Carilion New River Valley Medical Center
A hospital with a holistic vision of health
The system was placed into service in December 2017. Secure Solar Futures and Carillion creating a 1.3 megawatt solar array at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center was another first in Secure Futures’ Virginia portfolio, as the only hospital system in the Commonwealth to utilize a single-axis tracking system (uses a tilted PV panel mount and motor to move the panel on an approximate trajectory relative to the sun’s position).
Over the 35-year lifetime of the solar power system, Carilion is expected to save $16,341,921 in avoided electric utility costs.
Using American-made equipment, the ground-mounted array harnesses the energy of the sun through 3,880 SolarWorld USA 350-Watt XL monocrystalline panels, shaving the hospital’s peak energy demand by 32% annually. The array was installed on leased actively managed farmland adjacent to the hospital, increasing the economic output of the land by doubling as sheep pasture and host site for the solar array.
The project also represents a proof of concept of a Nanogrid, using a JLM 60 kW battery storage unit to help Carilion further reduce its peak load demand charges.
LIVE ENERGY MONITORING
Note: energy monitoring displays can take 60 seconds or more to load.
The Challenge
Extend the hospital’s commitment to the environment and the local economy
The Result
The array was installed on farmland adjacent to the hospital, increasing the economic output of the land by doubling as sheep pasture and host site for the solar array. The project provides important economic development to Southwest Virginia, with a local economic impact of more than $3.8 million. Project size: 1.3 MW. Carbon Footprint reduction: 3.2 million pounds CO2/year