San Jose-based SunPower has become one of the first solar power companies to submit a response to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an independent not-for-profit organization that compiles and keeps the world’s largest database of primary corporate climate change information.
The company said that in 2009 its global operations generated 328 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per megawatt of solar cells produced. It said there was a 10 per cent decrease between 2008 and 2009 due to “improved solar cell efficiency, increased economies of scale and other investments.”
SunPower has listed 23 measures it is taking to further reduce carbon emission intensity, including steps to improve lighting, air conditioning and equipment efficiencies at the company’s manufacturing plants.
“SunPower’s investment in research and development to improve our high-efficiency solar panel and systems technology has substantially reduced our carbon intensity since we began manufacturing in 2004,” said SunPower CEO Tom Werner.
SunPower claims that the greenhouse emissions avoided by their customers are larger than the greenhouse gases generated during manufacturing and delivery of panels.
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
