Expanding its participation in the EPA Green Power Partnership to an organization-wide level in the United States, LG is now using nearly two million kWh of green power annually, which is enough to meet 11 percent of the organization's annual electricity use, up from 1 percent in 2011. This includes 100-percent green power for its US headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
LG is buying utility green power products from AEP Energy and ConEdison Solutions, including a combination of wind, solar and biomass.
LG is now an organization-wide EPA Green Power Partner. In 2012 and 2013, the EPA named LG Electronics Energy Star Partner of the Year for manufacturing energy-efficient products and helping to educate millions of consumers about those products.
In other news from a consumer electronics company, Panasonic business unit Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada has been awarded the contract to design and build two solar PV systems representing 500 kW for Central Huron’s REACH Centre and Central Huron Community Complex in Clinton, Ontario.
The projects will use a total of more than 2,000 Panasonic Ontario-made solar panels, and the system is expected to generate more than 800 MWh annually. Both solar PV systems are scheduled to be constructed by fall 2013.
Both solar PV systems will be designed in accordance with the respective Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) contracts associated with the two locations and the Ontario FIT Program. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) developed the FIT Program to encourage and promote a greater use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation, including solar PV systems.
Recently, the province decided to replace the existing large project category of its FIT program with a competitive procurement process for renewable projects over 500 kW.
For the Central Huron solar portfolio, Panasonic is working with Evergreen Power. In addition to the solar panels, the installation includes Panasonic TV monitors in the lobbies of both buildings with direct links to a Central Huron branded solar portal. The monitors will provide educational information about solar, as well as display the amount of energy that the solar panels are generating on each site.
