Detroit Edison Commissions its Second Generation Solar Power Production

Detroit Edison has declared the commissioning of its second-generation solar power production installation in Scio Township in Washtenaw County. This is the first solar power production facility of the company to generate power for grid connectivity under its SolarCurrents program.

The new 60 kW PV power installation has almost doubled the power production capability of an experimental solar power facility previously maintained at the location. The new installation will feature around 270 solar panels and 60 of them are designed to track the movement of the sun all through the day. The old solar power production facility that was working in the same place since 1997 was withdrawn last year to make way for the new solar facility with improved technology. While Detroit Edison continues to operate the facility, the installation will be maintained by J. Ranck Electric, a Mt. Pleasant-based company. The company is planning to invest over $100 million in its new SolarCurrents program that enables installation of solar panels over the rooftops of the customer or utility owned properties in the next five years. The new program that requires customer’s participation for 20 years will generate around 20 MW of solar power.

The company is planning to donate the 120 solar panels and other equipment removed from the old solar farm to a number of organizations for generating power for educational purposes or to supply power to buildings.