Solar Field to Power Chevrolet Volt Assembly Plant
The largest photovoltaic solar array in Southeast Michigan will be built at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, turning sunlight into electricity to help power the home of the Chevrolet Volt electric car.
The 516-kilowatt project, announced by GM and DTE Energy, will generate electricity capable of charging 150 of the electric cars with extended-range capability every day for a year – a total of 54,750 Volts.
The 264,000-square-foot project is expected to be completed at the end
of the summer and will save the facility approximately $15,000 per year
over the 20-year easement agreement. The Detroit-Hamtramck facility was
chosen because it has available space for the array and because it is
home to the Volt.
“This array will significantly decrease energy consumption by combining
solar power with ongoing efficiency tactics such as lighting and
equipment upgrades and automating equipment shut-down,” said Bob
Ferguson, vice president of GM Public Policy. “Making sustainable
choices is good for both the environment and our bottom line. Obviously
cost savings is critical for GM, and the ability to save $15,000 per
year while being environmental serves us well.”
The Detroit-Hamtramck installation is part of DTE Energy’s SolarCurrents
pilot that calls for enough photovoltaic systems to be installed on
customer property or rooftops during the next five years to generate 15
megawatts of electricity throughout Southeast Michigan. DTE is investing
$3 million in the array at Detroit-Hamtramck.
“Our partnership with GM is another example of how our companies work to
build a more energy-efficient and sustainable future,” said Trevor
Lauer, Detroit Edison vice president, Marketing & Renewables. “Our
SolarCurrents program was designed to increase the demand for renewable
technologies in Michigan, and it is our hope that installations like
this one do exactly that.”
DTE Energy and GM will build the array on a six-acre tract of land
located on the south side of the plant. This placement allows it to face
true South to maximize solar output.
The array will complement other green activities at the plant, which was
recently named a Michigan Clean Corporate Citizen for its commitment to
the environment. Environmentalism is evident by a 16.5 acre certified
wildlife habitat on the site and the voluntary installation of an
oxidizer that greatly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide and carbon
monoxide released into the atmosphere. In addition, efficient lighting
upgrades and other energy efficiency projects will save the plant nearly
$3 million per year in energy costs.
GM is one of the leading users of renewable energy in the manufacturing
sector, deriving energy for manufacturing operations from solar, hydro,
and landfill gas resources. In the United States alone, 1.4 percent of
GM energy consumption comes from renewable resources.
“We strive to reduce the impact our facilities have on the environment,
and Detroit-Hamtramck continues to make progress in sustainability,”
said Ferguson.
Content provided by www.gm.com/.
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