Blue Oak Energy designs largest PV project achieved by US Coast Guard

DAVIS, USA: Blue Oak Energy and Point 2 Structural Engineers designed a 2.8 megawatt solar electric project for the US Coast Guard in Puerto Rico as part of a large-scale energy savings performance program implemented by Schneider Electric. The US Coast Guard reduced greenhouse gases (GHG) by replacing brown power with PV-generated green power.

“By replacing conventional forms of energy with renewables, the Coast Guard not only reduces GHG emissions but also improves the reliability of its electrical system, especially important in the hurricane belt of the Caribbean,” said federal energy solutions program manager for Schneider Electric, Kevin Vaughn.

The PV systems span two sites – Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla and Rio Bayamon Housing Center in San Juan – and includes: 200 residential rooftops, six commercial rooftops, five carports arrays and three ground mount arrays.

Significant variations in building elevations and orientations combined with extreme weather conditions posed a unique challenge to provide economical and technically feasible designs.

“We standardized design across many small housing units, multi-use facilities and time weathered buildings, some dating as far back as World War II,” said Blue Oak Energy Engineering project manager, Zack Zoller. “We went with a campus-wide approach to lower design and installation costs.”