Southern California Edison (SCE), Rosemead, Calif., completed the first of its proposed 150 solar photovoltaic installations on Southern California commercial rooftops. The project could eventually cover two square miles of commercial roofs with 250 million watts of peak generating capacity — equivalent to building several utility-scale solar power plants.
During recent months, the 600,000-square-foot Fontana, Calif., distribution warehouse roof selected as the first installation site has been fitted with 33,700 advanced thin-film solar panels making it the largest single rooftop solar photovoltaic array in California. The facility now generates enough power during peak output conditions to meet the needs of approximately 1,300 Inland Empire homes.
"Edison’s rooftop plan is the nation’s largest solar installation program by a utility, and it is just one example of how private companies are helping us reduce our emissions and meet our renewable energy goals," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. SCE said its commercial PV program will provide a new generation source to areas where customer demand is rising. The solar modules can be connected directly and quickly to the nearest neighborhood circuit while major new renewable energy transmission lines are being built. Additionally, the output of solar panels generally matches peak customer demand — lower in the morning and evening, higher in the afternoon. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, one of SCE’s project partners, is supporting the project through the expansion of its solar installation apprentice training program.