Itek Energy

itek’s Minnesota Facility

itek Energy started production in its new Minneapolis facility in November of 2014 with forecasts of producing 2-4 MW in 2015. The 22,000 square foot building located just outside of downtown Minneapolis formerly housed a machine shop and paint factory and has since been rehabilitated and re-branded “GRID”- The Greenway Resource for Integrated Design. The GRID building also houses SPYE- a digital technology integrator, and Hollywood Cycles bike shop. Direct access to the Twin Cities Midtown Greenway Bicycle Path and proximity to the University of Minnesota and the Missippi River make this a perfect site to establish roots in Minnesota.

Our 60 cell high efficiency solar panels are renowned as one of the most powerful produced in the U.S., with 270-280 watt output and a 2 inch aluminum alloy frame designed for extra snow and wind loads. itek’s Made-in-Minnesota certification will allow local customers a production incentive of $0.28/kWh for residential solar installations, $0.15/kWh for commercial tax exempt/non-profit/government projects, and $0.13/kWh for commercial for-profit projects.

Solar Products

itek Energy HE Module – Made-in-WA, and MN

Certified Made In Washington Solar PV itek Energy Black Frame Solar Module

Our highly efficient, monocrystalline modules are the most powerful modules made in Washington, reaching power outputs above 275 Watts. Designed to utilize more of the Northwest’s defused light, standard racking systems and weighing only 43 lbs, they are also the most economical to install. Our 2″ frame is designed specifically to allow for micro-inverter and DC Optimizer attachments, along with extra snow and wind loads. Our silicon cells are some of the highest efficiency p-type cells on the market. The encapsulates are of the highest quality in the industry and our ultra-clear, low iron solar glass is specifically designed and manufactured for light conditions common in the Pacific Northwest.

Solar Works in Washington

Washington is blessed with cool long summer days which results in more efficient solar production. The cooler temperatures we experience allow solar panels to perform at higher efficiencies than they do under hot desert sun. With Washington State’s adoption of a net metering program in 1998, solar system owners are able to bank their summer production and pull upon the credits during the winter months. The rain for which Washington is so famous also plays a role in keeping solar systems free of dust throughout the year.

In addition to the ability to net meter your annual solar production, Washington State’s incentive program for locally built products is one of the most robust in the nation. With current state incentives, system owners can make $0.54 for every Kilowatt hour they produce with solar. It is this ability to make money on your energy rather than continuously spending money that allows system owners within Washington State to pay off their solar systems in as little as 6 years!

One of those most convincing pieces of evidence supporting solar energy’s potential within Washington State is the case study comparison between Washington and Germany’s annual solar potential. Hamburg Germany has an average yearly solar potential of 2.96 kWh/meter^2/day whereas Seattle has 3.64 kWh/meter^2/day. Despite having less of a solar conducive climate than Washington Germany has been the world leader in installed solar capacity between 2000 and 2011. Proving for those folks who ask about “How Solar Works in Washington” that there is a positive and informed answer.

Grid-tied

The most simple and common type of system installed currently is a grid-tied or utility interactive PV system. A grid-tied system is designed to run in parallel with the utility grid. Grid-tied solar systems allow a home to use power from the utility grid as they would normal while utilizing the power from the solar system at the same time. If the solar array produces more power than the home can use a grid-tied system pushing power back onto the grid banking the credit for you to use later. In this way your system could also produce sustainable energy for your neighbors.

The most important part of any grid-tied system, beyond the solar panels, is the inverter. Grid-tie inverters change the DC (direct current) energy produced by the panels into AC (alternating current) used by utility grid and appliances in your home. By watching the incoming power from the grid and mirroring its wave structure grid-tied inverters are able to convert the higher voltages produced by PV systems into the specific acceptable levels required by the grid.

In comparison to the other types of solar systems grid-tied is easily the smallest up-front investment and the easiest to install. The downside of having a grid-tied system is that when the power company loses power so do you. To keep Utility workers safe during power outages grid-tied inverters must disconnect all solar production automatically during a power-outage.