Applied Materials campus is going solar

March 14, 2007 – Applied Materials Inc. has announced that it will install more than 1.9 MW of solar-power generation capability at its research campus in Sunnyvale, CA. This is believed to be the largest solar power installation on an existing corporate facility in the United States and will be rolled out in three phases.

“When the project is complete we will have a silent, nonpolluting, 1.9MW power plant on what is currently open roof space and parking areas, and a great hedge against future energy cost increases,” says Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. “As we pursue our strategy to significantly drive down the overall solar cost-per-watt we feel it is important to lead through example and that installations of this size will help lower consumer cost and spur overall market growth.”

Applied says it will start installing panels later this year that use various leading-edge solar technologies. Once completed in 2008, the company’s system will generate more than 2,330 MW-hr annually — the equivalent of powering 1400 homes.

In 2006, Applied revealed its entry into the solar photovoltaic equipment market. The company says its goal is to make solar power a significant alternative source of global energy. Applied Materials has reportedly reduced its overall Bay Area electricity consumption by approximately 20% on a normalized basis over the last couple of years as part of its commitment to dramatically reducing its carbon footprint.

Related story: Google has gone solar, too

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