The Googleplex Rooftop Solar Array

GOOGLEPLEX: The Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, has had a huge photovoltaic Solar Panel setup installed which covers the roofs of the buildings as well as several carpark shades.


According to Google, the entire array provides 1.6 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to cover about 30% of their energy demands for that site. That's enough energy to power 1000 Californian homes. The project is the largest corporate site installation in the US and one of the largest in the world. This is an excellent example of responsible corporate behaviour, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.

The projected payback time for the array is 7.5 years. The panels have an average lifespan of 25 years, and this setup is saving Google close to $400,000 per year. This also reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions by over 1650 tonnes annually. It is easy to see why this renewable energy project is a step in the right direction.

Another important message this project sends is that large scale investment in solar technology provides a real economic benefit. If the solar array functions even at half its capacity over the projected lifespan of the panels, Google will have saved over 5 million dollars in that time; economics of this scale cannot be ignored.


Click to see a video of this impressive Solar project by Google.