Denver Housing Authority: North Lincoln Homes
Solution Overview
Denver Housing Authority (DHA) undertook an ambitious solar installation project to include renewable energy on its existing portfolio of public housing properties.
Background
Denver Housing Authority (DHA) undertook an ambitious solar installation project to include renewable energy on its existing portfolio of public housing properties. DHA worked with Enfinity America Corporation and Oak Leaf Energy Partners to develop an innovative public-private partnership that resulted in a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) - a financial arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates, and maintains the renewable energy system, and a host customer agrees to site the system and purchases the electric output for a predetermined period.
In early 2011, the DHA Real Estate department began exploring opportunities for a comprehensive Solar PPA for its existing affordable housing portfolio. The goals for DHA were to:
- Purchase energy production from renewable source
- Create green jobs
- Establish long-term financial sustainability; and
- Create opportunity for long-term ownership and operation of energy efficient systems.
With proven capabilities in innovative green building and complex financing, DHA designed a viable PPA partnership by grouping existing multi-family properties and housing units for a large-scale solar electric project.
Solutions
DHA installed SolarWorld 240-watt panels across the property, which provides the tenants with clean, renewable, and reliable energy, reducing total source energy usage supplied to the property thereby cutting DHAs utility costs and carbon emissions. Engineered, designed, and installed by Namasté Solar, a solar company based in the State of Colorado. This North Lincoln Home was part of a unique 2.513 MW solar project which used state-of-the-art technology to maximize solar electricity generation.
Other details include:
- $10 million dollar portfolio wide capital investment
- 665 homes received PV systems
- Over 10,400 solar panels installed
- Portfolio wide estimated annual production of 3.3 million kWh
- Annual revenue stream is generated from leasing roof space to the PPA provider
Other Benefits
As a result of the PPA, DHA was able to secure clean power generation through a long-term contract, making the new solar electric systems cost-effective from the very first day of operation. In addition, the PPA will provide long-term predictable energy costs in a volatile fossil fuel environment, and the energy upgrade project itself will create green jobs in Denver.
Image Gallery
North Lincoln Homes - PV systems
