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GreenMountain Engineering Launches GreenTools™ Division
With New Solar Cell Testing Device

Customizable solutions will help research and pilot production facilities improve performance

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA — (Renewable Energy Access) — October 17, 2006 — Today at the Solar Power 2006 conference, GreenMountain Engineering announced a new initiative to develop equipment and components for research and manufacturing facilities, beginning with the release of a solar cell tester.  The equipment developed by GreenTools will be customizable for use in both development and manufacturing environments.

Dr. Stephen Shea, a photovoltaics specialist with over 30 years of experience in the industry who recently joined GreenMountain’s team, has observed that “I often see companies with new technologies who can’t find equipment to meet their needs.  It is difficult to source equipment that is fully customized for each PV application, and companies can spend a lot of money on top of the initial capital costs in order to get the performance they need.”  He also added that “GreenTools is clearly filling a need, particularly considering the size of the investments the industry is making in R&D and manufacturing.”

GreenMountain Engineering is a consultancy specializing in providing electromechanical design and analysis services to companies in clean energy industries.  The new group will build on GreenMountain’s service offerings to provide easily customizable equipment to a broader customer base.  While GreenTools devices will ultimately be developed for other clean energy industries, the initial focus will be on photovoltaics manufacturing.  “The solar industry is growing very fast and there is still plenty of room for improvement of the tools base,” said Jon Guice, VP of Business Development at GreenMountain, “GreenTools leverages the firm’s expertise to create equipment that addresses issues that we see across manufacturers.”

GreenMountain Senior Engineer Eric Johnson added that, “Although each company is developing unique technologies they all have a common need for certain devices. New solar manufacturers often find themselves in the awkward transition from lab to factory longer than they planned and ‘development-only’ tools are stretched to their limits. Our idea is to make this transition easier with extensible solutions that include base hardware and allow for client-specific customization.”

The equipment GreenTools develops will be made available through licensing directly to manufacturers and through equipment suppliers.  The first commercially available device developed by GreenTools is an automated I-V tester, a device for measuring the electrical characteristics and performance of solar cells.  The test station provides the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of cell designs.  This design is ideal for research facilities and others that have rapidly changing requirements. This product will be provided to beta-site partners in early 2007.

About GreenMountain Engineering, LLC
GreenMountain Engineering is a consulting firm specializing in innovative clean technology product design and manufacturing development. The firm’s solar power practice—with clients such as SunPower Corporation, Evergreen Solar and SolFocus—encompasses the entire supply chain, from fundamental technologies and cells to modules and systems.  GreenMountain also works in such industries as water purification, medical devices, environmental nanotechnology, energy efficiency, biofuels and wind power.  GreenMountain Offices are in San Francisco and near Boston in Waltham, Massachussetts.

For more information, press only:
Jennifer Coyle, 415-979-9794 ext. 122
News@GreenMountainEngineering.com

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