Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport sets up 5.4 MW SunPower Solar power system

PHOENIX-SKY-HARBOR-INTERNATIONAL-AIRPORT

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport sets up 5.4 MW SunPower Solar power system

 

By Greentech Lead Team: Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport and SunPower dedicated a 5.4 MW SunPower solar power system.

SunPower  has
designed and built the system. It will be operating and maintaining it through
a solar services agreement. The airport is hosting the system and buying
electricity at rates that are competitive with retail electricity, providing a
hedge against rising electricity costs with no capital investment.

“This SunPower system will reliably produce clean
energy for years to come, SunPower’s technology will ensure that the system
delivers energy over the long term, reducing operational expenses significantly
with no upfront expenditure,” said Rick Whisman, director, Western Project
Sales, SunPower.

The system employs SunPower E20 solar panels and expected
to generate the equivalent of 51 percent of the electricity demand, saving $4.7
million over the next 20 years. The system will offset more than 5500 tons of
carbon dioxide per year, which is equivalent to removing 19,800 cars from
Arizona’s roads over the next 20 years.

The project was facilitated in part by Arizona Public
Service Company’s (APS) Renewable Energy Incentive Program, which offers
financial incentives to customers that help to offset up to 40 percent of the
costs of installing solar energy.

The renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the
energy produced by the system will be transferred to APS in fulfillment of the
state’s renewable energy standard and tariff.

“With this SunPower system, Sky Harbor Airport is
reinforcing its commitment to energy conservation and improving air quality in
Arizona, while saving airport funds,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

Recently,
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in partnership with
SunPower, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, and Wells Fargo, installed solar
parking canopy systems, totaling 2.1 megawatts (MW), at three bus maintenance
divisions.

 

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