of CO 2
from non-renewables.
The good news is that many companies are doing a
lot to clean up their energy footprint. Greenpeace’s
2014 “Clicking Clean” report reveals that major cloud
brands like Apple, Box, Facebook, Google, Rackspace,
and Salesforce have committed to powering their data
centers with 100% renewable energy.
“This is great for renewable energy tech producers
like us,“ said Thomas Körner of Canadian Solar USA.
“A significant portion of the renewable energy these
online companies use will be solar, as is evidenced by
the large solar facilities that Apple, Google and others
have already built.”
A number of leading brands, most notably Apple and
Facebook, have also made significant improvements in
their energy transparency and are only too happy
to share the progress they are making in achieving
their renewably energy targets. Google, for its part,
is showing the way in building a renewably powered
Internet by significantly expanding its renewable energy
purchasing and investment, both independently
and through collaboration with its utility vendors.
“By making better energy choices and demanding more
from utility vendors, some internet companies are
already demonstrating their ability to be critical catalysts
in driving utilities and governments toward the development
of cleaner electricity generation that will ensure
a truly green online world – and a greener offline world
for us all,” says the Greenpeace report.
42

USA
The Internet is responsible for
27 tons of radioactive waste a year.
Greenpeace’s 2014 “Clicking Clean” report reveals that major cloud companies have committed to
powering their data centers with 100 % renewable energy. Scan this QR code to read more.
43

FIRE POWERED ICE:
EUROPE‘S
LARGEST SKI HALL
WORKS WITH SOLAR

To find out more on this story,
or about how you can make
solar energy work for you,
scan this QR code.

CANADIAN SOLAR
ADDS POWER
TO GATORADE
More than 5,600 Canadian Solar
PV panels now adorn the roof of the 900,000
square foot distribution center.
46

ARIZONA, USA 5.32 kWh per m 2 per day
A leading energy drink’s thirst to do the right thing
for the environment and its customers led to the
installation of a 1.7 MW PV system at it´s bottling
and packaging facility in Tolleson, Arizona.
“Gatorade understands the positive impact clean energy
can bring to the bottom line as well as to the community
around them,” commented Curt Hilliker, VP of the
Commercial Division at Sun Valley Solar Solutions,
which designed and implemented the solution.
More than 5,600 Canadian Solar PV panels now adorn
the roof of the 900,000 square foot distribution center,
which can generate more than three million kilowatt
hours annually. That’s enough electricity to power
approximately 200 average Arizona homes for an entire
year, or over 10 percent of the electricity used by the
entire Tolleson facility annually. And that translates into
electricity cost savings for PepsiCo, which is Gatorade‘s
parent company.
The solar thermal system uses a variety of technologies,
including flat panels and solar beams, to pre-heat
ingredient water for hot-fill products, such as Gatorade,
which is heated and pasteurized before bottling. The
Gatorade facility, the largest of nine plants making the
drink in the US, can now use renewable solar energy
to pump out 59 million cases of the sports drink a year,
according to the company.
“Solar generated electricity is used for everything,”
said Tom Schaefer, Director of Engineering for PepsiCo
Resource Conservation. “The warehouse, the plant –
anything that uses electricity. We’re directly offsetting
what we normally would have bought from the
electrical grid,” he said.
PepsiCo is developing sustainable energy and water
programs at a variety of its other manufacturing sites
too, including an experiment to take its Casa Grande
Frito-Lay snack-chip facility nearly entirely off the public
electric, natural-gas and water systems.
The company also installed a large solar system at a
Fullerton, California, facility last month.
“Ultimately, it‘s a commitment
to the future,”
said Rich Schutzenhofer, vice president for engineering
technology and sustainability for PepsiCo in Chicago.
While Arizona is known for its blue skies and sunshine,
PepsiCo is also implementing solar solutions in less
sunny climes. The United Kingdom’s Copella plant in
Boxford is proving that solar energy generation is
possible, even in less than optimal conditions. It recently
installed solar rooftop panels that produce 150 kilowatts
of electricity, becoming the first PepsiCo facility
in the United Kingdom to generate on-site renewable
electricity.
“This project has generated enough electricity in its first
week to run an average U.K. home for a whole year,”
said Dave Clark, sustainability manager, PepsiCo United
Kingdom. The solar panel project at Boxford is the first
of many projects that PepsiCo UK is using to continually
increase the percentage of energy coming from renewable
sources and help reach its goal of becoming fossil
fuel-free by 2023.
More than this, the installation has important implications
for solar energy in the region as a whole. The fact that
such a well-known brand has taken solar on board will
be noticed by other companies. “Gatorade’s leadership
plays an important role in driving the acceptance of
commercial-scale solar energy, and we’re tremendously
excited to partner with them on such an important
initiative,” said Sun Valley Solutions’ Hilliker.
47

