Engineers set standard with new solar panel project

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amy Abbott
  • 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  The 452nd Civil Engineer Squadron has been keeping themselves busy contributing to both the base and the environment. They most recently completed a photovoltaic array project that broke ground on June 27, 2006. The project, which is essentially a large set of solar panels, will save the base money, reduce energy consumption and comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 

At this time, there is a large push for energy conservation and the utilization of renewable energy sources. 

In response to that crisis, Sal Aguilar, an electrical engineer intern who began working on base during the middle of the project's construction, explained that the photovoltaic array project was an answer to that crisis. 

He explained that "it constantly collects solar energy and converts it into energy that goes back into the grid, which is the power lines, and in turn services the whole entire base."

"It is a renewable fuel using solar power and that is a big plus right now, since we are not depleting resources. As far as Air Force wide goes, we were the first ones to do a project of this particular size." 

The size of the system is 413.38 kilowatt-hours and it sits atop two carports located on the base. It is expected to have an annual energy production of 711,690 kwh and had a $4,576,753 price tag that was funded through the Energy Conservation Investment Program. 

"Financially, it has a pay back of 10 years, which means whatever we spent we will have made back. Part of that is through our electric bill that will be decreased every month because of what this is putting into our system." 

During the summer months, the base' s electric bill can run as high as $500,000 to $600,000 per month. The new solar panels should decrease the yearly costs by at least 10 percent. 

"The whole point of this is not only energy savings costs, we're also, in turn, supplementing our consumption we use and complying with Air Force policy." 

On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush, signed an energy act which would increase efficiency in federal buildings. This policy required federal agencies to reduce energy consumption in their building by 20 percent of what it had been in 2003, by 2015. 

"I think this was an important step, especially here in California. We really are the leading state for a lot of energy saving ideas," said Mr. Aguilar. "I also think it is really important that the government get involved in environmentally friendly alternatives like this, because it will show the general public that things like these work and they too should pursue projects like these." 

In response to the President's mandate, March' s photovoltaic array project was initiated here four years ago by base electrical engineer Jeff Fong and then was taken over and completed by his successor Larry Delacruz. Now completed and running, it has proved to be not only economically resourceful, but an innovative answer to a serious crisis.