Sunport Phase III Solar Project Completed in Albuquerque

Today Mayor Richard J. Berry and representatives from Affordable Solar, PNM and the Albuquerque International Sunport officially turned on Phase III of a solar array mounted on the airport’s parking structure. Affordable Solar completed and interconnect the 411kW (DC), solar system for the Albuquerque Sunport May 23, 2012. With Phase III, Sunport reaches 1Megawatt (MW) in solar power capacity. The Phase III of renewable power generation to the airport stimulates the local economy and demonstrates the City of Albuquerque’s environmental leadership.

The project, designed as a long term hedge against rising utility costs, provides power during peak hours when the grid needs it most. Taking advantage of the VALE (voluntary airport low emissions) Federal Aviation Agency grant, Phase III of the project added 1,750 panels (411kW) to the parking canopies on the top deck of the public parking garage. The additional solar panels will offset approximately $30,000 in annual energy cost–savings the Sunport project creates for the City of Albuquerque.


Phase III of the low profile system, designed and integrated by Albuquerque based Affordable Solar, will annually replace around 600,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of coal generated energy with clean, renewable energy–enough electricity to power 100 homes.

In addition to reducing utility bills, the Sunport’s solar energy project provided a welcome boost to the local construction industry and local manufacturers. Affordable Solar, a locally owned company, utilized Albuquerque manufactured Schott Solar panels and employed multiple local small businesses and construction trades: B&D Industries and National Roofing, among others.

Affordable Solar delivered the project on time and budget while working proactively with the City of Albuquerque Airport operations officials, airport police, City inspectors, and PNM with minimal disruption to airport operations.

Source: PRNewswire

Short URL: http://www.solarthermalmagazine.com/?p=19218

Posted by Press Release on Jun 4 2012. Filed under Solar PV. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry