Solar Activity | Green Energy News

March 14, 2004 – Vol.8 No.51

SOLAR ACTIVITY.

Corporations are always proud to attach the impressive title of Largest to their operations and activities.

Two solar projects from PowerLight announced this week come with that honor attached.

The 675 kilowatt, 60,000 square foot solar installation atop the Moscone Center in San Francisco is claimed by PowerLight to be the largest city-owned solar system in the United States.

Owned and operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the solar array is part of San Francisco’s long term Electricity Resource plan that will build more renewable energy capacity for the city.

The solar installation was in conjunction with energy efficiency improvements to the building, including new building controls and the installation of energy-efficient lighting. The solar system, too, since it covers a large expanse of roof also acts as an additional layer of insulation to reduce heating and cooling load on the building as well as providing protection of the roofing material beneath it.

The other PowerLight Largest announced this week was the 215 kilowatt solar system atop the headquarters building of YourVitamins in Henderson, Nevada. The system is the largest solar system in that state.

The system, which covers 23,000 square feet, also adds the same insulating value and roof protection as the Moscone installation. Visit PowerLight at http://www.powerlight.com/ .

United Solar Ovonic claims its 30-megawatt production equipment for manufacturing thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells is the Largest of its type in the world. (No doubt there.)

United Solar Ovonic has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin to develop and manufacture triple-junction solar cells on flexible polymer substrates for use on an airship (a blimp) Lockheed Martin is building under the High Altitude Airship (HAA) program of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

The nonrigid airship will be controlled by four electrically powered, vector propulsion pods energized by a solar regenerative battery-based power system. Uni-Solar Ovonic thin-film photovoltaics will be bonded to the airship’s flexible skin.

The airship, expected to be at least 500 feet long and 150 feet in diameter, will be used for undisclosed proposes. (The U.S. government has been investigating methods to monitor the nation’s borders. The airship, with its regenerative power, could loiter unmanned under remote control for long periods of time in the stratosphere

Under U.S. Missile Defense Agency requirements the airship, with a 4000 pound payload, must be able to stay aloft for at least a month at an altitude of 65,000 feet with 10-kilowatts of power available for propulsion and electronics. Visit United Solar Ovonic at http://www.uni-solar.com/ .