Solar partnership program will benefit water agencies
SACRAMENTO, California, US, May 4, 2005 (Refocus Weekly)
A partnership program will help water agencies in California to reduce their energy costs through the use of solar power.
The Association of California Water Agencies has signed a five-year agreement
with solar PV manufacturer PowerLight and solar engineering firm WorldWater
& Power. The agreement states that the price for solar systems installed by
water agencies will be guaranteed at the lowest price from competitors for
onsite solar generation systems that run large water pumps or power water
treatment plants.
“Five to seven percent of the state's electricity consumption is by water
agencies for water treatment, pumping, and moving water to get it to
consumers," says Steve Hall of ACWA. By reducing their purchases of
electricity from utilities, operating costs are reduced while the utility grid
has more capacity, providing better service to other customers.
Hall's sentiments were echoed by Quentin T. Kelly, Chairman and CEO of
WorldWater & Power, who remarked, "We are pleased to be able to use our
proprietary technology to drive the pumps for the water systems -- all with no
noise or pollution while reducing or even erasing the utility's annual electric
bill."
The solar systems will exceed the conventional use of solar to supply power for
an office building, and they can power a treatment plant or large motors used
for pumping water, as well as protect agency budgets from higher energy rates.
“California's water agencies will benefit tremendously from wider deployment
of solar technology,” says Dan Shugar of PowerLight. “Through this
partnership, ACWA and its member water agencies will be significantly
contributing to California's overall efforts to achieve sustainability and
energy independence."
PowerLight's ‘PowerTracker’ system features an integrated, single-axis
design that enables the PV modules to automatically follow the sun and maximize
solar generation and greatest cost savings. The unit operates as a
grid-connected solar electric system.
Proprietary technology from WorldWater includes equipment that enables a solar
system to interact seamlessly with the grid and to sense grid power
interruptions with an immediate switch to solar drive to continue motor
operations. It can power motors and pumps up to 600 HP and has completed
projects in 20 countries.
Improved solar technology, together with state-sponsored incentive programs,
makes solar energy an attractive option for water agencies, the groups claim.
ACWA is a state-wide non-profit organization with 447 public agency members
which are responsible for 90% of the water delivered in California for
residential, agricultural and industrial use.
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