DuPont is expanding its use of solar energy with the completion of a new 8-acre, 1.3 megawatt (MW) solar array at its Parlin, N.J., manufacturing facility. The array will be operated by Tangent Energy Solutions, an energy company that specializes in developing and integrating clean generation assets into the complex energy systems of commercial and industrial companies. The installation is designed to generate approximately 1,684,170 kilowatt hours (kWh) in its first year of operation, roughly equivalent to the electrical demand of 145 average U.S. households. This brings the total solar energy generated from the 10 existing DuPont solar installations to more than 3 MW, helping further the company’s aim to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels.
 DuPont recently expanded its use of solar energy with a new 1.3 MW photovoltaic array at its Parlin, N.J., facility. Photo courtesy of DuPont. |
“DuPont has been a leading materials supplier to the photovoltaics industry for more than 30 years, and we are growing fast as a consumer of solar power,” saidDavid B. Miller, president, DuPont Electronics & Communications. “Solar is becoming increasingly more competitive with other sources of electricity, in part due to advanced materials that improve efficiency, lifetime and lower overall system costs. Collaborations with companies like Tangent also are key to the success of solar and we’re pleased to have worked with them on this project.”
At 1.3 megawatts direct current (DC), the new installation at Parlin is the largest solar array on a DuPont manufacturing site in North America. The system features more than 7,250 thin film solar modules manufactured by DuPont Apollo, a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont and a leading photovoltaic company specializing in reliable, high performance and high quality silicon-based thin film photovoltaic technology. DuPont Apollo has enabled utility-scale projects across the globe, including the largest thin film solar farms in India and one of the largest thin film solar farms in Thailand.
The DuPont Apollo modules at Parlin are made with DuPont materials, including DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride film-based backsheet. Tedlar® provides photovoltaic modules with superior protection against the elements beyond their expected 25-year lifetime. Under normal, as well as extreme, ultraviolet and damp heat exposure, Tedlar® film-based backsheets have been proven to resist delamination, yellowing and degradation that compromise other backsheet materials.
“As the leading supplier of materials to the solar industry, DuPont could choose anyone to integrate solar energy into their own facilities,” said Dean Musser, president and CEO of Tangent Energy. “We are proud DuPont consistently relies on Tangent to meet their rigorous safety, operational and economic standards and we look forward to working together on future installations.”
Laurel Capital Partners, an ongoing project financing partner for Tangent Energy, funded development of the project with First Niagara Bank. Under its first U.S. solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), DuPont will purchase 100 percent of the electricity generated by the photovoltaic system. Tangent Energy Solutions, who negotiated the PPA with DuPont, will operate the array going forward.
Tangent Energy Solutions reverses the traditional utility-driven approach to developing the smart grid by partnering with commercial and industrial customers to optimize the “grid behind the meter.” By providing clean energy assets and technologies at no capital cost, Tangent saves Commercial & Industrial (C&I) energy customers 20 percent+ while increasing the amount of renewable content in their supply. Tangent actively manages on-site assets to decrease a customer’s reliance on grid-sourced energy, especially during peak demand periods. Tangent was founded in 2009 by a management team that has been providing commercially successful energy innovations to mainstream C&I customers for 30 years. www.tangentenergy.com.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.
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 solar array at its Parlin, N.J., manufacturing facility. The array will be operated…){kind=link}