FedEx Will Build The State's Largest Private Solar Power Array To Meet Electricity Needs

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FedEx Will Build The State's Largest Private Solar Power Array To Meet Electricity Needs
By: Dan Shugar - Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Source: Power Light, Inc.

At Its Hub At Oakland International Airport.

The shipping giant and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown announced the new solar plan Monday under a cloudy sky. When the panels are up and running next year, they will produce almost enough electricity to run FedEx's Oakland hub.

"FedEx is proving that solar power works for business," said Brown, an advocate of solar power since the 1970s when he was
California governor. "Thanks to the vision shown by FedEx, we're adding nearly one megawatt of zero-pollution electricity generating capacity to Oakland," Brown said. "With this project, we're well on our way to my administration's goal of adding five megawatts of solar power in Oakland by the end of 2005."

The mayor has set the ambitious goal of generating all of Oak-land's electricity by renewable energy by 2030. In June, Brown presided over the dedication of a 68-kilowatt solar power system at Open Hand Manufacturing Inc., a wood processing shop in the Fruitvale district, and a 30-kilowatt system at a new residential building in the Temescal district in North Oakland.

When the FedEx project is complete in May, the new solar panels will cover the roof of the company's two- buildings at the airport where 1,700employees work.

• The 904-kilowatt array will provide approximately 80 percent of the peak load demand for the shipping company’s Oakland operations.

It will include 5,769 photovoltaic modules, composed of more than 300,000 solar cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The electricity generated by the FedEx system will be the equivalent to that used by more than 900 homes during the day-time.

The Oakland array in the second largest in California — only the 1.1-megawatt system at Alameda County's Santa Rita Jail is bigger — and one of me nation's largest.

The FedEx solar array will also produce the most energy at times California's electrical grid is during the hottest, days of summer.

“Harnessing the sun's power to generate electricity is a good investment, both financially and environmentally,” said Dan Shugar, President of Power Light, The Berkeley firm that is designing and building the array.

“By outfitting this airport facility with solar power and incorporating energy efficiency measures, FedEx will be generating clean power and helping offset peak power costs statewide – which benefits all California utility customers.”

This is FedEx’s second major “environmental innovation” this year. In March 2004, FedEx became the first national shipping company to make long term market commitment to develop and use hybrid electric delivery trucks. The hybrid trucks were first introduced in Sacramento and will gradually be phased in other U.S, Cities.

Monday’s announcement at the Oakland Airport came as what is being billed as the nation’s largest Solar Power 2004, began in San Francisco. Because of skyrocketing oil prices, many businesses are looking at solar alternatives for the first time.
Uylim Herron Zamora CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

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