Clif Bar ought to call its next new bar the “Solar Bar.”

Really, they should. Clif Bars are chock full of sunflower seeds and all sorts of other sun-built nutrients. The fact that Clif Bar & Co. is putting an advanced 530 kilowatt “smart-solar” photovoltaic on the roof and parking structure at its new headquarters is just another reason.

“Apparently it’s the largest smart-solar system in North America, but I’m sure that will be surpassed very soon,” said Clif spokesperson Renee Davidson.

It’s called a “smart-solar” array because each panel in the array is attached to a Tigo Energy Maximizer, a little white box that controls and monitors each module to make sure it’s performing at an optimum level.

“They have monitors in each panel, so if one isn’t working right, we can identify it and change out any cells that aren’t working right,” Davidson said.

The device reports back to a central computer, which adjusts each individual panel every second to ensure that it is producing as much power as possible. The computer for the Clif system will collect data and coordinate the efficiency of more than 1,900 Suntech photovoltaic modules. It should be able to boost the array’s efficiency by between 6 percent and 8 percent, according to the Solar Home & Business Journal.

Construction on the installation is expected to be complete in February 2011.

“It’s still being installed. There’s a bunch up there, but there’s a whole other section where they’re making changes to the parking lot [for solar panels],” Davidson said. “Apparently, that’s going to be cooler than what’s up there now,” she added.

The array is part of an extensive remodel of Clif’s headquarters in a former valve manufacturing plant in Emeryville, Calif.

“Solar was always part of the plan,” said Davidson.

The company is remodeling the 115,000 square-foot facility in an attempt to meet its five aspirations, she said.

“A lot of businesses run the triple bottom,” she said. “We run five aspirations; those are sustaining our business, sustaining our brands, sustaining our people, sustaining our community and sustaining our planet. Using an existing building, reclaimed building materials and the solar panels fit into those aspirations,” she said.

Image courtesy of Clif Bar & Co.