Surface Power enters solar heating market with U.S. ally

Surface Power and Solar Energy Initiatives partner to penetrate the multibillion dollar solar heating market

Unlike its competitors, Surface Power’s SP501 solar thermal collector is a direct flow nonmetal transfer solar collector designed for high water temperatures. Photo from Surface Power

Irish solar thermal company Surface Power has entered into a strategic partnership with Florida-based Solar Energy Initiatives that will enable it to penetrate the multibillion dollar solar heating and solar air conditioning market.

The partnership will center on the sale and distribution of Surface Power’s SP501 solar thermal collector for hot water, heating and solar air conditioning applications for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

"Our SP501 is the world’s most productive solar thermal collector per dollar invested and demonstrates excellent performance in all conditions, including Northern climates,” said John Quinn, chief executive of Surface Power.

The solar thermal collector was reportedly rigorously tested across a variety of climates, including those with high incidence of wind, rain and clouds. Unlike its competitors, the SP501 is a direct flow nonmetal transfer solar collector designed for high water temperatures, which can be used for both domestic hot water systems and heating and cooling, air conditioning and water treatment applications.

“Now, for the first time, the solar industry can offer solutions for large-scale commercial applications, including solar air-conditioning," Mr. Quinn exclaimed.

The first distribution hub will be based in South Carolina and will include solar training and large-scale commercial project demonstrations.

The collaboration between Surface Power and Solar Energy Initiatives Inc. (OTCBB:{yootooltip mode=[cursor] title=[SNRY]width=[556] display=[inline]}

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) was announced during a multicity Trade and Investment Mission to the United States, which was organized by Enterprise Ireland, the state agency in charge of the development and promotion of the indigenous Irish business sector.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said the investment mission brought contracts and agreements for new export sales valued at over 60 million euros ($80.3 million).

"Exporting success is critical to Ireland’s economic future and it is significant overseas sales by Irish companies that secure and create employment back home in Ireland. The United States is a critical market for Irish exporters, with over 600 Irish companies exporting to the United States and the United States accounting for over 20 percent of total exports from Ireland,” he added.

The mission also included two forums, one on green building, which focused on sharing Irish green construction experience with the United States’ sustainable building materials movement.

The other forum, entitled A Forum on Partnership for Growth in the Public Sector, focused on providing Irish company executives with ideas and strategies to bring added value to their existing partnerships with United States federal, state and local government entities.