Sharp solar panel system installed at AT&T Park

While you were busy watching Vladimir Guerrero take home the Home Run Derby crown two nights ago (not to mention the All-Star game last night), you may not have been aware that AT&T Park was feeding uber-clean energy back into the grid serving PG&E's customers throughout northern and central California. Sure enough, the home of the San Francisco Giants is now also home to 590 Sharp solar panels located in three separate areas of the stadium, which combine to generate some 120-kilowatts of electricity. The size of the entire array is reportedly "equivalent to approximately 40 residential solar systems," and while this system won't conjure up as much power as the CIS Solar Tower, it will certainly make good use of the ballpark during the off-season.

[Via EETimes image courtesy of MatrixCS]

[tiuk @ Jul 11th 2007 10:19AM]

Makes sense to me. Why not put solar panels on the tops of all buildings?

[Derek @ Jul 11th 2007 11:28AM]

I've actually wondered that myself. I think we should start installing them on top of other arenas/stadiums, along with skyscrapers and apartment buildings.

Think about it... if you live in an apartment and pay your utilities inclusive with your rent, clearly your landlord's paying the bill. Wouldn't it make sense to install solar panels on top of the apartment building and lower the electricity bill? In the long run you've GOT to be saving money there.

[Rob @ Jul 11th 2007 11:34AM]

I think high initial cost is the main reason we don't see solar everywhere -- it requires a significant investment that takes many years to payoff (even with government subsidies/rebates). Of course, after the system has paid for itself in energy bill savings, it continues to produce free energy that causes no pollution. I think a big problem is Americans on average are short-term thinkers whose savings rates are dwindling year-by-year. If as a nation we could think in longer terms, more of us would be going solar.

Oh, I also think people are discouraged by those who love to trumpet that solar energy will never be able to make a dent our energy demands. But hey, if my solar panels will pay for themselves eventually, produce all the power that my home (or business) consumes, and means I'm not consuming any coal-derived energy, I can't see why anyone argues against solar. That's why I'm in the process of having PV panels installed on my roof (I'm fortunate enough to be a home owner who can afford the cost). I'm looking forward to plug-in hybrids coming out, and then most of my driving will be solar powered!

[robert @ Jul 12th 2007 9:22AM]

solar is expensive. manufacturing solar creates nasty waste chemicals. in the next five years or less, solar's efficiency will dramatically increase (so if you're looking now, wait for the next generation of it)

also, there is a new thing called renters syndrome (from a public power conference I did the sound at) renters syndrome is...

"why spend the money, I'm moving out in a few years" -renter
"why spend the money, the renter pays the electric bill" -landlord

[Kevin Reichard @ Jul 11th 2007 12:12PM]

This array was originally installed in 2005. You bit for the press release that made it sound like a new installation. It's not.

http://www.ballparkdigest.com/news/2005archives/mar26_april1_2005.htm#trial_solar

[Mile @ Jul 11th 2007 1:04PM]

Do any of these residential solar systems comes with a Milky Way?

[V.I. @ Jul 11th 2007 7:39PM]

Wow Engadget, sad you have to remove post and edit blogs in fear of getting sonned.

"While you were busy watching Vladimir Guerrero take
home the Home Run
Derby crown last night"Wha?? You mean Monday night? The actual game
was last night...Someone was hypnotized by the green lights and smoke
at MS E3 presentation...