by Ann Withanee — November 9, 2011—SunDurance Energy and its project partners, Kyocera Solar and Solaire Generation, announce the completion of a 300 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) system for The University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in downtown Dallas. The project was chosen as the official “Technology Project Tour” for the Solar Power International Conference held in October in Dallas.
UT Southwestern Medical Center joins a growing number of organizations that are turning to solar carports to maximize energy efficiency and the use of existing space. Indeed, the installation of solar carports is making inroads in many areas of the country, bringing sustainability and eco-values to play while increasing the value of the real estate the solar carports shield—usually to the delight and comfort of those who return to their parked cars no longer feeling as though they’re entering a blast furnace.
SunDurance Energy’s design incorporates 1,250 Kyocera KD240 240-watt multi-crystalline solar modules, mounted on Solaire Generation’s Solairis solar carports covering 116 parking spaces. The solar parking canopies will produce an estimated 415,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and will provide much-needed shade and protection for vehicles.
The PV system took only 11 weeks to install. Said UT Southwestern vice president for facilities management, “We are delighted to partner with our selected PV professionals to create a solar power solution for the University that will lower our energy expenses while at the same time advance our ecological efforts by harnessing a renewable energy source to shrink our carbon footprint.”
Said Al Bucknam, CEO of SunDurance Energy, “The parking canopy application avoids the potential complications that can come with aging or cluttered rooftops, adds incremental economic value by lowering the University’s energy spending, and provides some vehicle coverage from sun and rain.”
Kyocera notes that it holds the distinction of producing the world’s first modules to have passed the Long-Term Sequential Test performed by TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd. For this installation Kyocera provided U.S.-made solar modules that meet the “Buy American” procurement provisions. The products were manufactured in Kyocera’s San Diego facility.
