The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in partnership with SunPower Corp., Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Wells Fargo, have installed solar parking canopy systems totaling 2.1 MW at the VTA's three bus maintenance divisions.
The VTA expects to save $2.7 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years through its power purchase agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Wells Fargo owns the systems, which SunPower designed and built, and will operate and maintain. The VTA is hosting the systems and buying the electricity at prices that are competitive with retail rates. The VTA owns the renewable energy credits and environmental benefits associated with the systems.
SunPower constructed three solar parking canopy systems using 5,070 of its E19/425 solar panels, which will also provide shade and protection for VTA vehicles. Two of the solar installations are located at the VTA's San Jose facilities, including a 548 kW system at its Chaboya Division and a 969 kW system at its Cerone Division. The third installation is a 637 kW system at the VTA North Division facility in Mountain View.
