Photo by Stetson Tchividjian, D3Energy, on LinkedIn
Ameresco celebrated the completion of Utah’s first floating solar array in late September, developed in partnership with Mountain Regional Water Special Service District. The floating solar project, located on a pond at the Signal Hill Water Treatment Plant, was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from Ameresco, Mountain Regional Water and Rocky Mountain Power.
Ameresco partnered with D3Energy to develop the 587.5 kW floating solar panels, supported by a $400,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Award program. By supplying electricity directly to the water treatment plant, the system will offset 92% of the energy consumption of the plant’s electricity grid and reduce energy costs by 80%.
“These floating solar panels demonstrate the benefit of thinking beyond conventional approaches,” said Lou Maltezos, executive VP of Ameresco. “The idea that solar panels must be placed on land is an unnecessary restriction. By rethinking their placement, we unlock new possibilities for sustainability. The district isn’t just implementing solar for itself; they invest deeply in the economics of this project. This first-ever floating solar panel in Utah is both innovative and economically feasible, making it a great example of sustainable development.”
The floating solar panels efficiently use available water surfaces to generate renewable energy, providing an ideal solution for maximizing energy production without impacting land resources.
“Traditional ground or rooftop solar was not an option for us at this facility, but this innovative floating solar installation taps into an untapped resource,” said Chris Braun, Chief Technology Officer of Mountain Regional. “This is one more piece of the puzzle for us to achieve a ‘Net-Zero’ energy goal as we strive to be responsible stewards of the community and the environment.”
The project was completed ahead of schedule, with construction completed on September 10, 2024 and commissioning completed on September 20. The full operating license for the utility is expected on October 23, 2024.
Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Program awarded this project to the Mountain Regional Water Service District as one of dozens of community-based renewable energy projects awarded in 2023. Blue Sky is an opt-in program that gives Rocky Mountain Power customers the option to power all or a portion of their energy use with renewable energy, reducing their carbon footprint and driving demand for new renewable energy in the West. Since 2006, Blue Sky program participants have helped finance more than 216 new community-based renewable energy projects in the communities of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
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