Kyocera Solar’s PV modules were used in two separate carport projects located at The University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas and at San Diego State University. Kyocera partnered with SunDurance Energy and Solaire Generation to complete the 300kW PV system at UT’s medical centre, which was installed in 11 weeks.
Kyocera supplied 1,250 of its KD240 240W multicrystalline solar modules for the project, which were mounted on Solaire’s Solairis solar carports and cover 116 parking spaces. It is estimated that the project will provide 415,000kWh of electricity per year.
At San Diego State University (SDSU), Kyocera provided 1,680 of its KD240 solar modules for the 355.9kW project, which is mounted on a carport structure on a campus parking building. Independent Energy Solutions designed and constructed the utility-tied system, which is anticipated to produce 583,267kWh of electricity per year.
The Associated Students of San Diego State University funded the solar system after a student-approved fee referendum was passed in 2008. Additional funding for the SDSU project was provided in part by the California Solar Initiative Performance Based Incentive.
“We are finding that more clients are interested in unlocking the extra value available in their parking lots by hosting solar energy systems,” said Al Bucknam, CEO of SunDurance Energy. “The parking canopy application avoids the potential complications that can come with aging or cluttered rooftops, adds incremental economic value by lowering the University’s energy spending, and provides some vehicle coverage from sun and rain.”
