Pioneer Facility Uses Solar Power to Produce Clean, Renewable Energy
DuPont has installed its largest photovoltaic solar energy facility at its Pioneer Hi-Bred Waimea Research Center in Kauai, Hawaii. The Waimea photovoltaic installation is comprised of 1,500 panels – made from several DuPont photovoltaic materials - produced by Evergreen Solar and installed by REC Solar.
The one-acre array is capable of generating about 85 percent of the energy needs of the research facility. It is expected to generate 706,205 kilowatt hours (kwh) annually, or enough power for 64 average-size homes. By using renewable energy, the facility will avoid carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to about 100 cars annually and will save Pioneer about USD 200,000 per year in avoided purchased electricity costs. The installation, which was started a year ago, was completed and fully operational in December 2008.
DuPont has already installed photovoltaic solar power systems for its R&D and business facilities in Wilmington, Del., and Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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