| FIRST PHASE OF ‘SEAT IN THE SUN’ PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED Within the general framework of SEAT’s commitment to the environment, the company has brought to a successful conclusion the first phase of its ‘SEAT in the SUN’ project with the setting up of two photovoltaic plants, together generating 6 million kWh of clean electricity. |
Press Release issued by SEAT S.A. - Martorell, 24-01-2011
• Largest rooftop photovoltaic facility in Spain
• Two plants equipped with more than 20,000 photovoltaic panels, producing 4 mW of power
• Annual reduction of 2,800 tonnes of CO2
• Clean electric power to double within the year
During the first full year of operation, the system will generate much more energy than was consumed by the festive Christmas lighting in the cities of Madrid and Barcelona together.
The more than 20,000 solar panels, covering a total surface area of 135,000 square metres, installed on workshop roofs and the temporary vehicle holding areas, will together reach a nominal potential production of 4 mW during the initial phase.
This project will enable the SEAT plant at Martorell to make a major contribution to protection of the environment while also reducing CO2 emissions by 2,800 tonnes per year –equivalent to the beneficial effect of more than one thousand hectares of forest. 
The ‘SEAT in the SUN’ project has been developed jointly with Gestamp Solar with a view to the large-scale generation of clean electricity locally for on-site consumption (the principle of distributed generation). Additionally, the facilities set up in the vehicle holding areas have a two-fold purpose – they will generate renewable energy while protecting manufactured cars from the vagaries of the weather. The implementation of this first phase has entailed an investment of 17 million euros.
Throughout 2011 and 2012 new phases will be started up until what will eventually be the European car industry’s largest roof-installed photovoltaic facility is finalized.
‘SEAT in the SUN’ aims to create a total number of 6 photovoltaic plants covering an overall surface area of 320,000 square metres with installed power of 10.6 mW. The company will have the capacity to generate more than 13 million kWh per year of clean electricity –the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 3,000 Spanish households – and will also produce a reduction of 6,200 tonnes in CO2 emissions, equal to almost 15% of the contribution made by the Montseny Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Barcelona.
In line with SEAT’s policy of sustainability, the company was leader in Spain in 2010 as regards registration of vehicles with CO2 emissions below130 gr/km, with a 42% increase over results of the previous trading year.
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