GM Europe Gets a Boost From The Sun

By Logan Utsman on Saturday, August 18th, 2012

Recently added to General Motors’ German Opel Rüsselsheim plant was a serious gain in solar power. In order to get closer to the automaker’s global goal of doubling its sun output, the facility received a 8.15 megawatt array to increase energy while lowering emissions. Able to generate approximately 7.3 million kW hours, the panel is one of the largest in Europe and covers the span of 32 soccer fields. With this addition, GM is one step closer to reaching 125 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020.

“We seek out renewable energy opportunities around the world to help clean the grid, improve our bottom line, and reduce our impact on the environment,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs. Even though the new panel will help generate more power to build more Opels, they will also help GM build them much cleaner. Per year, approximately 3,150 tons of CO2 emissions will be reduced at the facility which will add up to about 8,200 tons avoided across Europe. So far and as a whole, GM has built up 19.1 million kilowatt hours of electricity from solar power.

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Opel Pictures