Contact Lens Manufacturer Employs Solar Power to Safeguard Production
Solar panels reduce manufacturer’s annual electricity bill by $325,000.
LAKE FOREST, CA—Staar Surgical, a manufacturer of implantable lenses used in ophthalmic surgery, has inaugurated a 1.1 megawatt solar energy microgrid at its production facility here. The system was installed to reduce energy costs, improve sustainability, and safeguard production in the event of grid outages caused by extreme weather events.
The microgrid was designed and built by local solar energy contractor ReVamp Energy. The panels, inverters and other electrical equipment were supplied by SolarEdge Technologies Ltd., a multinational manufacturer based in Herzliya, Israel. The microgrid is powered by a 780-kilowatt DC-optimized inverter solar system on the facility’s roof and two newly constructed carports. Consisting of 1,752 solar modules, the system is expected to cut Staar Surgical’s energy costs by approximately 50 percent, representing an annual saving of around $325,000. However, that figure pales in comparison to the savings that could potentially be achieved by preventing spoiled production runs.