Volkswagen Solar System — United States of America
Solar power plant in Tennessee, United States of America. Approximate location 35.0975, -85.1269.
SolarTennesseeUnited States of America
Volkswagen Solar System is a 7.6 MW solar power plant in Tennessee, United States of America. It is operated by SR Enterprise South LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 12 GWh, it can supply roughly 3.5k homes. It ranks #6081 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2012, it is around 14 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 8.6% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0058401.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 8 MW for Volkswagen Solar System, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000815581; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 7.6 MW, Volkswagen Solar System is well above the median solar plant in United States of America (3 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 19%, from 12 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 19% median for 3185 solar plants in United States of America
- Generation trend
- 13 GWh in 2013 and 12 GWh in 2019 (−7%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 14 GWh; 2018: 12 GWh
- Share of United States of America solar capacity
- less than 0.1% of 38,093 MW across 3,283 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 239 of 3,277 dated solar plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by SR Enterprise South LLC.
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 35.1°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 24% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 41/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.1% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #713 largest solar power plant of 3283 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 3283 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 38,093 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Chickamauga · Hydro · 159.6 MW · Tennessee
- Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Solar · Solar · 2.7 MW · Tennessee
- Sequoyah · Nuclear · 2,421 MW · Tennessee
- Raccoon Mountain · Hydro · 1,713.6 MW · Tennessee
- Bowater Newsprint Calhoun Operation · Biomass · 63.2 MW · Tennessee
- Ocoee 1 · Hydro · 19 MW · Tennessee
Location
Coordinates 35.0975, -85.1269 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Volkswagen Solar System?
Volkswagen Solar System is a 7.6 MW solar power plant in Tennessee, United States of America, commissioned in 2012.
How much electricity does Volkswagen Solar System generate?
Volkswagen Solar System generates about 12 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Volkswagen Solar System?
Volkswagen Solar System is operated by SR Enterprise South LLC.