Suniva Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules, announced that its high-powered Optimus modules are powering the Michigan Army National Guard’s Ft. Custer.
As part of President Obama’s executive order for military installations to generate 25% of their electrical power from renewable sources by 2025, Ft. Custer has installed a high-powered solar system. The Suniva panels were procured from AEE Solar by general contractor L.D. Dosca, and installed by Four Elements Energy Inc. The power produced will offset about 6% of the National Guard’s energy consumption. Discussions to build a second phase are underway.
“Partnering with an American solar manufacturer like Suniva is important for us. It enables mandated government projects to be fulfilled using a high-quality, high-power product such as Suniva’s Optimus panels,”said Art Toy, president of Four Elements Energy Inc.
“The Michigan National Guard is excited to bring this renewable energy project online; the first of many on our path to energy security and self-sufficiency,” said Brigadier General Michael A. Stone, Michigan Army National Guard. “This makes Fort Custer more competitive.”
“It’s rewarding to see our Optimus modules at another US Military site,”said Matt Card, vice president of global sales and marketing of Suniva. “With such a large segment of our employee base being veterans, it’s always meaningful when we can be of service to our nation’s military. We continue to receive strong interest in solar throughout the state of Michigan.”
