CHATTANOOGA, TENN., January 23, 2013 – Volkswagen yesterday “powered up” the largest single solar installation at an automotive manufacturing facility in the United States and the biggest solar installation in the state of Tennessee. Onlookers watched as dignitaries flipped a giant light switch signaling the start of solar power generation.
The solar panels also help power the assembly plant’s credibility as a “green” facility, adding to their already-achieved LEED Platinum certification. The highly prized certification has yet to be awarded to any other auto manufacturer worldwide, making Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant an exemplarily model.
The solar panels are estimated to generate 13.1 gigawatt hours of electricity per year – enough power to potentially run 1,200 homes for the same amount of time. The power output is expected to meet 12.5 percent of the energy needs for manufacturing during full production times and 100 percent during non-production periods.
