Solar Array Project Planned For City Water Treatment Plant
The City of Raleigh is installing a 250-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array on the roof of the clearwell building at the City’s E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant in north Raleigh. City staff is negotiating a lease with Carolina Solar Energy, which will develop the solar facility. The renewable energy that is produced from the project will be sold to Progress Energy Carolinas under its SunSense Commercial PV Program.
The solar photovoltaic array planned for the water treatment plant reaffirms the City of Raleigh’s commitment as a leader in the region in sustainability. The project, unanimously approved by the City Council at its Oct. 7 meeting, is expected to be the first of its size and type for any local government in the state of North Carolina, and the first at a water treatment plant in the state.
The solar photovoltaic array planned for the E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant will produce an estimated 325,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, roughly equivalent to the annual energy use of about 25 homes in North Carolina. This is equivalent to reducing carbon monoxide emissions by 264 metric tons annually. Carolina Solar Energy plans to install the solar photovoltaic array system on 30,000 square feet of rooftop at the clearwell building on the grounds of the E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant at 10301 Falls of Neuse Road. No City capital investment will be required for this project.
The water plant’s clearwell building is an 117,000-square-foot enclosed concrete structure that is used to hold treated water ready to be distributed to City water customers. The project will use 3,240 solar panels manufactured by industry leader First Solar, based in Tempe, Ariz. This would be the first solar generator in the Southeast to use First Solar’s thin film photovoltaic solar panels.
Carolina Solar Energy plans to lease the clearwell building rooftop from the City and install the solar photovoltaic array. The City will be given an option to purchase the array. The system installation is expected to be complete late this year.
This is not the first solar photovoltaic array project planned for the City of Raleigh. In July, the City Council approved an agreement that will allow a 1.3-megawatt array to be built at the City’s Neuse River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The arrangement between the City of Raleigh, Progress Energy Carolinas, Southern Energy, and NxGen Power is unlike any other in the state of North Carolina.
The proposed solar photovoltaic array at the wastewater treatment plant, located at the corner of Brownfield and Battlefield roads, is expected to come online in early 2010 and will generate approximately 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,300 metric tons annually. Like the solar photovoltaic array project planned for the E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant, no City capital investment will be required for the solar array at the wastewater treatment plant.
Prepared by:
John Boyette
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Robert Massengill
Assistant Public Utilities Director
Public Utilities Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 604
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-857-4543
