General Motors (GM) has announced it is to install the world’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic power installation to its Figueruelas, Zaragoza car assembly plant in Spain, where models including the Opel Corsa, Opel Meriva and the Opel Combo are produced for Europe.

When the project is completed in the autumn of 2008, the Zaragoza solar installation will cover around 2,000,000 sq. ft. of roof at the plant, and comprise of approximately 85,000 solar panels. When fully operational, the installation will generate about 12 megawatts of power at its highest output. The installation will generate about 15.1 million kWh of power annually - equivalent to the demand of 4,575 households in Spain, each with an an average annual consumption of 3,300 kWh.

GM currently has two of the largest solar power installations in the United States on the roofs of its Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana, California parts warehouses. The Rancho Cucamonga project was the first public solar project in the U.S. over 1 mega watt, when it began operating in 2006. The solar panels provide about 50 per cent of the electricity to the facility.

GM worked in conjunction with Clairvoyant Energy, Veolia Environmental and the Government of Aragon to develop the renewable energy Zaragoza project. GM will lease their roof space to Clairvoyant Energy and Veolia Environment, who will build, own and operate the rooftop solar installation. The project helps GM reduce costs, while providing “green” energy to the local community’s power grid.

United Solar Ovonic will provide UNI-SOLAR thin film flexible solar laminates for the project.