Platronics, an audio-headset factory in Tijuana, Mexico, is now home to the largest, privately owned roof-mounted solar installation in Latin America. The 1.16-MW system features solar panels, racking and system engineering from SolarWorld.
The project is SolarWorld’s second at a Plantronics facility. In 2011, the headset manufacturer installed 608 kW of the company’s roof-mounted and carport-mounted solar arrays at its headquarters in Santa Cruz, Calif.
“As a company with business ties to Latin America dating back more than 30 years, SolarWorld has long understood that solar power is an essential part of the region’s energy mix,” says Mukesh Dulani, U.S. president of SolarWorld.
(Photo: Business Wire)
“Being responsible with the environment is not a luxury, it is a commitment,” adds César López, director of government relations for Plantronics Tijuana. “As part of that commitment, it was important to us to select SolarWorld solar panels and racking, which are manufactured according to the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability.”
Developed and installed by 3Tek Solar, a solar integrator based in Tijuana, the system is composed of 4,284 high-performance SolarWorld solar panels. About 1.14 MW of those panels are mounted on the factory’s industrial metal-seam roof using SolarWorld’s Sunfix Plus racking product. An additional 20 kW are installed atop a covered walkway at the factory’s entrance. The system also features SMA Sunny Central inverters.
“Industrial building design is all about maximizing long-term operations by reducing energy costs and managing natural resources,” says Hector Montoya, director of 3Tek Solar.
The installation is expected to produce 1.9 GWh of renewable energy each year. The power output will offset about 70% of Plamex’s energy needs at the Tijuana plant and save nearly 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide.
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