Largest Solar Project in a National Park, Yosemite, Features SolarWorld Solar Panels in Three Formats

Showcasing the work of U.S. tradesmen and factories, the 672-kilowatt project at the parks administrative and maintenance center comprises a 500-kilowatt parking canopy offering cover for center employees and visitors; a 100-kilowatt roof-mount system atop a warehouse; and a 72-kilowatt system on a sloped wall of an office building. Each is composed of SolarWorld 240-watt mono-crystalline silicon solar panels made in Hillsboro, Ore., site of the companys U.S. headquarters, and Camarillo, Calif., home of the longest-running U.S. solar factory. The park estimates the solar installation will supply about 12 percent of the parks total power consumption.

The combination of harnessing Californias abundant sunlight and technology and labor provided by U.S. workers ideally suits this energy advance for Yosemite National Park, Superintendent Don Neubacher said. Solar panels from SolarWorld, along with the contributions of a number of other U.S.-based service firms and manufacturing enterprises, will maximize the sustainable impact on this effort to not only take care of the park but stretch the planets resources.

SolarWorld authorized installer Suntrek Industries Inc., based in Irvine, Calif., undertook the installation along the scenic Merced River. The park is known for granite formations, such as Half Dome and El Capitan, that legendary photographer Ansel Adams indelibly captured. This project was about protecting an amazing national park, said Alex Smith, project manager for Suntrek. What better way to protect the park than with solar energy?

Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas, said the company, many of whose U.S. employees date back to the early years of domestic solar manufacturing, couldnt be prouder to supply solar panels to help operate a jewel in the crown of the U.S. park system. This project will go down as a magical milestone for us, Kilkelly said.

About SolarWorld

SolarWorld is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems of all sizes, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. The groups largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany, and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs about 3,800 people.