Solar Energy to Power Alcoa’s Kawneer Facility in California (U.S.A.)

Sep 3rd 2007
Tags: Uncategorized

United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices Inc., (ECD) (NASDAQ:ENER) , announced the installation of more than 4,300 of UNI-SOLAR(R) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) laminates to power Alcoa’s Building and Construction Systems’ Kawneer manufacturing facility in Visalia, California. The UNI-SOLAR laminates will provide approximately 80 percent of the 200,000 square-foot facility’s electricity needs during periods of highest demand on the electricity grid.

“This is another important illustration of the potential of UNI-SOLAR products in large- scale commercial installations,” said Subhendu Guha, president and chief operating officer of United Solar Ovonic. “These installations benefit our customers, and they benefit the environment. We are gratified to help lead the growing movement toward the increased use of renewable sources of energy.”

“UNI-SOLAR panels were a good fit for this particular project,” said David Schlendorf, president, Alcoa Building and Construction Systems.

Schlendorf continued, “This solar power project increases California’s supply of clean and reliable renewable energy. Alcoa is committed to implementing sustainable energy solutions and is dedicated to supporting alternative energy supply options that benefit our key stakeholders – including our employees, communities, customers and suppliers.”

Alcoa partnered on the project with DEERS, a global solar power project developer and owner of the DEERS Solution(TM), the patent pending solar roof top attachment system, and Constellation Energy Projects & Services (CEPS), which constructed and will own and operate the solar system. Alcoa agreed to host the new solar power system and purchase the electricity generated.

The Alcoa project is owned and operated by Constellation Energy Projects & Services, which is currently developing and constructing several solar photo-voltaic projects – similar to the size and scope of the Alcoa project – in the United States.

(Ed.: As wise an investment as this is, there would be a bigger affect on the reduction of GreenHouse Gas and a faster payback for Alcoa’s Building and Construction Systems’ plant if the electricity from solar energy were employed more often than only at times of peak demand. Perhaps the decision makers at Alcoa are holding off employing solar energy generation full time, until it proves out to be a reliable alternative to their usual source of the electric energy. In any event, Alcoa is doing their share to combat Global Warming/Climate Change and after payback, will save the firm from buying 80 percent of the electricity needed to operate that plant. I doubt that there is a more sustainable energy source than solar energy.)

About United Solar Ovonic

United Solar Ovonic, building on technology invented and pioneered by ECD, is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. Because of characteristics unique to the United Solar Ovonic solar cell technology, such as lightweight, ruggedness and flexibility, it is ideal as building-integrated photo-voltaic roofing systems for residential and industrial customers. ECD and United Solar Ovonic hold the basic patents covering the continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing of thin-film amorphous-silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products.

For more information, please visit their website: http://www.uni-solar.com.

Source for this post: United Solar Ovonic

Web site: http://www.uni-solar.com/