GE Aviation unveils big solar farm

GE Aviation in Durham is the latest company to showcase a major solar power facility at its corporate site in this state.

The jet engine assembly company plans to put its system into operation in the coming week. GE Aviation is not selling the electricity, but rather using the power on site.

The 9,000 solar panels will offset up to one-third of the company's electricity use during maximum power output when the sun is shining.

The company also plans to sell subsidies, known as Renewable Energy Certificates, from the project, but no contract has been signed yet, said GE Aviation spokeswoman Deb Case. Power companies in many states, including North Carolina, are required to increase their reliance on green energy, and one way of meeting the state requirement is to subsidize green energy projects without buying the electricity.

GE Aviation's solar farm will generate 774 kilowatts at maximum capacity. That's about one-third the size of the area's biggest solar farm at the Cary campus of software company SAS, a project that generates 2.2 megawatts.

The state's biggest solar farm, in Davidson County, generates 15.5 megawatts.