
The Solar PV Demonstration Facility and Climate-Change Education Center
Background
This “solar project” was conceived in the summer of 2006, while preparing an application for the Florida Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Grant Program. Several Orange County departments, including the Convention Center and the Environmental Protection Division, partnered with the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), and others, and they were awarded a $2.5M state grant for this $8.8M project.
Project Summary
This project has five primary components: a one-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system, four nominal 10-kilowatt PV systems, a Climate-Change Education Center (CCEC), a statewide marketing program, and an economic development program. The showcase one-megawatt PV system is the largest rooftop PV system in the southeast United States. The four smaller “experimental” PV systems were selected to demonstrate various promising PV technologies. The education center and its marketing program were established to promote the use of renewable energy while helping to educate the public on climate change issues. The economic development program helps create RET jobs, and it attracts capital investments by RET companies.
Energy Production, Environmental and Technical Information
The one-megawatt system will produce approximately 1,400 megawatt hours of electricity per year (this is equivalent to the power used by 100 typical homes). For additional information on the five PV systems mentioned above please click on the following links:
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Questions or want to learn more about the Orange County Convention Center?
Please call us at (407) 685-9800 or (800) 345-9845 or email us at Info@occc.net. |