Among the companies involved in the project are Constellation Energy and the Denver-based Oak Leaf Energy Partners. The 4.4 megawatt installation will be financed, owned and operated by Constellation, with the airport having agreed to purchase the generated electricity for 20 years.
The project is expected to begin construction this fall with an eye on completion by early 2011. This particular project is expected to use about 19,000 photovoltaic panels supplied by Yingli Green Energy.
While this will be the largest solar array in Colorado, it will not be the only one at Denver International Airport. There are already two arrays in operation there, one generating 2 megawatts of electricity and the other generating 1.6 megawatts.
"Denver's airport has a widespread reputation as a 'green' airport. Our partnership with Oak Leaf Energy, Constellation Energy and Intermountain Electric not only expands our sustainability efforts, but is a great example of public-private partnerships advancing the 'green economy," said DIA's aviation manager, Kim Day.
