The Denver International Airport (DIA) is no stranger to renewables. Since 2008, the airport has enjoyed electrical production from a 2-megawatt (MW) ground-mounted PV array just outside the airport which occupies about 7 acres. Seeing that there is always room for improvement, DIA is now seeking approval to begin construction of a new 1.6MW solar photovoltaic array that will power the airport’s fuel-storage and -distribution facility.
MP2 Capital and Oak Leaf Energy Partners have partnered to develop the $7 million, 1.6-megawatt (MW) solar project on approximately nine acres north of the airport’s airfield. Once operational, the new solar system is expected to provide approximately 100 percent of the fuel farm’s electrical needs. The 20 year power purchase agreement between DIA and its partners calls for DIA to buy electricity generated by the system at a rate equal to 90 percent of Xcel Energy’s rate (the local power provider).
The system uses more than 9,200 ground mounted Sharp solar panels that employ a single-axis tracking system that follows the sun during the day for greater efficiency and energy production. The system is scheduled for completion by the end of this year and when completed, the total size of DIA’s combined solar arrays will be almost 4MW.
The Good: DIA continues its expansion of solar usage.
The Bad: The electricity generated by the new array is used to pump fossil fuels. Irony. This may make some think that air travel is somehow less carbon intensive now…it’s not.
The Bottom-Line: DIA has obviously got the real estate around it, as well as the funds, to make such a venture possible. Other airports take note.
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