The Selma-Kingsburg-Fowler County Sanitation District (SKFCSD) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 8 to celebrate the start of construction on an integrated solar/battery storage system that will help power treatment facilities across 222 hectares of SKFCSD service territory.
The SKFCSD held the groundbreaking ceremony along with two ENGIE North America companies — OpTerra Energy Services and Green Charge — who will help with the development of the renewable energy system.
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Due to the integrated solar, battery storage, and other conservation technology upgrades across the district, SKFCSD will save US$14.7 million in energy and maintenance costs over the span of the programme.
The project is currently in the construction phase and is expected to be completed by summer 2018.
The installation will feature more than 2.4MW of solar installed at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with a solar parking structure at the district’s administration building. A 500kW / 1,000 kWh energy storage battery system will supplement the addition of solar.
In addition to saving US$14.7 million over the life of the 20-year system, the project will also reduce district electricity spending by 70%.
David Cárdenas, chairman of the SKFCSD, said: “Our district is excited to implement a programme that will not only save us US$14.7 million in energy costs, but also allow us to demonstrate the positive fiscal and environmental impact of leading-edge solar and energy storage solutions to our customers across Fresno and to other public agencies statewide.”