Case Study: Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Reclamation Pump Station Solar Pholovoltaic Project

Abstract

In early 2004, Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District, which serves
residents of Northern Marin District, completed the installation of an 81-
kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) power system that provides electricity
for its reclamation pump station.
After completing a competitive proposal process, the District con-
tracted with EI Solutions (formerly Prevalent Power, Inc.), a solar power
systems integrator, to engineer, finance and install the PV system. The
system was designed to zero the building’s electricity bills and eliminate
harmful emissions, initially saving the District around $22,000 per year.
The system purchase was financed in part with funds from
California’s rebate program; construction financing was provided by EI
Solutions and its suppliers. Over its lifetime the system will generate
$900,000 in direct energy cost savings. The system is expected to pay for
itself in about 11 years, and will then provide another 20 years or so of
“free” power to the District.
This case study provides an inside look at the PV engineering pro-
cess, presents a set of best practices in PV system design and installation,
and examines the economic and environmental rationale for purchasing
the system.