Pilkington North America to Install Solar power for its Research and Development Facility

Pilkington North America, a manufacturer and marketer of flat and safety glass utilized in building constructions and in automotives, has announced its intentions to go solar.

The company currently builds a 250 kW ground mounted solar power production facility over a one acre plot at its research and development facility in Northwood, Ohio.

The solar power production facility costing around $1.5 million has received partial funding valued around $680,782 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s State Energy Program from the Ohio Energy Office. The proposed facility will incorporate the solar panels provided by First Solar. Pilkington has chosen Hull Energy, a newly incorporated renewable project constructing and Asset Management Company to develop and complete the project. Hull Energy had earlier formulated and constructed renewable energy projects for industrial, commercial and municipal customers.

The behind-the-meter solar energy generation facility when completed will meet around 12% of the electricity requirement of the research and development facility and appropriately reduce the green house gas discharges. The new solar facility is anticipated to be complete and fully functional by the beginning of February.