Overview
City & County of Denver at Denver Int'l is a 3.4 MW solar PV facility located at Denver International Airport, Colorado. It is owned by Denver Airport Solar LLC and is operational.
The City & County of Denver at Denver Int'l solar PV facility is a 3.4 megawatt solar installation located at Denver International Airport in Colorado, United States. The facility is owned by Denver Airport Solar LLC and is currently operational, contributing to the airport's renewable energy portfolio. As a solar photovoltaic plant, this facility converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor technology. The 3.4 MW capacity places it in the small-to-medium scale range for solar PV in the United States. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Colorado's Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires investor-owned utilities to generate 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The facility supports Denver International Airport's sustainability goals by reducing reliance on grid electricity and lowering carbon emissions. Solar PV installations at airports are increasingly common due to available land and high energy demand, though they require careful planning to avoid glare impacts on air traffic control.
Environmental context
Located on the high plains of Colorado, the Denver International Airport area experiences over 300 days of sunshine annually, making it ideal for solar energy generation. The facility's placement on airport property minimizes land-use conflicts, as the land is already developed for aviation purposes. Solar PV systems have minimal water requirements and produce no emissions during operation, contributing to local air quality and water conservation goals.
Frequently asked questions
The facility is located at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States.
The facility has a capacity of 3.4 megawatts (MW), making it a small-to-medium scale solar installation.
The facility is owned by Denver Airport Solar LLC.
Key frameworks include the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which provides tax credits for solar, and state-level Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) like Colorado's, which mandates 30% renewable energy by 2025.
Solar PV at airports reduces electricity costs, lowers carbon emissions, and utilizes otherwise unused land, though glare mitigation is necessary to ensure aviation safety.