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29 September 2010

 

One megawatt Solyndra rooftop PV system powers Frito-Lay's Modesto plant

Frito-Lay North America (PepsiCo's convenient foods business unit) has installed a cylindrical solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the rooftop of its plant in Modesto, CA, USA. Solyndra Inc of Fremont, CA, USA, which manufactures copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV systems consisting of panels and mounting hardware, supplied the one megawatt system and says it is its largest installation in the United States.

Completed in just eight weeks, the Frito-Lay project consists of approximately 5600 panels, covering 247,000 square feet. At peak production, Solyndra says that the system will reduce the plant's electricity use from outside sources by 25%, as well as reducing CO2 emissions by 1,000 metric tons per year.

"Frito-Lay is utilizing innovative technologies and renewable energy such as solar power to help minimize our impact on the environment," said Thomas Melead, technical manager, Frito-Lay Modesto. "The Solyndra PV system allows us to maximize one of California's greatest natural assets – the sun – to take some of the plant off of the electrical grid."

"Frito-Lay is a tremendous example of a corporation showing its commitment to sustainability by taking advantage of unused roof space to implement a powerful renewable energy system," said Brian Harrison, CEO of Solyndra. "They now have a large clean, quiet, emission-free power plant on their roof, making the sun a great additional ingredient in their products."

In addition to Solyndra Inc, the system was installed with the support of Panelized Structures, a Solyndra Certified Solutions Provider and Pacific Solar Energy.

See related items:

Solyndra to provide 16.2MW of PV systems to Southern California Edison

Search: Solyndra CIGS

Visit: www.solyndra.com

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