Grape Solar expands into Arizona

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Ocean Yuan, CEO Grape Solar

Grape Solar, the Eugene company that aims to become the Wal-Mart of the solar industry, continued its cross-country march Tuesday with the news that it will partner with Arizona Green Voltage Group to enter the Arizona market.

Grape Solar will be GVG’s exclusive supplier of solar kits for residential projects over the next two years in Arizona. In turn, GVG will be Grape Solar's exclusive Arizona dealer.

Grape Solar specializes in low-priced photovoltaic kits that use Chinese parts assembled in the United States. The kits deliver solar energy at a price of $2.79 per watt.

The Arizona announcement is the latest in a series of partnerships announced by Grape Solar. Last month, the company announced it was forming a Canada-based consortium of solar manufacturers in order to gain entry into the Canadian market.

Earlier in the year, Grape Solar announced distribution-related deals in the Mid-Atlantic, South America and the Southern United States.

In the press announcement, Grape Solar CEO Ocean Yuan said, "This partnership with GVG allows Grape Solar to expand our distribution of Grape Solar branded panels and kits and reach Arizona residential markets we would not otherwise be able to address."

Grape Solar also announced Tuesday that its product line received certification from the Florida Solar Energy Center, which provides the company a new way to reach Florida consumers.