Sharp, the world’s leading provider of solar cells, has provided solar
modules for the largest commercial solar electricity system in the U.S. to date,
recently installed at Google’s corporate headquarters in Mountain View,
California. In addition to roof-mounted arrays, the system also features a new
structure that encompasses two carports under which employees can park – and if
they drive a plug-in hybrid, recharge – their cars.
“Sharp shares a common goal with Google, which is to create products and
technologies that benefit society and improve consumers’ lives,” said Ron
Kenedi, vice president of Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group. “With this
system, Google is setting an example for other corporations as to the tremendous
environmental and financial benefits of solar energy. But even more so, Google
is demonstrating that solar electricity is just like regular electricity, and it
can power anything – from computers and copiers to servers and hybrid electric
cars.”
Sharp provided 9,212 208-watt modules for the project, which was designed and
installed by EI Solutions of San Rafael, California. The 1.6-megawatt system is
designed to feed into Google’s overall operations, reducing the amount of
electricity the company purchases from its local utility. The system utilizes
almost all available roof space on the Googleplex campus.
To continue spreading the message that solar electricity is no different than
electricity from a utility, Sharp is currently in the midst of a unique
awareness campaign that is designed to demystify solar electricity for
consumers. Components of this “Hello Sunshine” campaign appear in newspaper ads,
internet search results and web page banners – even a colorful education trailer
that is traveling from town to town throughout California this summer to
increase awareness and understanding of solar electricity.
Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group is a unit of Sharp Electronics
Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Sharp is
the world market leader in solar panel production, and offers both standard and
integrated roof modules for residential and commercial applications. Sharp also
is the U.S. market leader and maintains solar panel assembly operations at its
manufacturing facility in Memphis, TN. The solar manufacturing facility
assembles a variety of panels for residential and commercial installations.
Further information on Sharp’s commitment to solar energy, its product line,
and the ways in which Sharp makes it easy to go solar is available online at www.solar.sharpusa.com, while
information on the “Hello Sunshine” campaign can be found at www.hellosunshineCA.com.
