SAN FRANCISCO—Del Monte Electric, one of northern California's leading electrical contractors, has been a key collaborator on the newly renovated San Francisco Exploratorium at Pier 15, installing nearly 6000 photo voltaic (PV) solar panels on the roof of the building. The $300 million investment in renovating Pier 15 on the waterfront Embarcadero is designed to be the largest net-zero energy-use museum in the U.S. with a cooling and heating system that uses bay water.

This historical project for Del Monte Electric was a collaborative effort with a major solar provider and will generate 1.4 megawatts of direct current power which converts into 1.3 megawatts of alternating current to support 100% of the energy demand for the Exploratorium.

The PV solar panels Del Monte Electric installed are 50% more efficient than conventional solar panels and will avert 33,150 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 30 year period.