Monday, October 19, 2009

Millipore powers up with $2M solar site

By Brendan Lynch

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Millipore Corp. reports it will open its $2 million solar panel installation project in Bedford this afternoon. The site will help power Millipore’s Bedford and Billerica facilities, according to the company.

Millipore built the photovoltaic system with grants from the Mass Renewable Energy Trust and the Renewable Energy Grant Program, which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The company hopes to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.

Lowell-based Borrego Solar Systems Inc. designed and installed the photovoltaic system, which comprises almost 1,400 solar panels and four inverters. The system is designed to produce more than 350,000 kilowatts per year, according to Millipore. The life sciences company said it plans to augment the power it purchases from the grid with the electricity produced by the solar installation.

Gov. Deval Patrick and Secretary of Energy and the Environment Ian Bowles were scheduled to attend the official kick-off event.

In August, Millipore bought BioAnaLab, a biologic drug and vaccine analysis company based in the U.K. BioAnaLab, which was formed in 2002 at the University of Oxford, tests and evaluates safety and effectiveness of drugs and vaccines.

Millipore, with more than 5,900 employees worldwide, reported a profit of $145.8 million on revenue of $1.6 billion for fiscal 2008.