United Solar has announced that the design, installation and commissioning of a 2.6 MW solar energy system on the roof top of Boeing's new assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner jet in North Charleston, South Carolina, has been completed by Baker Renewable Energy.
United Solar is a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices and is a manufacturer of UNI-SOLAR flexible and lightweight solar modules. Photovoltaic laminates manufactured by United Solar were used for this Boeing solar project. Baker Renewable Energy is a provider of green building and renewable energy strategies.
The 2.6 MW solar energy project is one among the largest solar installations on rooftops in the USA. United Solar laminates were bonded to the membrane roof of the Boeing assembly plant. The energy generated is expected to exceed 3,950 MWh annually, and will be sufficient to provide power for about 870 residences. The project is anticipated to offset a part of the 3,660 t of carbon dioxide and the usage of the building. The Boeing plant commenced operations in July and the first 787 Dreamliner that is to be built is expected to fly in 2012.
The CEO of ECD, Julian Hawkins, stated that UNI-SOLAR PV laminates were ultra-lightweight, non-reflective and suitable for building integration. They are ideal for situations where low glare, lightweight and low profile solar solutions are required, he said.
Baker Renewable Energy’s Executive VP, Jason Epstein, stated that the various phases of the solar project - design, installation and commissioning - happened according to their plan. The company had partnered with SCANA to execute the solar project, he added.
Source: http://www.uni-solar.com/