California sanitation district to save US$14.7 million due to PV/storage installation

By Conor Ryan
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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%. Image: SKFCSD

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.

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.

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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.”

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