SunEdison’s Solar Plant Juices Up Davis-Monathan Air Force Base

By Balazs Szekely, Associate Editor

SunEdison and MIC Solar Energy Holdings have recently completed the construction of a 16.4 megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

The project is backed by a public/private alliance between Davis-Monthan AFB, SunEdison, The North American Development Bank, MIC Solar Energy Holdings, and Chevron Energy Solutions. The SunEdison Renewable Operation Center will manage plant operations through a contract with MIC Solar Energy Holdings that took ownership of the project.

A global leader in semiconductor and solar technology, SunEdison is a manufacturer and provider of solar energy services with R&D and manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia developing, financing, installing and operating distributed power plants for commercial, government and utility customers. MIC Solar Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company LLC, owns, operates and invests in infrastructure businesses.

Bob Powell, president of SunEdison North America, considers the Air Force a perfect candidate for renewable power because of its high electricity demand and the fact that the armed forces often have large underutilized lands at their disposal. “This project was very rewarding for our team because we are helping save our fellow taxpayers’ money,” he added.

The plant is currently the largest solar energy facility at any U.S. Department of Defense installation. The Air Force is working to increase its use of renewable electricity to 25 percent by 2025 as it is currently the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, and this plant is expected to reduce utility costs by $500,000 annually for the next 25 years.

SunEdison installed its Silvantis branded modules at the solar power plant, which utilize the company’s wafers specialized for maximum efficiency and durability. Located on two plots of previously underutilized land totaling 170 acres, the facility is designed to provide 35 percent of the electricity requirements of the base and is expected to generate enough electricity to power north of 5,000 houses.

Photo credits: SunEdison LLC