The Southeast’s largest floating solar plant might be producing power quickly on the U.S. Army’s Fort Bragg in North Carolina after a serious utility energy service contract with Duke Energy and its prime contractor, Ameresco.
The 1.1 MW solar facility is a part of a $36 million contract that targeted on energy resilience and safety at Fort Bragg, together with infrastructure modernization, lighting and water upgrades, heating, air flow and air-conditioning, and boiler system enhancements.
“Duke Energy’s work with Fort Bragg will lead to better energy efficiency and cost savings at the base,” says Brian Savoy, Duke Energy’s chief technique and business officer. “We’re excited to help put Fort Bragg at the forefront of renewable energy innovation through this unique floating solar facility.”
The floating solar system was constructed on the Big Muddy Lake positioned at Camp Mackall. Fort Bragg will personal and function the solar system.
“We are grateful for our relationship with Duke Energy and Ameresco,” feedback Col. Scott Pence, garrison commander for Fort Bragg. “With this system, the largest floating solar array in the Southeast, we will be able to provide energy resiliency to Fort Bragg operations through sustainable resources. With this partnership, Fort Bragg not only has renewable electricity, but energy security that will be critical with continuing the installation’s mission during a power outage.”
The floating solar set up is being paired with a 2 MW battery energy storage system. The system will provide power to Fort Bragg from the native grid and supply power throughout electrical service outages.
“The opportunity to implement this innovative use of clean energy technology for a military base as notable as Fort Bragg was one that our Federal Solutions team was thrilled to lead on,” states Nicole Bulgarino, Ameresco’s government vp and normal supervisor of Federal Solutions. “The completed floating solar system – still an underutilized technology in the U.S. – will assure the Army’s mission with clean energy. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Duke Energy and Fort Bragg, working to identify additional state-of-the-art opportunities to reduce the installation’s energy consumption and strengthen its resilience.”
“This project fulfills the commitment made in our Army Climate Strategy to increase resilience while delivering clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” provides Rachel Jacobson, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and atmosphere. “When we collaborate with local utilities and industry to promote energy resilience while powering the local grid, it is a winning solution across the board.”
