The image above was taken at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, home to the largest solar array installation ever created by the U.S. Army.
As jaw-dropping as it is in size, the numbers it produces are even more impressive:
• The installation acts as a 4.465 megawatt solar photovoltaic system for the entire desert base
• Guarantees an energy savings of 35,358M British thermal units per year
• Reduces base energy consumption by 10%
The solar power system went online January 16 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project was awarded to and managed by the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center-Huntsville, as part of the Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC).
“To date this is the largest solar project in the Army,” said Michael Norton, Huntsville Center Energy Division chief. “Projects like this are important because the impact of rising energy prices on installations has resulted in an adverse increase of utility budgets spent on existing, often inefficient or outdated equipment.”
“ESPC projects provide energy efficient equipment resulting in a lower utility consumption,” Norton said. “Lower utility consumption reduces the DOD utility bills and assists in meeting federal mandates.”
For those unfamiliar with the program, ESPC brings in private financing for the purpose of introducing energy conservation measures at Defense Department bases. The contractor assigned to a project provides capital and expertise to ensure improvements are made to government facilities to reduce Army energy.
In exchange, the contractor is awarded a portion of the generated savings.
Story via: army.mil ■
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