Anna Forrester
The U.S. Army plans to award SunPower a task order to execute a large-scale renewable energy project at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama with the intent to produce up to 18,000 megawatt-hours of power per year.
The Office of Energy Initiatives writes Friday that the proposed solar project is the first under the solar technology portion of the Army’s renewable and alternative energy program, a series of contracts awarded in 2013.
SunPower will work with OEI, Redstone Arsenal and the Army Engineering and Support Center on the legal and technical requirements and will manage all aspects of the project, from funding and construction through maintenance and operations.
Amanda Simpson, OEI executive director, said the solar project will be followed by a combined heat and power project.
“These two privately-financed projects will provide Redstone Arsenal with a sufficient and affordable energy supply to handle critical mission operations if the power from the grid is disrupted,” she said.
OEI also expects the solar project to include a lease and power purchase agreement, which intends to help Redstone Arsenal purchase and consume all generated electricity from the solar facility at a cost comparable to current and future utility rates.
