2009 Solar America Showcases
In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Solar Energy Technologies Program provided free technical assistance to these large-scale solar installation projects through its Solar America Showcases activity. DOE plans to announce additional solar showcase awards throughout the year.
During 2009, the basic criteria changed to require Solar America Showcases awarded after April to include projects with solar systems 250 kilowatts or larger.
Forest City Military Communities in Hawaii—This project builds on the success of Forest City's 2007 Solar America Showcases award. One focus of the 2009 award is installing rooftop PV solar systems that generate enough electricity to power 2,317 homes at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. Working with the Hawaii Electric Company and Marine Corps Base Hawaii utilities department, the project will demonstrate how to safely integrate a large number of PV systems onto a utility grid by identifying and mitigating stability issues.
At the Forest City Affordable Housing Community on the island of Hawaii, a 3.6-megawatt PV solar farm is planned on 10 acres, generating electricity to support 2,206 homes.
The Mololani neighborhood, part of the Ohana Military Communities development, plans to demolish 759 homes and rebuild them with rooftop PV solar systems.
Similar to the 2007 and 2008 winners, the 2009 Solar America Showcases below are required to include projects with solar systems greater than 100 kilowatts.
The Hartman Company for Hyatt Regency Hotels, Scottsdale, Arizona—The Hyatt Regency Resort is installing a 115-kilowatt solar electric array on the top level of its parking garage to provide shade for cars and a connection for charging electric vehicles. Hyatt's goal is to make the resort more sustainable by reducing the demand for electricity during peak-use hours, encouraging low-carbon vehicle transportation to and from the site, while also increasing the use of the top level for parking. The project is part of a master plan to replicate a number of solar energy technologies at other Hyatt facilities.
Hyatt Regency Hotels is installing a 115-kilowatt solar electric system at its resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—This solar showcase project involves new solar electric installations to power drinking water treatment facilities, providing up to 7.6 megawatts of new power generating capacity. The Philadelphia Water Department's goal is to make its buildings more energy efficient while securing a percentage of their electricity from a source that will have a stable cost per kilowatt hour for the next 25 years.
The city water department plans to install a solar electric system on the roofs of one to three sites: the Baxter, the Queen Lane, and the Belmont drinking water treatment facilities. All sites are highly visible and may allow public tours to view the solar energy systems.
The Philadelphia Water Department plans to install up to 7.6 megawatts of solar electric power on several water treatment facilities.
Southwest Solar Technologies, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona—This Phoenix-based development at Riverpoint Solar Research Park involves a solar test and demonstration area for new solar dish concentrator systems that will provide 1 megawatt (MW) of combined solar energy and energy storage. The project has the potential to grow to 5 MW. Each solar dish produces 200 kilowatts of power.
Research park developers want to advance the use of solar energy and promote environmental programs through community involvement and education. The Arizona Department of Transportation estimates approximately 239,000 vehicles pass by the project site on Interstate 10 each day.
Southwest Solar Technologies will demonstrate an innovative dish solar and energy storage technology at the Riverpoint Solar Research Park in Phoenix, Arizona.