Applied Materials Israel to install solar panels

Applied Materials Israel is in the advanced stages of negotiating an NIS 8.5 million deal with Millenium Electric to install solar panels.

Ha'aretz reports that the solar panels, which will produce 300-350 kilowatts of electricity per hour, will be installed on the rooftops of the company's three buildings, located at the Rehovot Science Park. The panels are expected to provide the company headquarters' electricity needs, with any surplus sold to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC).

Millenium Electric has installed panels producing about 17 megawatts per hour all over the world. In Israel, the company has supplied panels to the Trans-Israel Highway, the Defense Ministry and the Klil settlement in the western Galilee.

Israel's incentive plan aimed at encouraging the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology for private consumption came into effect on July 1st. According to the plan, all excess electricity produced by private households and industry using PV panels may be sold to the IEC at NIS 2.01 per kilowatt, compared to NIS 0.48 for electricity sold to consumers by the Electric Corporation.

Applied Materials Israel was established in 1997, and employs about 1,000 people, most of whom work at its research and development facility in Rehovot.