Third Solar Installation for Denver Airport

Another 4.4 megawatts of solar panels will be installed at Denver International Airport. Currently they have 3.6 megawatts which provide about half the power used to run the onsite trains for passengers. The extra 4.4 megawatts will make DIA the largest photovoltaic energy producer in the state of Colorado.

Aviation manager for the airport Kim Day said, “Denver’s airport has a widespread reputation as a green airport. Our partnership with Oak Leaf Energy, Constellation Energy and Intermountain Electric not only expands our sustainability efforts, but is a great example of public-private partnerships advancing the green economy.” (Source: Denver.bizjournals.com)

The new solar panels will be installed this fall and the entire project will be finished by early 2011. Intermountain Electric Inc. will build the system, with solar panels provided by Yingli Green Energy. The new power array will reportedly reduce CO2 emissions by 5,000 metric tons per year. (Source: Businessweek.com)

A large green parking lot for the airport offers electric vehicle-charging stations, shuttles that run on compressed-natural gas, wind turbines, solar power, geothermal power, and their own ethanol producer, called a microfueler.

These are some of the features at Denver International Airport which have led it to be called one of the greenest airports in the country. It is also one of the largest. Last year over fifty million travelers passed through. It generates 22 billion dollars each year.

Image Credit: Public Domain

Read more: Conscious Consumer, Green, dia, solar

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer C.

5:38AM PDT on Mar 29, 2012

Thanks.

send a green star

Dan M.

9:31AM PDT on Mar 24, 2012

Cool

John S.

7:25AM PDT on Jun 6, 2011

Every bit helps, way to go.

Robert O.

11:41AM PDT on Nov 2, 2010

That's good to hear. It would be nice if it could be implemented at all airports (where feasible).

11:44AM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

Thanks

11:43AM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

+20 Thanks

11:41AM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

add +20

Past Member .

3:10PM PDT on Oct 13, 2010

I have a question. This airport was built about 20 years ago. Why didn't they make it green then? This was a known technology then. I'm really glad they are finally doing this but it's like congratulating someone because the finally stopped robbing you after 20 years. They had 20 years to go green and could have saved a lot of the environment and money had they done this right then. They chose not to then, and we paid the price and now we will pay again to re-do all of this.

JAMES M.

7:46PM PDT on Oct 7, 2010

I hait to be negative but if we put all of the solar panils on top of homes we could have trees there right

Karl K.

3:41AM PDT on Oct 5, 2010

The large, new green parking facility serving Denver International Airport will be called Canopy Airport Parking. Major structural work on Canopy is complete, and it will open in late 2010.

Canopy Airport Parking uses solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy to power parking facility operations. The off-airport parking facility will use CNG, Biodiesel, and Hybrid buses

-Karl Kelman
Marketing Manager
Canopy Airport Parking