Energy News  
Governor Schwarzenegger Showcases California Solar Solutions

Applied Materials' newly completed solar energy system at their Sunnyvale, Calif. research campus is one of the largest corporate solar power installations in the United States. (Photo: Business Wire)
by Staff Writers
Sunnyvale CA (SPX) Oct 10, 2008
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has dedicated the 2 megawatt solar power system at the Applied Materials campus in Sunnyvale, California, one of the largest corporate solar power installations in the United States. The Governor praised Applied's work in the solar industry after viewing the extensive parking lot-based solar array as well as a demonstration of the company's thin film solar technology.

"Applied Materials is a real California solar success story and they are demonstrating the potential of turning parking lots throughout the state into power plants at a time when we need innovative solutions to the growing energy crisis," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

"The panels in the system were manufactured by a California company on equipment provided by Applied Materials, another California company, and they take advantage of one of our state's most famous and abundant resources, the California sun."

"California has the best solar program in the United States thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger's vision," said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. "He has shown great leadership for the adoption of solar power in California through his Million Solar Roofs Plan and his support of the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), but we still have a long way to go as a state and as a country."

The Applied Materials solar system in Sunnyvale incorporates more than 7,000 wafer-based solar panels made by SunPower Corporation using Applied's Baccini Cell Systems, and is capable of generating approximately 2 megawatts of power each year.

The parking lot-mounted system tracks the sun to increase the efficiency of the panels while also serving as shade for several hundred employee cars. The solar power system is expected to prevent more than 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of approximately 450 passenger cars.

"This is the new face of solar power, parking lots becoming power plants and solar panels incorporated into the middle of our urban landscape," continued Splinter.

"Solar is a tremendous economic development opportunity for our state and our country and with the support of leaders like the Governor we have the opportunity to make solar a truly meaningful part of our energy supply."

The Governor also viewed a working, SunFab thin film solar panel, the largest commercially-available solar panel in the world. Applied demonstrated how a single Applied SunFab thin film production line, operating at full capacity, can produce enough panels for an installation the size of Applied's Sunnyvale system in about eight days.

As an example of how manufacturing scale can change the industry and dramatically increase the availability of solar panels, Applied also showed how a gigawatt-scale SunFab factory with multiple production lines could produce the required number of panels in about one day.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Applied Materials' solar energy system
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Solrayo Awarded Major Clean Energy Grant From State Of Wisconsin
Valencia CA (SPX) Oct 10, 2008
Enable IPC has announced that its efficient energy-focused subsidiary SolRayo has been awarded a $250,000 clean energy grant by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. SolRayo received the grant as part of a $7.3 million distribution of state grants and loans for clean energy projects that the Governor announced in conjunction with his Clean Energy Wisconsin program, to be distributed by the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund (WEIF).







  • Ethiopia signs deal for largest wind farm in Africa
  • Ethanol Buzz Fuels Planning By Colonial Pipeline Company
  • Horizon Wind Energy Inaugurates 13th Wind Farm In The USA
  • Thermoelectric Materials Could Boost Energy Efficiency

  • Lithuania to vote on delaying EU-agreed nuclear shutdown
  • Hungary inaugurates first stage of nuclear waste disposal facility
  • German power giant to run Bulgarian nuclear plant: ministry
  • Rice in India, but no signature for nuclear pact

  • Measuring The Weight Of Ancient Air
  • On Rocky Mountain Beetle Kill Could Impact Regional Air Quality
  • An Explanation For Night-Shining Clouds At The Edge Of Space
  • Seabird Ammonia Emissions Contribute To Atmospheric Acidity

  • Rainforest dwellers caught between business, green groups
  • Consensus takes form on forests and climate change
  • Wetlands Restoration Not A Panacea For Louisiana Coast
  • Campaign Launched To Re-Forest America

  • Milk safety checks tightened in China, but inspectors scarce
  • China reluctant to reveal tainted milk figures
  • China sets limits for melamine in milk
  • Hebrew University Scientists Enhance The Scent Of Flowers

  • France's Renault, EDF plug into electric car market
  • France targets more clean cars
  • Pepco Energy Services Supplies Natural Gas For WMATA's Energy-Efficient Buses
  • Quantum Ships New Generation Hybrid Electric Vehicles To US Army

  • Researchers Scientists Perform High Altitude Experiments
  • Airbus expecting 'large' China order by early 2009: CEO
  • Airbus globalises production with China plant
  • Safer Skies For The Flying Public



  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement