The Tallahassee Regional Airport announced the installation of 176 solar panels and a solar photovoltaic system in the main terminal on Nov. 7. The solar panels are estimated to generate about 20 kilowatts of solar power a day.
The energy created through solar panels will decrease the amount TLH pays for its electric bill. The solar photovoltaic system is part of the water intrusion project.
The sustainability initiative is being used to reduce operating costs and promote green technologies with the City of Tallahassee public and private facilities. City officials have promised to reduce the city’s dependence on fossil fuels that cause pollution in our environment.
“The benefit is these panels produce power during the peak load, during the day on week days, which is the most expensive time electricity is generated. The more and more these systems are hooked up, the more we produce peak load supply,” said Al Simpler who worked with Simpler Solar System for more than 35 years.
Solar electric panels produce zero emissions and make no adverse mark on the environment.
Tim Fadiora, the facilities manager at TLH, estimated the solar photovoltaic system cost about $180,000 to implement. Fadiora is optimistic about the benefits of the system to the airport.
“The immediate benefit the airport will have is that some of the airport energy consumption will be met by what is collected through the solar panels. That also means there will be a reduction in carbon dioxide emission. The most important thing is that the City of Tallahassee as a whole is committed to sustainable living. The emphasis placed on each department is to find a way for energy reduction, and these solar panels are the answer,” said Fadiora.
According to a press release, dated Nov. 7, the solar project is expected to save approximately 36 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The solar panels are part of the city wide sustainability goal. Each of the city departments have a goal to help create a sustainable environment and clean energy environment.
“The beauty is that these solar panels were designed as a module so these panels are just the first phase of the airport clean energy effort,” said Fadiora.
As passengers fly in and out of the airport, they will be able to see these solar panels on the roof of the airport. Travelers and guests can go to the solar display cabinet located in the baggage claim area to look at the 42-inch system activity monitor and see how much solar energy is being produced in real time. The system can also be
monitored online at www.solrenview.com.
Ursula Ible, a fourth-year environmental science student at Florida A&M, is excited about the solar panels implementation.
“It’s incorporating innovative technology in our public facilities and it raises the standard for our communities and universities as well,” said Ible, who is also vice president for the Environmental Science
Student Organization at FAMU. “This is great encouragement for our generation to consider the possibilities of clean energy.”