SAN JOSE, USA: Power Integrations, a leader in high-voltage ICs for energy-efficient power conversion, has powered up a $3.6-million solar array at its San Jose headquarters in the Edenvale Technology Park.
Capping off a six-month installation, the company will host a special “powering on” event today to be attended by notable local officials including US Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Ash Kalra, as well as Silicon Valley Leadership Group President and CEO Carl Guardino.
The photovoltaic installation includes more than 2,500 solar panels covering a 44,448-square-foot parking lot. At 600 kilowatts, the system is among the 10 largest solar facilities in Silicon Valley. The installation will fully power one of Power Integrations’ two buildings, which houses more than 100 employees and the company’s chip-testing operation, as well as all parking-lot lights at the company’s headquarters.
The project is expected to cut more than 10,000 tons of greenhouse-gas emissions over the next 25 years, an amount equivalent to the emissions caused by roughly 20 million miles of car travel. In addition, the installation’s smart design covers 280 parking spots, providing shade for employees’ cars. A real-time data feed showing current and cumulative energy production from the array can be found on Power Integrations’ corporate sustainability website.
“Power Integrations is a great example of how Silicon Valley companies are embracing clean tech innovation,” said City of San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. “Between the company’s own line of energy-efficient products and its expansive new solar installation, Power Integrations is playing a key role in helping San Jose achieve its Green Vision goals.”
“For more than a decade, Power Integrations’ EcoSmart™ technology has drastically reduced ‘standby’ power waste in electronic products, saving consumers and businesses more than $4 billion and preventing millions of tons of CO2 emissions,” said Balu Balakrishnan, president and CEO of Power Integrations.
“As a socially responsible company, we saw an opportunity to make a profound impact on our own energy consumption by using renewable solar energy to power our operations. We are very proud of this project, which effectively takes an entire building off the grid, and will reduce our energy bills enough to pay for itself in just 12 years.”
“Power Integrations’ solar-power installation not only represents a significant advancement in the development of sustainable energy, but is further proof of the synergy created when the ingenuity of forward-thinking companies like Power Integrations is combined with San Jose’s commitment to fostering the development of cutting-edge green technology,” said Councilmember Ash Kalra.
Three companies teamed on the project. Solar Technologies of Santa Cruz performed system design. Atlas Pellizzari Electric oversaw the construction of the project, along with Legacy Roofing for installation; both are established Bay Area businesses. The solar panels were manufactured in Memphis, Tenn. by Sharp Electronics.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.