California public power utility Burbank Water and Power on July 31 announced the groundbreaking of what will become Burbank’s largest solar system.
The 2.4 megawatt solar system will be installed on the rooftop of a parking lot at the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC). The system will be connected to a 4-hour lithium-ion battery storage system.
“We want to thank our partners at the Hollywood Burbank Airport and the Airport Authority for helping to make this renewable project a reality for our community,” said Mandip Samra, General Manager, Burbank Water and Power.
Finding optimal sun exposure for large solar installations can be a major challenge in dense areas like Burbank. The RITC location provides 174,000 square feet (4-acres) of rooftop space and will hold 4,260 American-made solar panels. The energy generated will go directly to the Burbank community.
Without proper storage, solar power is limited to daylight hours. In this project, the battery will store excess energy, which can then be discharged to the community during peak usage, helping to prevent power outages, the utility noted.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2025. “It is special to have this resource here in our community. Connecting to zero-carbon energy generated outside of Burbank requires access to transmission lines, which take an average of 10 years to build,” said Samra. “This project gets BWP one step closer to meeting our zero-carbon energy supply goal by 2040, five years earlier than mandated by the State of California.”
