The Qwest Field Event Center, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, is currently undergoing a “green transformation” with the installation of a rooftop solar PV system. Considered the largest rooftop solar array in Washington to date, the Qwest Field installation will have 3,750 CIGS solar panels manufactured by Solyndra producing over 830,000kWh of solar electricity per year and offset 21% of the Event Center’s annual utility costs.
Dave Miller, spokesman for Solyndra, informed PV-Tech that the 850kW solar project actually began installation last week and aims to reach full operation by late summer. The solar project covers 80%, or 2.5 acres, of the Event Center roof and is being installed by Seattle-based McKinstry, which has additionally presented Qwest Field with a conservation project that focuses on other areas that can improve the sustainability and carbon footprint of the football stadium.
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“We are committed to being good environmental stewards of this world-class facility and we hope these projects will serve as a catalyst to further support clean technology and resource conservation growth within Washington State and the Pacific Northwest,” said Peter McLoughlin, president of the Seahawks, Sounders FC and FGI.
For a more in depth look at the installation and comments from Seahawks president Peter McLaughlin, Solyndra Executive VP Ben Bierman and CEO of McKinstry, Dean Allen, check out this video.