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| Kyocera supplies solar modules for ETI  Kyocera Solar announced that it has supplied the solar modules for a solar electric generating facility at the Electrical Training Institute of Southern California, ETI, a higher education and advanced technology facility located near Los Angeles. With peak output rated at 457 kilowatts, and the capacity to provide close to 900,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, the facility is one of the largest privately owned solar power generating systems in the United States. Completed in April 2006, the solar electric system is operated jointly by the National Electrical Contractors Association, NECA, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW. It will generate 80% of the total electrical needs of the 144,000-square-foot ETI facility.The system will help power the ETI's classrooms, labs and office space, as well as the adjoining IBEW Local Union 11 and Pension Trust offices. The high annual energy output from the system reduces the Institute's consumption of fossil fuels, achieving fuel savings while protecting the environment. During peak energy production times, the NECA/IBEW 457 kilowatt power system will produce enough energy to surplus, causing power to flow out into the utility grid and in turn reduce the ETI's consumption and cost. The roof-mounted photovoltaic system is made up of two arrays, which together consist of 2,610 individual 175-watt Kyocera photovoltaic solar panels mounted on custom-designed galvanized steel and aluminum frames. The frames allow the modules to slope at 23 degrees from horizontal for optimal sun exposure. The arrays measure 18 feet from front to back, and are 10 feet in height. One of the two arrays consists of five rows of panels, with each row measuring 221 feet in length. The second array consists of three rows and measures 255 feet in length. The NECA and IBEW estimate the system to be among the 100 largest worldwide, and one of the ten largest in the U.S. that is owned by a private, non-utility organization. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |