Solar energy is the most abundant and one of the most renewable energy resources on earth. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously which is more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. Harnessing this solar power to produce electricity can reduce carbon emissions by annually – the equivalent of taking 27 million vehicles off the road.
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America is doing just that with the addition of a new solar photovoltaic (PV) roof at our Modesto, California manufacturing facility, using this renewable solar energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the use of natural resources.
Completed in June 2022, the Modesto plant’s solar PV roof is now generating 65% of all electricity demand through onsite renewable energy. This is on track with Kingspan’s global goal of 60% direct renewable energy, while contributing to 20% on-site renewable generation.
Commercial buildings like Kingspan’s 138,500 square foot Modesto plant are ideal for installing solar PV panels to convert sunlight (photons) directly into electricity (voltage). The PV panel roof, part of several upgrades to reduce the plant’s environmental impact, is generating 1.4 MW of onsite electricity through the new solar array, which is comprised of 2,163 modules, each generating 430W of electricity.
“With each plant, we are finding new ways to meet and even exceed our goals in order to fulfill our commitment to tackling climate change,” said Brent Trenga, Kingspan’s Director of Sustainability. “It is critical to our planet that we assess carbon emissions in every step of the manufacturing process. We must examine every aspect from the energy sources to the materials used.”
Finding ways to reduce consumption of electricity is critical to the health of our planet considering that energy use and production generate the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA notes that approximately of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas.
Alarmingly, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise. An analysis by IEA found that these emissions rose by 6% in 2021 to – their highest ever level.
Using renewable energy resources like clean solar power is more critical than ever to reduce reliance on carbon emitting fossil fuels that are contributing to climate change. And, while fossil fuels are finite resources, solar energy is an inexhaustible resource which can power the planet for at least the next .
As the world’s energy demands continue to increase, Kingspan is working to reduce fossil fuel consumption with energy saving upgrades like the installation of the solar PV roof at our Modesto plant. Relying more on renewable energy to power our plants is a cornerstone of our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality on the path toward a greener economy and a more sustainable future.
Source: https://www.kingspan.com/us/en/news/kingspan-modesto-announces-solar-roof/
Beth Gentry is an American author and writer based in Boulder, Colorado. Her novels, which often explore themes of nature, family, and personal journeys, have received critical acclaim and won prestigious awards. Gentry’s short stories have been published in renowned literary journals, and she has also taught creative writing courses at the university level. Gentry holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder.
