IND Solar Farm Commissioning
October 18th, 2013 | Posted in News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2013
Largest Airport-Based Solar Farm in North America Commissioned on October 18 at Indianapolis International Airport
The IND Solar Farm at the Indianapolis International Airport, with project partners General Energy Solutions, Telamon Corporation, Johnson Melloh Solutions, Indianapolis Airport Authority and Indianapolis Power & Light Company, today, October 18, 2013, announced the commissioning of a 12.5 MW DC solar photovoltaic project.
The Honorable Mayor Greg Ballard and Victor Smith, Secretary of Commerce – Indiana Economic Development Corporation joined in the celebration of the IND Solar Farm Commissioning. The IND Solar Farm, the largest airport-based solar farm in North America, consists of 44,128 panels, producing 12.5 megawatts DC of power on 75 acres of land at the Indianapolis International Airport.
Creating a facility this vast and high tech came with a $35-$40 million dollar investment. A solar facility of this size has the capacity to generate more than 16.5 million kilowatt hours of electric energy annually, enough to power more than 1,800 average American homes for a year.
“This project sends a powerful message to business leaders and visitors that Indy is forward looking and innovative,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “When you couple this solar farm with our electric car share program, world renowned bike amenities, and SustainIndy improvements, you can clearly see that Indianapolis is taking a national leadership role in promoting alternative energy technology.”
“As a state that works for innovation, Indiana is charting new territory in technology and creating endless possibilities for the future,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “Companies across the globe select Indiana because Hoosiers aren’t afraid to reach for new heights, like building North America’s largest airport-based solar farm. When flying into Indiana, remember to keep an eye out for the next Hoosier success story.”
The IND Solar Farm is already a distinguished landmark for those onlookers driving past the airport on I-70, as well as pilots and passengers as they approach and depart the airfield. “As the first and last thing many air travelers visiting our city see, the IND Solar Farm is an iconic reminder of the commitment by our airport and our region to sustainability and innovative economic development,” says Michael Wells, president of the Indianapolis Airport Authority board of directors.
“Telamon has been proud to play the role of developer for the IND Solar Farm,” said Albert Chen, President & CEO of Telamon Corporation. “Today’s commissioning announcement marks a first for the state of Indiana as the largest airport-based solar farm in North America now calls Indianapolis home. We look forward to the future growth of solar in Indiana and what benefits the IND Solar Farm brings to the community.”
“GES is proud to own and operate the IND Solar Farm,” said David Su, CEO of GES. “It’s a great example of the future of solar energy and an exceptional use of green technology that we hope will inspire cooperative efforts like these across the US and the globe.”
“We are very happy that the solar array has started to produce clean energy and the community in whole has embraced our new pathway to the airport property,” said Kurt Schneider, Partner Vice President of Johnson Melloh Solutions. “The economic stimulus and financial expectations have surpassed our expectations, and we look forward to Indiana government advancing the community’s vision that is now a reality.”
The electricity produced by the solar farm is directly linked to the IPL power grid, which is then connected to all of the homes and businesses in the greater Indianapolis area. The airport does receive its power from the IPL power grid, so the airport may receive a portion of power from the solar farm – albeit no differently than local homes and business will receive theirs. However, the primary benefit to the airport is the land-lease revenue on the previously undeveloped land where the solar farm now resides.
“Solar generation is an important part of our plans to balance our electricity generation portfolio,” said Kelly Huntington, IPL President. “With the IND Solar Farm and other solar projects in process, solar and wind will represent 10% of our generation portfolio by 2017.”
IND Solar Farm is thankful for all the support that has occurred in the commissioning process and looks forward to its impact in the Indianapolis community.
Commissioning sponsors included Solectria Renewables, Sharp Business Systems, Residence Inn Marriott and Fairfield Inn and Suites Marriott.
For information on the solar farm, visit IND Solar Farm’s Facebook page INDSolarFarm, or Twitter @INDSolarFarm or website at 37a.785.myftpupload.com.
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ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT AUTHORITY
The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport, its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport, and Metropolitan Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in 2010 and 2012 in Airports Council International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus, and the airport has won recognition for excellent customer service, concessions programs, and art and architecture.
IND’s economic impact in Central Indiana is more than $4.5 billion annually, and about 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves more than 7 million business and leisure travelers each year and averages 137 daily flights to 32 nonstop destinations. Home of the world’s second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility, IND is committed to becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at Indianapolis International Airport and Twitter page at @INDairport.
ABOUT GENERAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS
General Energy Solutions USA, a global solar energy company headquartered in Taiwan, is proud to help our clients secure a brighter and cleaner future by harnessing solar power to efficiently, safely and responsibly meet our energy needs, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing reliance on traditional fuels. Through close alliances with strategic partners, such as Neo Solar Power (www.nsp.com), GES’s major shareholder and second largest solar cell manufacturer in the world, GES invests responsibly in our communities at every step of the process to complete integrated solar energy solutions: wafers; solar cells; photovoltaic modules; and solar farm design, construction and operation. For more information, please visit www.gesyw.com.
ABOUT TELAMON CORPORATION
Telamon Corporation’s goal is to simplify business. Telamon specializes in solutions for telecommunication networks, business transaction processing, energy efficiency, industrial assembly, and telehealth services. Based in Carmel, Indiana, Telamon operates in ten locations – eight domestic and two international. Telamon, the Greek word for “support”, is uniquely positioned as a minority owned company. Telamon continuously exceeds customer expectations and standards and has been recognized globally through numerous awards and certifications. For more information, please visit Telamon’s website at www.telamon.com
ABOUT JOHNSON MELLOH SOLUTIONS
Formed in response to the growing need of an energy services company that can self-perform, Johnson Melloh Solutions focuses on energy conservation services and general contracting for customer classes, ranging from residential renewable energy offerings to energy savings contracting for school systems to large scale industrial energy plant management and service. JMS develops a holistic evaluation of their customers’ energy infrastructure and then has the wherewithal to implement the ideas. JMS stands ready to address all of the energy demands their clients may face. For more information, please visit www.johnsonmellohsolutions.com.
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
Indianapolis Power & Light Company provides retail electric service to more than 470,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana communities surrounding Marion County. During its long history, IPL has supplied its customers with some of the lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. IPL has received the “Highest Customer Satisfaction With Business Electric Service in the Midwestern U.S. among Midsize Utilities,” according to J.D. Power and Associates’ 2013 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study. For more information about the company, please visit www.IPLpower.com.