Power Generated Will Fed To IPL Electric Grid
When you think about solar power,
the state of Indiana probably isn't the first place that comes to
mind. But pilots and passengers flying into Indianapolis
International Airport will soon start seeing construction on what
is being called one of the largest airport-based solar farms in
North America. The Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) announced
Tuesday that it has selected ET Energy Solutions, LLC to develop a
solar farm on Indianapolis International Airport property.
Under the terms of the agreement, ET Energy Solutions will
finance, design, construct, and operate the facility on land leased
from the IAA. The local group will work in conjunction with SANYO
Electric Group, a global leader in solar energy technology and
development, which will provide panels for the project and assist
with arranging financing.
Design and utility interconnection studies are already underway,
and weather permitting, construction could begin as early as fourth
quarter of 2011. The solar farm, which will be one of the largest
airport-based solar farms in North America, is expected to become
operational starting in mid-2012. The facility will include more
than 41,000 solar panels, each capable of producing 280 watts at
peak power production. The panels will be installed on
ground-mounted racking systems that will fill nearly 60 acres of
land near the airport exit from I-70.
The solar farm is expected to annually produce more than 15
million kilowatt hours of electric energy, enough to power more
than 1,200 average American homes for a year. The renewable energy
it produces will prevent approximately 10,700 tons of CO2 from
being released into the environment each year, which is the
equivalent of removing approximately 2,000 cars from the road. To
help raise awareness of solar energy, real-time output data will be
available to the public. Electricity created by the airport solar
farm will be fed directly into the grid operated by the
Indianapolis Power and Light Company (IPL) through existing surface
transmission lines that connect the airport terminal to the IPL
substation west of the airport. No public funds or airport costs
are anticipated to be involved in the project.
“The IND solar farm is just the latest innovation in our
land-use strategy moving toward implementation,” said John D.
Clark III, executive director and CEO of the IAA. “It
supports our commitment to sustainability while helping to grow and
diversify our revenue stream. Finding productive and harmonious
uses for airport land ultimately aids our efforts to attract and
maintain the air service that anchors the IND Aerotropolis and
generates economic benefits throughout our region.”
An Aerotropolis is an “airport city” in which a
collaborative, multimodal approach is leveraged to maximize the
ability of an airport to foster economic growth and infrastructure
development throughout its surrounding region. In addition to its
core air transportation missions, IND Aerotropolis focuses on
maximizing airport assets and possible development properties and
integrating those with key economic drivers of the region. Since
both the borders and benefits of an Aerotropolis extend well beyond
an airport’s property, a proactive and cooperative model is
essential, and the IAA has been seeking and forging a non-binding
memorandum of understanding (MOU) with key stakeholders in the
airport’s neighboring communities with the goal of achieving
additional strategic partnerships in the future.
"The airport serves as the gateway into Indianapolis, and this
is a great way to showcase our efforts to become a more sustainable
city,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. ”Installing solar
panels on airport property not suitable for other development with
the intent to power our city using renewable energy sources and
generate revenue demonstrates the culture of innovation and
commitment to sustainability that has taken root throughout
Indianapolis."