Antares Evaluates Solar Energy Systems at Biscayne National Park

The National Park Service was granted technical assistance from ANTARES and DOE-FEMP to assess energy consumption and design solar energy systems. ANTARES met with the National Park Service (NPS) in May 2007 to start a solar energy feasibility study focused on two locations in the Biscayne National Park (BNP) in Homestead, FL.  The NPS wished to harness the abundant solar energy in South Florida to: (1) reduce electricity costs through PV and energy efficiency measures to free more funds for maintaining their facilities and the park; and (2) demonstrate environmental stewardship by lowering the carbon footprint of these facilities.

The facilities are off grid but powered with diesel generators. Based on recent diesel purchases and estimated consumption, ANTARES found that the cost of electricity at the two facilities, Adams Key and Elliot Key, was $0.78 per kWh and $0.61 per kWh respectively.  ANTARES then developed three potential PV generation options for Adams Key and two PV options for Elliot Key.  These options were compared against the existing conditions using a life cycle cost analysis compliant with 10 CFR 436.  

Based on the results from the energy analysis, ANTARES made suggestions for reducing the electricity requirements at both facilities, including replacing light bulbs, using solar hot water heating, and installing Energy Star-rated appliances.  For the Adams Key facility, ANTARES suggested installing a 24 kW PV array, because it appeared to best suit the existing loads at Adams Key while providing a substantial life cycle cost savings.  For the Elliot facility, a 49.5 kW PV array project would provide around 100% of the electricity via renewable resources.  These two projects maximized the LCC savings for the solar PV investment, though neither system would provide significant life cycle cost savings over the status quo.

Since the completion of the study in 2007, Biscayne National Park installed a smaller 15 kW array at Adams Key in June 2010 using ARRA funds.  Although smaller than the array proposed by ANTARES, the array has significantly reduced the demand of the on-site diesel generators.