Open Energy Corporation, a renewable energy company focused on delivering building integrated photovoltaic solutions, announced on 25 September 2008 that it has completed its largest solar electric in…
Open Energy Corporation, a renewable energy company focused on delivering building integrated photovoltaic solutions, announced on 25 September 2008 that it has completed its largest solar electric installation. The project features 720 4 x 6-ft glass panels embedded with photovoltaic cells and was designed especially for the California Academy of Sciences by Open Energy, and manufactured by Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., one of the world“s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic cells and modules. The panels will be arranged in a solar canopy around the Academy“s 197,000 sq.ft. roof and will be one of the largest photovoltaic glass canopies in the US. The solar installation will be a key factor in the Academy“s attempt to achieve LEED Platinum certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U. S. Green Building Council. The California Academy of Sciences will be one of the greenest museums ever constructed, and our goal is to achieve LEED Platinum certification, said Ari Harding, the Building Management Systems specialist at the Academy. The Open Energy solar panels are important in helping us reach that goal, since energy efficiency is one of the criteria on which the building will be judged. The Starphire Ultra Clear Glass for the project was provided by PPG Industries. The solar cells will generate 213,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year, providing up to 10% of the Academy“s electricity need and preventing the release of 405,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions into the air. The system is already in the operational phase and has provided approximately 850 kilowatt-hours of energy per day for the last month. David Field, President of Open Energy, added, We are proud that innovative designers, architects, builders and institutions such as the California Academy of Sciences have selected Open Energy as their photovoltaic solution provider. We believe that Renzo Piano“s inspiring architecture and commitment to environmentally superior design is a testament to not only the energy efficiency of our systems, but our ability to tailor a solar energy solution to meet each customer“s unique structural, aesthetic and performance requirements. The Open Energy solar solution for the California Academy of Sciences was installed by PermaSteelisa, the company“s glass faade partner.