Together the two systems generate as much as 12 kW ac of electricity which offsets building loads. Any surplus is fed into the Public Service Company of Colorado's power grid. In 1982, Solarex unveiled an innovative way to demonstrate the benefits and reliability of photovoltaics. It constructed the world's first PV-powered photovoltaic manufacturing plant. When the system's batteries are fully charged, surplus solar-generated electricity is fed into the utility grid to offset other loads in the complex.
Several features contribute to the energy-efficiency of the building.
It also captures the heat generated in the manufacturing area and recirculates it throughout the building for space heating during the winter. During the summer, the heat is exhausted to the outside. A high-efficiency heat pump provides supplemental heating and cooling as needed.