Helios forms partnership for military solar contract

Helios Solar Works, a Milwaukee-based solar panel manufacturer that opened its doors in February, announced a new partnership with Arista Power Inc.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Arista makes wind turbines and renewable energy power storage and management systems. Arista also serves as a distributor for solar energy systems.
Arista will use Helios’ mono-crystalline solar modules in its products and supply them for solar energy system installations at military bases in Arkansas, New York and Virginia, said Brent Brucker, Helios general manager.
In return, Helios will direct energy storage projects to Arista.
“What we essentially signed was a supply agreement. It’s not a merger of any kind,” Brucker said. “We’re a natural fit, as we’re made in the U.S. and our sales are in the U.S. and we produce a high-quality mono-crystalline product.”
Brucker declined to comment on the financial terms of the deal.
“One of the major benefits of our high-performance modules is their flexibility, which makes it possible to design systems that satisfy a variety of needs, from residential, commercial and governmental applications,” said Steve Ostrenga, chief executive officer of Helios, in a statement. “We view this as a perfect fit with Arista Power’s products, which are scalable and can be adapted to serve a variety of markets. We are very pleased to enter into this relationship because we believe Arista Power’s expertise in energy storage combined with its ability to identify new and growing markets will lead to a rapidly growing business for both companies.”