5 July 2012

SoloPower names Paolo Pietrogrande to board and Bart Van Ouytsel as head of sales in EMEA

SoloPower Inc of San Jose, CA, USA, which makes thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) cells and lightweight flexible solar modules using a proprietary roll-to-roll electro-deposition process, has appointed Paolo Pietrogrande as a member of its board of directors and Bart Van Ouytsel to lead sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Pietrogrande was approved on 13 June, and Van Ouytsel started in his role on 1 June.

Veterans of the solar energy and renewables space, Pietrogrande and Van Ouytsel add expertise and experience to SoloPower’s mission to make rooftop solar the main energy source for the world’s commercial and industrial buildings. The new additions come after SoloPower launched its next generation of integrated solar solutions in mid-June at Intersolar Europe in Munich, Germany. SoloPower’s first-of-their-kind easy installation systems are designed to make SoloPower’s SoloPanels perform optimally and to be integrated into a variety of roof systems across geographies. SoloPower’s integrated solar solutions address rooftops that cannot bear the weight of heavier, traditional panels while expanding the global solar rooftop market. SoloPower is also hiring for the high-volume manufacturing facility it is preparing to open in Portland, OR.

“Paolo’s extensive experience in utilities, in renewable power generation, and in managing international manufacturing companies will help us make solar energy possible for any rooftop in the world,” says CEO Tim Harris. “Bart’s global expertise in the solar energy and building materials industries are just what we need to continue our customer growth,” he adds.

Pietrogrande is chairman of Element Power Solar, a developer that has put 77MW in operation and has 2800MW of pipeline in North America, Latin America, Europe, and other emerging markets. In his past positions, he supervised the development and operation of over 4000MW of renewable energy projects around the world, including 200MW of solar power plants. He has 31 years of experience in alternative energy and corporate management, is a founding partner of Netplan Management Consulting, and has held leadership and executive positions in companies such as Enel, Gamesa Solar, General Electric, Bain, and KTI. He joins SoloPower’s board just three months after General Wesley K. Clark (USA, Retired), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and a former U.S. Presidential candidate, was appointed to SoloPower’s board as an independent director.

“SoloPower has developed the most compelling approach, technology, and manufacturing capability to address a unique solar market need,” comments Pietrogrande, who currently sits on the boards and advisory committees of other public companies.

SoloPower says that its proprietary approach embodies critical technology, manufacturing, and cost advantages that enable large-scale ‘fab-style’ production of high-efficiency CIGS-based photovoltaic cells, which are then packaged into flexible, lightweight solar modules that require less balance-of-system hardware and are easier to install than traditional solar panels, it is claimed.

A seasoned professional in alternative energy management, Van Ouytsel most recently served as VP of European sales & marketing for EMEA at Solar Integrated, an Energy Conversion Devices company. Over a seven-year period, he had profit and loss and sales responsibility for $40m in annual revenue.

“SoloPower is paving the way for the future of solar energy around the globe, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the company’s continued growth as we expand the possibilities of solar integration,” says Van Ouytsel, who is fluent in Dutch, German, English, and French. “We see great opportunity in Italy, Japan, the US, and around the world.”

Tags: SoloPower CIGS

Visit: www.SoloPower.com