SolarCity has completed the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco for British Motor Car Distributors, Inc. The dramatic, 287 kilowatt installation includes two rooftop carports comprised of 1,606 solar panels. SolarCity designed and installed carports atop two British Motors' buildings on the 900 block of Van Ness Avenue. British Motors' historic showroom building at 901 Van Ness Avenue a designated San Francisco Landmark originally opened in 1927 and was designed by Bernard Maybeck, the nationally-renowned architect who also designed San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts.

The solar system is expected to generate 370,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power 80 San Francisco homes. During the peak months of May through October the system will generate surplus power and earn credits with PG&E, offsetting the less sunny winter months.

Over its lifetime, British Motors' solar installation is expected to offset an estimated 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting 6,774 trees. In addition to providing clean, renewable power to British Motors, the structure provides ultraviolet and weather protection for the dealership's automobiles.

SolarCity has completed the largest commercial solar installation in a major Bay Area city for the second time this year. The company completed solar arrays spanning five buildings on eBay's north campus in May, the largest such installation in San Jose to date.