The Helix Water District has declared the activation of a new 290 kW solar PV system installed at the Nat L. Eggert Operations Center (OC).
The company installed the solar facility in association with Borrego Solar, a company that develops and erects grid-connected solar systems, and the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).
The Helix Water District has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Borrego Solar, which will operate and maintain the system and supply the power. The installed system will generate around 454,000 kW hours of power every year and meet nearly 90% power requirement of the Operations Center. The Water District before installing the system has entered into an accord with the California Center for Sustainable Energy to perform an independent energy analysis to understand the implications of installing a solar system such as generation of energy and cost savings. The Water District received around $463,900 as refund from the California Solar Initiative given by the CCSE located in San Diego.
The solar installation during the anticipated 20 year life time of its operations will generate enough green energy to offset around 11.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, which can be equated to saving of around 18,000 barrels of oil or planting of new trees over 107 acres of area.
Source: http://www.borregosolar.com/