West Basin’s solar powered system produces more power, performs beyond expectation in first year; saves water agency $90,000 in annual power costs

From Market Watch:

West Basin Municipal Water District’s 60,000 square feet of fixed-tilt photovoltaic panels at the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility is performing beyond expectations. In the first year of operation, the system produced 11% more electricity than expected. Based on capacity output and solar power area in place, the system was estimated to produce 814,199 kW of electricity and actually provided 903,800 kW for its first year of operation (January to December 2007). This power generation represented an annual power cost savings of $90,000.00.

“Obviously, we are very pleased with our decision to invest in green energy to produce water locally at our water recycling facility, and these results show that solar power is not only feasible, but performs very well while reducing our carbon footprint,” said Donald L. Dear, President of the Board of Directors of West Basin MWD.

The system has been in continuous operation since it was installed in late 2006 and, through September 2008, has produced approximately 160 megawatt hours or 1,596,104 kilowatt hours of energy.
West Basin’s use of solar power in its recycled water operations has kept 521 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment that would otherwise have been released through the use of traditional energy sources. These emissions savings are equivalent to planting a tree plantation of approximately 147 acres of trees or not driving 1.3 million miles.

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