Suniva Solar Modules Power 700-kW Ground-Mount at Gitmo

Suniva Inc., America’s leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and high-power solar modules, today announces that it is powering the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo).

Suniva’s high-powered OPTimus modules will provide clean electricity to power Guantanamo Bay’s Navy Exchange Building. The 700-kW ground mount system, developed by World Electric Supply, a division of Sonepar USA, is the largest solar array to-date on the naval base and will yield both energy and cost savings, aligning with the Department of the Navy’s energy goal of producing at least 50 percent of shore-based energy requirements from alternative sources, and 50 percent of Navy installations will be net-zero.

“Suniva is proud that our solar modules will help transform this high-profile naval base into a clean energy producing facility,” said Matt Card, vice president of global sales and marketing of Suniva. “Suniva is the country’s largest U.S.-born, U.S.-owned module manufacturer, so it’s fitting that our modules were selected for another strategic military installation.”

“Our relationship with Suniva continues to provide great value to both companies. Their OPTimus module line has become a strong piece of our solution set. Given their power output and quality, Suniva’s OPTimus modules are by far the most appropriate fit for this installation,” said Lee Tilka, sales manager of World Electric Supply.

The military base at Guantanamo Bay has produced its own electricity since the 1960’s, yet most of this has come from expensive diesel fuel imports. Recently, Gitmo has been recognized for its efforts in using both solar and wind production to reduce the cost of expensive fossil fuels.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: http://solarbuildermag.com/news/suniva-solar-modules-power-700-kw-ground-mount-gitmo/]