Oct 26 2010
Perpetual Energy Systems, a company that offers power purchase agreement (PPA) and funding for solar power systems, has declared the commissioning of a 1.1 MW solar power system erected at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
The university has designs to achieve 1.3 MW solar power production before the end of the year 2010. The currently installed solar system will generate over 1,646,668 kWh of renewable clean power in its first year of operation.
The total power system comprises over 4,500 solar panels i installed over seven roof top structures of the Caltech Campus such as North & South Wilson parking structures, Braun Athletic Center, the Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology (IST), the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), Cahill Center, and Baxter Hall. The Cahill Center which had earlier accomplished the USGBC LEED gold-level certification will accommodate a 26.88 kW power system. IPAC which will be powered by solar power currently functions as a multi-mission center of expertise for NASA’s long-wavelength astrophysics and operates as the institutional home of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) and the Spitzer Science Center (SSC). The 1.1 MW solar power system will offset nearly 1,150 metric tons of CO2 emissions in the first year of its operation which can be equated to planting trees in 252 acres of area or taking out 222 cars from the roads for a year.
As per the clauses of PPA signed by Caltech, Perpetual will invest in the installation of the project; install the solar system with no capital investment from Caltech. The University in return will purchase the clean renewable energy generated from the rooftop solar installations at a pre-fixed price during the agreement period.
Source: http://www.goperpetual.com/