Alcoa Building and Construction Systems (Pittsburgh) announced that its subsidiary, Kawneer North America, has started operating a 580,0000-watt, roof-mounted photovoltaic solar power system at its manufacturing facility in Visalia, Calif.
The power generated by more than 4,300 Uni-Solar thin film solar panels will provide approximately 80% of the 200,000-square-foot facility’s electricity needs, according to Alcoa. In addition, more than 200 solar light tubes will supplement the artificial lighting in the facility with day lighting.
Alcoa partnered on the project with Deers, a solar power project developer, and Constellation Energy Projects and Services, which constructed the solar power system and will own and operate it. Alcoa agreed to host the new power system and purchase the electricity generated.
Kawneer is a producer of architectural aluminum products for the commercial construction industry.
Alcoa adds that it is currently evaluating similar solar power opportunities at other facilities.
