Sky
Harbor
Airport
Renewable
Photovoltaic
ProjectDecember 2011
17 MEGAWATT PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION AT SKY HARBOR AIRPORT
• Siting
• Investment and value
• Simulation and analysis
• Technology
• Considerations and concerns
• Multiple benefits
~100 acres above parking lots and atop parking structures throughout Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
DEMAND SAVINGS
APS E-32 and E-34 rate structures1. Charged for kWh used (usage)2. Charged on monthly kW peak (demand)
minimum bill is 80% of annual peak
Terminal 4 (E-34 rate structure)• $17.337/kW at peak demand
= $1,927,593.49
Terminal 4, with 50% demand reduction• $17.337/kW at peak demand
= $963,796.75
$963,797/yr savings just from shaving
peak demand
RATE SAVINGS
“12 largest loads” at Sky Harbor Airport,
FY 2011 electricity usage:
124,670,900 kWh
$10,763,808
= 8.56 cents/kWh
SHARPP produces 29,171,538 kWh annually
@ 8.56 cents/kWh from APS
= $2,497,084/yr
SHARPP cost of 29,171,538 kWh
= $1,750,292/yr
$746,792/yr (7%) savings just on
replacing APS electricity with SHARPP
COST and EFFICIENCY
SHARPP as an investment• Government-owned
• No sales tax• No property tax• No income tax
• 100% “loan” through bonds (3% interest)
• LCOE 6.00 cents/kWh(compare to 8.56 cents/kWh with APS)
Net Annual Energy 29,171,538 kWh
PPA price (LCOE) 6.00 cents/kWh
Debt Fraction 100%
kWh/kW 1,716
Total Land Area 72.82 acres
TECHNOLOGY
Axis
Fixed tilt, latitude - 15° = 18° due south
Inverters
179 Solectria PVI 95kW 480V
Modules
60,764 Suntech 280 Watt polycrystalline solar module, STP280-24-Vb
11 modules per string5,524 strings in parallel
CONSTRUCTION CONCERNS• Federal Aviation Administration
• Wildlife
• Hohokam ruins
• Pollution and noise
• City of Phoenix property
• Risk of aircraft collision / power interruption
Arizona cliff rose Lesser long-nosed bat
California least tern
STORAGE CONSIDERATION
• Batteries• Compressed air• Methane production• Grid-tied net metering
Sky harbor usage
Local substations
BENEFITS• 6.00 cents/kWh
• Mitigates peak demand rates, multiplying the savings of a solar installation
• Financially viable for the City of Phoenix
• Grid-connected
• Increases energy independence
• Less taxpayer money funding airport utilities
• Boosts local economy through jobs
• Creates positive community image
• Visible representation of Arizona’s renewable energy efforts
