This is the second project collaboration of its kind for Sol Systems and Illinois American Water. They cut the ribbon on their first 2.3 MW array, located in Champaign County, in November 2021.
Justin Ladner, Illinois American Water President, said the Solar Fields support the company’s “commitment to protect the environment, while supporting sustainability and affordability.”
“The vast majority of energy consumed by water utilities is used to pump water” said Mr Ladner. “By reducing energy consumption and emissions we can use water more efficiently, protect the environment and reduce costs to our customers.”
Illinois American Water will purchase the electricity under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Sol Customer Solutions, enabling the company to realise low, fixed electricity costs without upfront expenditure. Sol Customer Solutions is a joint venture between Sol Systems and Arevon Energy, Inc. Arevon will manage the asset and Sol Systems will operate and maintain the project.
Sol Systems partnered with construction firm Melink Solar to build the project. The project’s features include bifacial panels, which take in additional reflected energy on both sides of each panel, and single-axis trackers that rotate the panels to face the sun throughout the day.
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