This type of photovoltaic power plant above an existing patrking lot is a model that can be replicated many thousands of times over across North America, and may even provide plug-in outlets to power the next generation of electric cars.
Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) and SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR) today announced completion of two SunPower solar power systems totaling 2.1 megawatts at Applied Materials' corporate facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. The systems represent the largest solar power deployment at a corporate facility in the United States.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080919/AQF026)
"This is an exciting milestone in the adoption of solar power in
California," said Mike Splinter, President and CEO of Applied Materials (AMAT). "More companies are realizing the wisdom of integrating solar as a non-intrusive, clean, silent form of energy generation into our businesses and communities. We've converted our parking lots to power plants and we encourage others to join us in making solar power a meaningful part of the energy supply."
The system includes a 950 kilowatt SunPower PowerGuard(R) installation and a 1.2 megawatt SunPower(R) Tracker installation atop an elevated parking canopy. The SunPower Tracker follows the sun as it moves across the sky, increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems. Both systems use SunPower solar panels, the most efficient panels available on the market today. SunPower uses Applied Materials' Baccini technology in its solar cell manufacturing process.
Since the first phase of installation in November 2007, Applied reports
that its solar installation has generated 1,413 megawatt hours of power. The system is expected to replace more than 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from approximately 450 passenger cars.
"Applied Materials has joined the ranks of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Air Force in recognizing the value of solar as a mechanism for reducing exposure to volatile electric rates and promoting energy independence through the use of clean, renewable solar power," said Tom Werner, chief executive officer of SunPower.
Applied's investment is supported by the federal investment tax credit
(ITC) that encourages deployment of renewable energy systems across the
U.S. Due to expire at the end of 2008, Congress is now considering
legislation to extend the ITC.
"Congratulations to the leadership in the U.S. Senate for their efforts
to forge a bipartisan agreement on a long-term extension of the ITC,"
continued Werner. "According to a new study from Navigant Consulting, an
eight-year extension of the ITC would result in the creation of more than
1.2 million job opportunities and $232 billion in investment in the solar
energy sector."
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