Largest Manhattan solar array

Deutsche Bank has announced the completion and operation of its new 122 kW solar photovoltaic system installed atop its US headquarters on Wall Street, New York.

The array is expected to decrease carbon emissions by 100 metric tonnes per year.

The roof-mounted array will reduce the company’s electricity consumption, helping in its continued commitment to sustainability which has already seen the bank increase its use of clean electricity from seven per cent to 65 per cent over the last four years.

 “We are firmly committed to being a leader in sustainability and innovation,” said Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank America and member of the Group Executive Committee.

”This project is one part of a comprehensive global programme to reduce the bank’s consumption of fossil fuels and shift to more renewable sources of energy.  Our goal is to neutralise the bank’s global CO2 emissions by 2013.”

The photovoltaic system is located on the inclined  southern and eastern portions of the roof of the Wall Street building and is the largest of its kind in Manhattan, as well as being the highest elevated solar photovoltaic flat panel array in the world, measuring in at 737 feet off the ground.

New York City’s Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said, “New York City has the most ambitious sustainability plan in the world, in part because we’re working with private-sector partners to reduce our carbon emissions, rely on cleaner energy sources, and meet the goals of our long-term sustainability programme, PlaNYC.  Deutsche Bank’s landmark achievement builds upon our shared work to build a greener, greater New York.”

 The new solar array system on Wall Street is the third solar project in North America completed by Deutsche Bank, including the bank’s Piscataway, New Jersey, two-phase installation of a 1.267-megawatt solar photovoltaic system.

This system has turned their building into a net-zero electric building.  A fourth project is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this year at another  Deutsche Bank facility in New Jersey.