Solar array manufacturing start-up Skyline Solar announced Thursday it has made a deal with auto-parts manufacturer Cosmo International to build its frames, racks, and reflectors.

(Photo: Skyline's high gain solar arrays installed at a San Jose, Calif., pilot project. Credit: Skyline Solar)

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cosmo, a unit of Magna International that includes 37 manufacturing plants, is known for making auto body parts and chassis for the automotive industry. Its fabrications include the door frame for the Mercedes M-Class, the tailgate for the Dodge Dakota, the hood of the BMW X3, and an "advanced high strength steel bumper assembly" for the Volkswagen Passat.

While the announcement is a "rust belt to green belt" example of how the U.S. can turn around its failing manufacturing economy with a refocus on green technology, the deal is not necessarily a bellwether.

Skyline Solar is uniquely suited to a partnership with a company that employs skilled sheet metal workers. In addition to the frames and mounting systems, its solar arrays are, in fact, made of bent sheet metal used to reflect sunlight on to a silicon collector containing monocrystalline silicon cells.

The solar start-up, based in Mountain View, Calif., which in addition to private funding has received $3 million in grant money from the U.S. Department of Energy, purposely designed its solar systems to be auto-manufacturing friendly.

Skyline announced its unique HGS architecture in May 2009, followed shortly by the completion of the company’s first demonstration plant with the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority in San Jose, California. The company has since been focused on optimizing the design of its first generation HGS system, while finalizing manufacturing and supplier agreements with key partners. The company expects final product to begin shipping during the current calendar quarter.

“This is an exciting day for Skyline Solar as we pass another significant milestone for the company,” said Bob MacDonald, CEO and co-founder of Skyline. “In less than twelve months, we have moved from our initial fundraising to commercial production of the first generation HGS system. We are proud to be manufacturing our system with Cosma, helping to take advantage of Cosma’s manufacturing expertise and available manufacturing capacity previously utilized by the automotive industry.”

Source: Skyline Solar

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