SunPower has chosen GE to provide ultrapure water systems for new solar-cell plant under construction in Malaysia.
UPW equipment will save over 230 million gallons (870 million liters) of water compared with other technology companies said.
The facility will be one of the largest solar silicon production plant in the world and will be functional to the end of the year 2010.
GE will design, supply and install an advanced UPW through an internationally patented high efficiency reverse osmosis (Hero). System operating on a variable water supply, will provide 2400 gal / min (9085 l / min), purified water manufacturing.
“SunPower is committed to helping protect the quantity and quality of our water resources, and we’re proud that, with GE, we’re able to achieve new environmental and performance benchmarks in our industry," said Ron Vinje, managing director of the solar company.
"Our collaboration with GE on this project will not only benefit our community, but ultimately our customers as we continue to drive down the cost and impact of manufacturing," he added.
“With operating efficiencies exceeding 90%, the HERO system will not only conserve water, but through advances in technology and its implementation, we’ll also see an immediate positive return on environment for our customer,” said Jeff Connelly, VP of engineered systems—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water.