SOLAR MAKES
IT BETTER
High-tech medical equipment is only as reliable as
its power supply. And it goes without saying that
there are times when hospitals just cannot afford
to be without electricity, not least, with the recent
re-emergence of Ebola in nearby countries.
“Delivering reliable power to hospitals in Somalia is
challenging due to the minimal infrastructure available,”
said Trevor Devries, Sales Director of Canadian Solar
Africa. “To help solve this problem solar energy systems
have now been installed at four medical facilities in
need of a cost effective, stable energy supply that they
could rely on,” he said.
Canadian Solar CS6P-P modules formed the backbone
of the systems that were installed by W. Giertsen Energy
Solutions, a Norwegian technical services company,
during the first half of 2014. These particular modules
were chosen because of their reputation for absolute
reliability and their ability to survive tough environmental
conditions for 25 years, or more.
All the solar energy systems are also energy-save
solutions, which means they are connected to the grid.
This allows the daytime production of electricity to be
used firstly by the hospital, then to fill up the batteries,
and then feed the excess supply into the grid, while
at night, electricity from the batteries is consumed first,
before drawing power from the grid. This maximizes
the efficiency of using all solar power produced and
also minimizes costs.
“Our belief is that access to electricity
is key to economic and social
development of rural and remote
areas.
That’s why we are dedicated to
providing places like this with
renewable energy solutions, while
reducing their impact on climate
change and dependency on fossil
fuels,”
said Bart Van Ouytsel, VP Business Development
for W. Giertsen Energy Solutions.
48

GAROWE, SOMALIA
Solar is helping
to save lives
Four hospitals in Somalia were recently equipped with solar systems.
The efforts of W. Giertsen Energy Solutions and the
reliable performance of the systems they installed have
not gone unnoticed. In Garowe, many excited people
from the local community watched the inauguration of
their first solar energy system when Dr. Abdisamed
Ahmed, head of the hospital, officially turned on the
solar energy system in May 2014.
“Thanks for your efforts in installing the solar system to
Garowe General Hospital. The solar system is working
powerfully and I am very happy that you did a good job
in our hospital,” said the Hospital Director in Garowe,
Somalia. Due to the success of the installations, more
projects have been contracted and will be built in the
horn of Africa 2015.
49

UNSPOILT
PARADISES WANT
TO STAY
THAT WAY
50

ST. KITTS, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Many an island paradise is choosing solar power over diesel
and other non-renewables for their energy needs.
By their very nature they are blessed with an abundance of
sunshine, and the fact that island populations often
rely heavily on tourism means they have a vested interest in
keeping their environments as clean as possible.
To find out more about our microgrid solutions for off-shore locations, please scan the QR-code.
51

ABOUT
CANADIAN
SOLAR
A Canadian company
with global reach
· Leading global solar company founded 2001
· NASDAQ-listed since 2006 as CSIQ
· 3 GW module production capacity
· > 8.5 GW solar projects worldwide
· > 9 GW solar modules delivered to customers
in > 90 countries
A well-known global player
strong on business
strategy and execution
· Led by visionary founder and experienced
executive management team
· Independent board of directors with over
100 years of experience in law, finance, research
and manufacturing
A brand accepted by many
financing banks*
· 14-year quality track record
· Product warranty insured by leading insurance
companies in Europe and USA
· Prudent corporate finance management
with strong balance sheet
· Trade finance arranged for qualified customers
Highest product quality
standards and quality
management systems
· Uses quality management system of the automotive
industry in PV manufacturing (ISO 16949)
· Strictly executes international quality management
standards (ISO 9001:2008)
· 359 quality control points from incoming materials
to product delivery
· Environment-friendly production following ISO 14001
* U.S.A. Bank of America, Merrill Lynch / Canada Royal Bank of Canada, National Bank of Canada, Manulife Financial / Europe Deutsche
Bank, Société Générale, Standard Chartered Bank, Credit Suisse, Rabobank, BBVA, Dexia, UniCredit, la Caixa, De Lage Landen, LBBW, Crédit
Agricole, Deutsche Kreditbank AG, Banesto, Natixis, Caja Madrid, HSH Nordbank, Bayern LB, Santander, Raiffeisen Bank / Japan Tokyo Tomin
Bank, Mizuho Bank, Shoko Chukin Bank / China Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications
52

Higher module output
energy yield
· Top module PTC rating by California
Energy Commission
· Top energy yield system out of 35 systems recorded
by DKA SC Australia
· Higher solar system power yield by
PVsyst simulation software
25-year performance
warranty backed
by warranty insurance
· Insurance policy matches Canadian Solar’s
25-year warranty terms
· Insurance underwritten by world leading
insurance companies
· Non-cancelable and allows third party
bankruptcy rights
Local sales
and customer support
· 18 warehouses in four continents,
8 countries
· Customer support team of
>150 PV experts
in 20 countries
53

