Schneider Electric Earns SEIA Award

At an event held during Solar Power International 2011, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) presented a Solar Champion Award in the Manufacturer category to Schneider Electric for its 1-MW dual voltage solar farm in Smyrna, Tenn.

SEIA, the national trade association of the United States solar energy industry, made the award based on the significant impact of the project in helping build a strong solar industry in America, and to advance the goal of achieving 10 GW of new annual installed capacity by 2015.

In July 2011, Schneider Electric unveiled a 1-MW dual voltage solar farm spanning six acres of its manufacturing plant in Smyrna. This is the first dual voltage solar farm in the United States with the ability to operate at both 1000VDC and 600VDC, providing an opportunity for more efficient solar farm operation and enabling Schneider Electric to further its research and testing of renewable energy.

Schneider Electric’s Smyrna solar farm is the third in the state of Tennessee at 1 MW and will generate approximately 1.3 million kWh of electricity annually, 25 percent of the facility’s total use. The installation qualified for a 30 percent federal tax credit and the TVA Generation Partners Program, which offers a premium on all solar generated power that Schneider Electric sells back to TVA.

“Leading global manufacturing companies like Schneider Electric are finding new opportunities to grow their business with innovative solar energy products,” said Rhone Resch, President and CEO of SEIA. “Their efforts are making solar more affordable to consumers every single day and bringing the industry closer to meeting its goal to install 10 GW of solar each year by 2015.”

“This award from SEIA is gratifying recognition for Schneider Electric’s strong commitment to the solar industry and to developing and designing solutions that further the adoption and deployment of renewable energy,” said Laurent Bataille, Senior Vice President, Renewable Energies Business, Schneider Electric.”We see solar power as a key component of our overall energy management strategy.”