Tag Archives: Utility

Bombard teamed with JMA Architecture Studios, JBA Electrical Engineers and Martin Harris Construction to engineer, procure, and construct a 3.5 Megawatt AC solar PV power plant at the City of Las Vegas Water Pollution Control Facility. The solar power system is located on 18 plus acres of land owned by the City of Las Vegas.

This 3.5 Megawatt system will use 15,162 Trina 230 watt PV modules and zero degree single-axis trackers, along with SMA Sunny Central 500HE inverters. Other site improvements included fencing and access gates, a new trail along the wash separating theproject site from the WPCF, a perimeter road system, site grading, and provisions for communication with the existing plant supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.

This project also includes an equipment building which provides the formal entrance to the facility and serves as a highly visible demonstration of the City’s commitment to renewable energy.

The many challenges presented by this project were overcome with Trinasmart technology powered by Tigo Energy, which improves the project economics and expected generation. By clamping voltage and increasing string length from the traditional 14 modules to 18 modules, the project used 27 fewer strings, 3 fewer combiner boxes, and 13,500 feet less wire.

The project began in 2009 because of energy consumption that year. The rates were so high that the building complex tried to become more efficient. They changed the lighting and HVAC systems, and are now one of the more energy efficiency business parks in the state. Initially, they believed that a solar system would be too expensive. But upon analysis, the principals realized that the energy cost-savings, along with federal and state incentives, made the system installation a great investment. Since then, the business park has spun off a PPA company that is involved in an additional 5MW of projects.

Situated on about 1,400 acres of land, Copper Mountain Solar III taps into the intense desert sun in Boulder City, Nevada, to produce clean energy and a stronger local economy. Copper Mountain Solar III is the third stage in the landmark Copper Mountain Solar complex, one of the largest photovoltaic solar facilities in the U.S.

The 345MW facility generates enough electricity to power about 89,000 homes. Copper Mountain Solar III supported the Boulder City economy by creating around 500 construction jobs and four full-time positions. The facility also generates state and local revenue through the sale of clean energy to the Southern California Public Power Authority.

Solar Power Partners and Oro Loma partnered with DRI Energy to design, build, and install a system to produce 468kW using Trinasolar panels. Oro Loma Sanitary District provides wastewater collection and treatment services, and residential and commercial solid waste and recycling services to its customers.

When Colorado State University decided to develop a ground-mounted solar power system at their Foothills campus, leading PV developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) selected Trina Solar’s multi-crystalline 230W modules. The installation is expected to generate annually over three and half million kilowatthours of electricity, satisfying over 10% of the campus’ electricity needs.

This 9.6 MW system is the largest school solar system in the United States. Students at all the high schools were active on their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts talking about the solar systems being installed on their campuses. The installation also serves as an important teaching aide the students can observe outside their classroom.

Using Trinasolar Panels, The Clark County School District was able to reduce energy costs and provided significant energy savings for each of the 18 elementary schools. The installation made use of available standing seam roofs for much of the installations. This brought the installation cost down and provided significant energy savings for each of the 18 elementary schools. Interactive monitoring systems inside the schools offer children the chance to learn how solar PV systems work.

Construction and testing of the Porterville project took about six months. This short construction phase was enabled by over a year of pre-construction planning and experience gained from Southern California Edison’s numerous other facilities. Additionally, Porterville City leaders were willing to draft a suitable lease for the land adjacent to the airport on which the project was built. The site was selected because it offered suitable land near distribution circuits that could support a large amount of solar power without the need for major upgrades.

The Marriott Towne Place Suites, Marriott’s 2012 “Hotel of the Year”, is located across Old Alexander Ferry Road from Joint Base Andrews. A large segment of the hotel’s guest base is military personnel on temporary duty at the base. The hotel prides itself on providing a “home away from home” and an inviting atmosphere to support the troops. The hotel began looking into a solar photovoltaic energy system in 2013. The Towne Place Suites is now the first Maryland hotel to be nearly 100 percent solar-powered.