Ford Motor’s Michigan Plant Goes Solar
In an effort to meet consumer demands for eco-friendly automobiles, automakers are trying to make their products greener. Most are even making their operations more environmentally friendly as well. In continuing it’s goal to become greener, Ford Motor’s has announced that it will be installing a battery storage system and solar photovoltaic system at their plant in Wayne, Michigan.
The Michigan Assembly Plant will have an array that can capture renewable energy from the sun during the daytime hours and store any unused power in 2 megawatt batteries. The batteries will also be drawing solar power off the grid at off-peak times whn the rates are lower. The stored power can be released when ever the plant needs electricity.
Ford estimates that the solar system will result in a savings of $160,000 annually. The new project will also be serving as a test site for the impact that battery powered vehicles have on the smart grid. “With this solar energy system, we will be able to gain vital understanding about the integration of renewable power, smart-grid technologies and energy storage at an industrial facility,” Ford vice president Jim Tetreault said.