Financing the Largest Solar Roof in the U.S.

GAF Energy partnered with the Port of Los Angeles and Westmont Industries Distribution Center to bring a massive clean energy project to life.  

Big, clean-energy ambitions

A California mandate requires electricity providers to source at least one-third of their power from renewable sources by 2020. To fulfill that mandate, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power developed a program to allow property owners to sell electricity to the utility. The Port of L.A. participated with the goal of helping Los Angeles meet clean-energy goals and hedge against rising electricity costs through a new solar roof.

The port identified an ideal location for a solar installation: Westmont Industries Distribution Center, one of the port’s largest buildings. The challenge was to connect the knowledge and financing to deliver a complex, 50-acre solar array on a busy industrial facility.

Tax equity financing and ingenuity

GAF Energy partners with residential and commercial customers to offer affordable, integrated rooftop solar solutions. It also provides tax-equity financing to make large solar projects possible, including the Port of LA.

PermaCity designed and installed the massive array, using bifacial panels that collect reflected light from the surface of the roof in addition to direct sunlight, which gathers 45% more power than traditional designs. Together, the team delivered the largest fully-operational solar roof in the U.S.

Facts:

• The Westmont Industries Distribution Center solar array has 50,000 panels.
• The array can produce 565 million kilowatt hours of electricity over 20 years—saving more than 440,000 tons of CO₂.  
• Carbon emission savings are estimated equivalent to taking 6,000 cars off the road.