Merck & Co., recently announced that its world headquarters in Whitehouse Station, N. J., will have the largest ground-mounted solar power tracking system in the eastern half of the U.S.
The 1.6-megawatt SunPower solar tracking power system is made up of about 7,000 solar panels and will cover seven acres of Merck's 1,000-acre site.
The system will be owned and operated by UTC power, which will supply electricity to Merck under a 20-year power purchase agreement. UTC Power will also own the Solar Renewable Energy Certificates associated with the system.
The solar power system will supply up to seven percent of Merck's electrical energy needs at its headquarters, where approximately 2,800 people work.
The system is estimated to generate 2.5 million kWh per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,300 tons per year.
Earlier this year Merck pledged to cut GHG emissions by 12 percent by the end of 2012, using 2004 as its base year.
