Ford, DTE Energy team up to build state's largest solar panel system

Thursday, August 19, 2010 | Source: Metromode

Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne will be getting a renewable energy transformation.

The plant will be converted into one of Michigan's largest solar power generation systems, teaming up with DTE Energy and Xtreme Power to capture renewable energy. The 500-kilowatt solar photovoltaic panel system will be installed as a team effort between Ford and Detroit Edison, which will allow the facility to store 2 million watt-hours of energy, enough to power 100 homes for a year, via batteries. Xtreme Power, of Austin, Texas, is supplying the on-site energy storage and power management system.

That energy will help power the production of fuel-efficient small cars. A secondary, smaller solar energy system will be integrated at a later date to power lighting systems at Michigan Assembly.

Jennifer Moore, manager of corporate news for Ford Motor Company, says Ford looks at the energy it uses not only in its cars, but in its facilities that make cars. "As part of our overall sustainability efforts, one of the things we take a look at is energy efficiency in our facilities around the world," she says. "We use alternative energies in a number of our facilities around the globe. The use of renewable energy is something we've looked at for a long time."

The solar energy installation is part of Detroit Edison's pilot SolarCurrents program, which calls for photovoltaic systems to be installed on customer rooftops or property. This project was funded by a $3 million investment from Detroit Edison's SolarCurrents program, a $2 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission, and approximately $800,000 from Ford.

The systems at Michigan Assembly are expected to save an estimated $160,000 per year in energy costs. Installation begins later this year.

Ford also will install 10 electric vehicle-charging stations at Michigan Assembly, for electric switcher trucks that transport parts between facilities, also provided by Xtreme Power.

Moore says Ford is also investigating whether car batteries have a second life as storage units. And, while vehicles make the obvious environmental footprint, the automaker still seeks to lessen that footprint and make its facilities more energy-efficient.

"It is genuinely part of our overall sustainability efforts as a company," she says.

Source: Jennifer Moore, manager of corporate news for Ford Motor Company
Writer: Kristin Lukowski