General Motors makes cars, but now it also wants to make more energy after announcing plans for the world’s largest rooftop solar power station at its biggest factory in Europe.

The photovoltaic solar power station at GM’s plant near Zaragoza in Spain is going to have an annual output of 15.1 million kWh. That would be enough to meet the demand of 4,600 households with an average annual consumption of 3,300 kWh. The solar power station is going up fast, with expectations to be operational by the end of September 2008. The electricity generated will feed into the local grid of Red Electrica and sell the energy to Endesa.

The massive solar array was designed in a joint venture partnership between the government of Aragon, Veolia Environnement and Clairvoyant. Consisting of 85,000 light-weight solar modules with an active photovoltaic surface area of 183,000 square meters, the power station can reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 7 thousand tons each year.

“Underlining our vital commitment to environmental compatibility, this solar energy project links to GM’s larger advanced technology strategy that supports extended range electric vehicles and the use of alternative energy for propulsion,” says Europe President Carl-Peter Forster.

While this is the third solar power station on the roof of a GM plant, the other two located in California, the Zaragoza location will be the world’s largest. And it won’t be the last. Next up for GM is installing solar panels at its Saint Petersburg, Russia factory.

Via Physorg, GM; Photo via GMEurope

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