The Volkswagen brand has inaugurated its largest solar park and is using solar to operate its manufacturing in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The commissioning of Volkswagen’s 9.5 MW solar park is the largest solar project in Tennessee, and Volkswagen’s largest solar park worldwide.

The Volkswagen solar power plant will contribute 12.5 percent of the manufacturing facility’s energy needs during full production times and 100 percent in non-production periods. This remarkable solar park features 33,600 ground mounted solar modules and five MV Power Platform structures.  Each SMA MV Power Platform is a 1.5 mW structure that houses two Sunny Central 760 CP inverters and a medium-voltage transformer.

»We are proud to power up the biggest solar park of any car manufacturer in North America today. The solar park is another proof point of Volkswagen’s worldwide commitment to environmental protection under its ‘Think Blue. Factory’ philosophy, a broadly focused initiative for all VW plants to achieve more efficient use of energy, materials and water.« – Frank Fischer, CEO and Chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga.

A strong partnership between visionary organizations helped bring this project to life. Phoenix Solar USA was responsible for planning, delivering components (including SMA inverters), and constructing the site for park owner Silicon Ranch Corporation.