ROME, Ga.—Pirelli Tire L.L.C. is forming a partnership with a Georgia supplier of solar panels to build a 500 Kw photovoltaic energy-generating plant on land adjacent to Pirelli's tire plant in Rome.
The facility, to be designed and managed by Hannah Solar L.L.C., will generate about 750,000 Kw of power annually, equal to the power needed to run about 65 private dwellings in the U.S. for a year.
Pirelli will lease the three-acre property and sublease it to Hannah Solar. The energy generated will be sold to Georgia Power as part of the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative, according to Hannah Solar, an Atlanta-based renewable energy solutions provider.
Pirelli purchases power from Georgia Power, so technically it will use a portion of the energy generated at the installation.
Hannah said construction will begin in late October, and the facility aims to start producing energy in January 2014.
Pirelli said its involvement in the project is a way of contributing to a sustainable environment, and it will help Pirelli North America contribute to Pirelli S.p.A.'s worldwide sustainability targets.
"Pirelli has a strong commitment to sustainability, and the partnership with Hannah furthers this commitment," said Paolo Ferrari, CEO of Pirelli for North America.
A Hannah spokesman said the installation will involve an investment of about $1 million.