D3Energy, a developer of floating solar in the U.S., has partnered with Ameresco to introduce a floating solar array at the Signal Hill Water Treatment Plant in Utah, operated by Mountain Regional Water.
The 600-kW system is expected to offset over 90 percent of the plant's power. The project utilizes the Hydrelio floating system of Ciel & Terre, a provider of floating solar solutions.
"Water treatment plants, like Signal Hill, are ideal candidates for floating solar due to the large, often unused water surfaces they manage," said Stetson Tchividjian, Managing Director at D3Energy. "This technology allows facilities to reduce energy costs and their environmental footprint while optimizing available resources."
Floating solar has the capacity to improve water quality by reducing evaporation and inhibiting algae growth, leading to lower maintenance costs and improved operational efficiency. Floating solar systems are designed to have minimal impact on aquatic life, preserving the health of water ecosystems while providing renewable energy.
In 2024 so far, D3Energy has also installed Ohio's first floating array at Del-Co Water, as well as the largest system in the Southeast United States for Orange County Utilities in Florida. Additionally, the company completed a project in New Zealand at a wastewater facility.
The mission critical nature of irrigation districts and water and wastewater treatment plants is leading those utilities to embrace distributed energy and microgrid solutions from companies such as Ameresco, Enchanted Rock and ESS Inc.
