FedEx Unveils California's Largest Corporate Solar-Power Installation
FedEx Corp. recently activated California's largest corporate solar-power installation at its hub at Oakland International Airport. The solar-power installation will fuel 80 percent of the hub facility's energy needs, substituting the sun for fossil fuel and other sources of electricity.
FedEx Corp. recently activated California's largest corporate solar-power installation at its hub at Oakland International Airport. The solar-power installation will fuel 80 percent of the hub facility's energy needs, substituting the sun for fossil fuel and other sources of electricity. At peak output, the system will produce the equivalent of power used by more than 900 homes during the daytime. In addition to generating electricity, the solar panels help insulate the buildings, reducing heating and cooling costs.
The system will reduce demand on the utility grid and will serve as an additional source of power capacity to benefit businesses and residents of California. During periods when the energy generated by the system is greater than is needed to power the facility, the surplus energy will be transferred into the utility grid for general use.
Berkeley-based PowerLight Corporation, a leading manufacturer and supplier of large-scale solar electric systems and energy efficiency services designed and built the system.
To power the facility, FedEx Express flew more than 300,000 Sharp solar cells from Japan to a Sharp facility in Memphis, where they were installed into 5,769 photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The 904-kilowatt system encompasses virtually the entire 81,000 square foot area of roof across the facility's two buildings.
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