July 10, 2008 - General Motors is planning to install two million square feet of solar panels atop its car assembly plant in Figueruelas, Spain - the world's largest single solar array, the automaker says.

GM says the project will help reduce operational costs while also providing green energy to the local power grid. When fully operational, the installation will generate about 15.1 million kWh of power annually - enough to power 4,575 Spanish households, the company estimates.

GM will lease its roof space to Clairvoyant Energy and Veolia Environment, which will build, own, and operate the rooftop solar installation.

The new project is part of GM's overall effort to reduce its energy, water consumption, waste and CO2 emissions globally, says Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president of environment, energy, and safety policy. "As we develop new solutions in vehicle propulsion to reduce carbon emissions, we are also making significant progress in reducing the impact our facilities have on the environment," she notes.

The solar project may not be the world’s largest for too long, however. Southern California Edison has leased 65 million square feet of commercial roof space for future solar development projects expected to power more than 160,000 homes.