Ford to utilize solar energy in Wayne plant to produce Focus

Ford Motor Co. is tapping the sun's energy to help power production of the next-generation Focus and hybrid-electric vehicles coming to market in the next two years.

The Dearborn automaker will install 500 kilowatts of solar panels later this year at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, along with a battery storage facility that can store 2 million watt-hours of energy, enough to power 100 homes for a year, the company said Thursday.

The project, a partnership with DTE Energy -- the state's largest utility -- and Xtreme Power, an Austin-based energy solutions firm, is being touted as one of the largest solar installations in Michigan.

The automaker has invested heavily to transform the former full-size SUV plant in Wayne into a site for manufacturing smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. It starts production of the new Focus later this year. Production of the Focus Electric starts in 2011 and future hybrid-electric vehicles in 2012.

"Our Michigan Assembly plant is going to be the next-generation vehicle center of the universe for next year or so," said Jeff White, electricity supply manager for Ford North America. "It just makes sense to bring this solar project to (the plant) so we can better understand how sustainable energy is developed."

Detroit Edison is contributing $3 million to the project through its Solar Currents program, which works with companies to outfit rooftops and other property with solar panels. The project is getting $2 million in grants from the Michigan Public Service Commission, and Ford will contribute $800,000.

The installation includes 10 charging stations to power battery-electric trucks used to transport parts to the assembly plant.

The solar panels, however, are unlikely to put a big dent in reducing Ford's energy costs, said Oliver Hazimeh, head of management consultant PRTM's global e-Mobility Practice in Southfield.

They can be useful in supplying power for lighting and other small devices, but won't generate enough electricity for heavy machinery, he added.

Rather, the project is a good way to enhance the company's green image, while helping it learn how their new generation of electric cars fits with the power grid, Hazimeh said.

Ford said its energy costs run about $9 million a year. It plans to store the renewable energy and use it to offset the high cost of electricity during peak demand periods when utilities typically charge more for power.

In Europe, Ford is using renewable energy to power plants in the United Kingdom and Germany, where it has installed wind turbines and solar panels.

About 3 percent of Ford's energy use worldwide is supplied by renewable sources.

The automaker also hopes to sell its shuttered Wixom plant to Xtreme Power and Clairvoyant Power of Santa Barbara, Calif. The two companies plan to redevelop the site into a factory for manufacturing solar and battery equipment.

The project could bring 4,300 jobs to Michigan. The companies are still trying to secure funding, said Jennifer Moore, a Ford spokeswoman. "The project is still viable," she added.