CANADIAN
SOLAR PRODUCT
RANGE
Solar modules
Canadian Solar‘s modules are best in class
in terms of power output and long term
reliability.
Off-grid applications
The Maple Solar System is a multifunction
device capable of acting as a light source and
as a charger. It provides a convenient source
of mobile power for outdoor activities such
as camping, boating, fishing and hiking.
Our meticulous product design and stringent
quality control ensure our modules deliver an
exceptionally high PV energy yield in live PV
systems. Our accredited in-house PV testing
facilities guarantee all module component
materials meet the highest quality standards
possible.
54

PV energy storage
Solar systems
Canadian Solar Camel Energy Storage System
(ESS) is equipped with bidirectional inverter,
battery pack, energy management unit and
switches. The Camel ESS has two automatic
power charging modes, on-grid and off-grid.
When grid is down during emergency, the
energy storage system will automatically
switch to off-grid mode.
Canadian Solar offers home owners complete
residential solar system solutions to
meet their green energy needs. Canadian
Solar‘s residential solar power systems are
designed to meet different building applications
in system sizes of 1.5 kW (CS1500),
3.0 kW (CS3000), 5.0 kW (CS5000) and 10 kW
(CS10000).
Camel ESS is a great investment in saving
on your energy bill as you can charge the
battery with solar energy during the day and
use electricity from the battery during peak
rate hours. In addition, Camel ESS system is
a highly reliable energy source in emergency
when utility is down.
Canadian Solar also provides customized
solar system solutions for special solar energy
requirements.
55

A LOOK BEHIND THE
SCENES OF OUR
PRODUCTION SITES
IN CHINA
56

Are you interested in seeing the quality of our
module production facilities and the practices of
our factories in China?
area you want to have a closer look at. A competent
local team will accompany you on your visit and answer
any questions you might have.
Canadian Solar would like to offer you the unusual
opportunity to have a comprehensive tour of our
production facilities.
What areas are you interested in? Quality control,
certification, test labs, planning, order processing?
Or are you more interested in getting an overall
impression of our factory? Decide for yourself which
Please inform your sales manager if you want to visit
the factory. They will pass your request on to our
customer service center. The team there will set a date
for you and arrange the transfer to the hotel and the
factory. It will also organise your hotel and meals*.
Our team will make sure that every aspect of your onsite
visit goes smoothly.
* Please note that these arrangements are the only support we will be able to provide.
The law unfortunately prevents us from covering any of the cost of your visit.
57

CONTACT
Headquarter Canada
545 Speedvale Avenue West
Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1K 1E6
T +1 519 837 1881
F +1 519 837 2550
M sales.ca@na.canadiansolar.com
Germany
Landsberger Straße 94
80339 Munich, Germany
T +49 (0) 89 5199689 0
F +49 (0) 89 5199689 11
M sales.eu@canadiansolar.com
U.A.E.
No 115, Level-1 Incubator Building
Masdar City, 135051 Abu Dhabi
T +971 02 698 53 60
F +971 02 698 53 60
M sales.mi@canadiansolar.com
USA
2420 Camino Ramon, Suite 125
San Ramon, CA, USA 94583-4385
T +1 888 998 7739
F +1 925 866 2704
M sales.us@canadiansolar.com
Brazil
Ruo Barao do Triunfo 427
12th floor, Office 1204
Brooklin, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
CEP 04602-001
T +55 11 509 605 25,
F +55 11 509 605 25
M sales.br@canadiansolar.com
Spain
Paseo de la Castellana 79, 7th floor
28046 Madrid, Spain
T +34 91 791 66 24
M sales.eu@canadiansolar.com
UK
1 Lumley Street
London W1K 6TT UK
M sales.uk@canadiansolar.com
South Africa
26 Coachman Close
Midstream 1692
South Africa
M sales.za@canadiansolar.com
China
199 Lushan Road, Suzhou New
District, Jiangsu, China 215129
T +86 512 6690 8088
F +86 512 6690 8089
M sales.cn@canadiansolar.com
58

Japan
Round-Cross Shinjuku 5-Chome 8F
5-17-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo, Japan 160-0022
T +81 (0) 3 5312 7301
F +81 (0) 3 5312 7302
M sales.jp@canadiansolar.com
Singapore
101 Thompson Road
#15-03 United Square
Singapore 307591
T +65 6572 9050
F +65 6559 4690
M sales.sg@canadiansolar.com
Japan – Project
Shinjuku Mitsui Building 50F
2-1-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo, 163-0450 Japan
T +81 (0) 3 6911 2901
F +81 (0) 3 3349 1310
M sales.jp@canadiansolar.com
Korea
201 SKHUB B/D, 431 Seolleung-ro
Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
T +02 539 7541
F +02 539 7505
M sales.kr@canadiansolar.com
India
M sales.in@canadiansolar.com
Australia
165 Cremorne Street,
Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
T +61 (03) 8609 1844
M sales.au@canadiansolar.com
59

www.canadiansolar.com