IMS, IPL, SunWize Technologies, Blue Renewable Energy partner on project
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, July 1, 2014 – A ribbon-cutting ceremony, held earlier today, marked the opening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Solar Farm located adjacent to the backstretch of the famed IMS 2.5-mile oval.
The IMS Solar Farm is the largest solar farm at any sporting facility in the world and features a total of 39,312 solar modules that generate 9.0 megawatts of power, which is equal to offsetting 10,288 tons of carbon annually. IMS used a portion of its 1,000 acre campus that was under-utilized and without a specific development plan.
SunWize Technologies, Inc., of San Jose, Calif., and Phoenix-based Blue Renewable Energy, co-developed the project. Blue Renewable Energy entered into a land-lease agreement with IMS to build the system on the property. The system was designed, engineered and installed by SunWize Technologies. Clenera and Swinerton Builders finalized the engineering and constructed the project on behalf of Centaurus Renewable Energy. Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), an AES Company, is the system off-taker under the terms of a Power Purchase Agreement and will own the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) produced by the solar power system.
“In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in part to help advance the automotive industry, which at that time was the new technology of the day,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “Today, IMS is honored to be part of a partnership with IPL, SunWize and Blue Renewable Energy where innovation and technology are coming together to bring diversification of generation resources to this community. The unused land at the IMS property just east of the race track has been transformed into a solar energy production facility that will provide an alternative source of energy to IPL customers.”
“Solar generation is an important component of IPL’s commitment to developing renewable generation resources,” said Ken Zagzebski, President of AES’ U.S. Strategic Business Unit, parent company of IPL. “The new IMS solar farm will be a constant reminder to those who visit the largest spectator sporting facility in the world of the creative solutions taking place here in Indianapolis to increase sustainability.”
“For over 100 years, the iconic IMS has broken its share of records. Now SunWize is honored to be part of the development and execution of this record-breaking solar project, the largest solar power system in the sporting world,” said Scott Tonn, Principal and Managing Director of Tonn Investments, an investor of SunWize Technologies.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Solar Farm Facts and Figures:
Total area of land parcel on which the solar farm is built: 68 acres
Net land area occupied by solar panels: 41.5 acres
Quantity of individual 48″ x 72″ photovoltaic solar panels: 39,314
Area of solar panels: 21.66 acres
Based on 1100 kWh per household per month, number of homes for which the solar farm has the ability to meet the energy needs: 1,000 homes
Approximate quantity of power produced by one 48″ by 72″ solar panel: 230 watts, which can power any of these items:
- Small appliance
- LCD television
- Window fan
- Electric blanket
- Desktop computer
