OAKLAND, CA — The Golden State Warriors and The Solar Company are cutting the ribbon today on a solar installation at the basketball team's practice facility — the first in the NBA to be powered with renewable energy.
Warrior's President Robert Rowell, rookie guard Stephen Curry and Solar Company President Mark Danenhower are to unveil the system in downtown Oakland that is expected to save the team $36,000 in energy costs during the first year of operation and $2,094,000 over the next 25 years.
The 143.5kW-system is made up of 537 SunPower SPR-305-WHT-U modules and 23 SunPower SPR-6000m (277V) inverters. Average daily production of the system is estimated at 758.9kWH and annual production is projected at 277,008kWH.
The system was sized to supply the equivalent of 26 percent of the electricity currently used at the site.
Installation of the array that covers 9,641 square feet took six weeks. The Warriors and the Solar Company announced the project in November, work began in December and wrapped up this month.
"This solar installation project is a very important component of the green initiatives of the Golden State Warriors organization," Rowell said in a prepared statement.
From recycling and rainwater harvesting to retrofitting venues with waterless urinals, North American pro sports teams are increasingly adopting more environmentally friendly practices and working to green their facilities.
Last April, the NBA held its inaugural Green Week. The Warriors' efforts included tree planting and giveaways of reusable grocery bags.
Images of solar array and inverters courtesy of the Golden State Warriors and the Solar Company.