Kyocera Solar Inc. recently announced that 25 kilowatts (kW) of Kyocera photovoltaic modules are now helping to power Chicago’s Midway Airport’s new environmentally friendly consolidated rental car facility. Installed by Green Power Solutions, the PV system is on the roof of the Quick-Turn-Around (QTA) facility, where hundreds of rental cars are washed and refueled daily. As planes taxi and land, passengers can reportedly see the rooftop PV system, which supplies about 30% of the QTA’s power needs.

Working together, Kyocera and Green Power Solutions were reportedly able to overcome a structural challenge with the installation, which sits on a split-seam metal roof, by modifying a special clamp on the racking system to secure the system in place. Green Power Solutions also installed nine wind turbines in conjunction with Midway Airport’s green initiative. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is pursuing LEED certification for the project, which receives three “green airplanes” for design and four green airplanes for construction, as rated by the CDA’s Sustainable Airport Manual.

“We chose Kyocera because of its high-quality, reliable solar modules in addition to the strong engineering support they provided, which helped streamline the installation,” said Steve Arwady of Green Power Solutions. “We received expert, hands-on solutions from Kyocera, which tipped the balance when we compared panel for panel at almost the same price. We chose Kyocera, the company that gave us the best service. We intend to partner with them on future projects.”

“We’re excited to be a part of Midway Airport’s ‘greening,’ and hope this installation serves as a high-profile reminder that solar power is the smart choice for our nation’s future,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar Inc. “With 38 years of solar industry experience, Kyocera is committed to providing reliable products that will help our nation’s municipalities leverage the clean, renewable energy of the sun for decades to come.”

For more information, visit www.kyocerasolar.com.