Solar powered health care

Allentown, Pennsylvania-based PPL Renewable Energy plans to design, construct and operate a 1.7MW solar system for health care company Schering-Plough in Summit, New Jersey.

The solar system will be built on eight rooftops on buildings throughout Schering-Plough’s campus in Summit, and when completed, will be the largest rooftop solar installation in the US. PPL Renewable Energy will own and operate the system and supply power to Schering-Plough.

Rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels can significantly reduce energy bills by generating electricity during the daytime or 'peak' hours when power prices are highest and the facility consumes the most energy.

As a company, Schering-Plough aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent by 2012. And the new system will help contribute to those goals, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the company by about 1.3 million pounds each year, equivalent to conserving 65,900 gallons of petrol.

The new solar project is expected to be operating by the end of this year.