The Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, Calif., is recognized for its technological innovations that have reduced costs and allowed the Alameda County facility to operate in a more safe and secure manner. The addition of the renewable solar power generation plant is one more example of the county’s leadership under Sheriff Gregory Ahern. The renewable solar energy plant is powered by 170, 72-cell, large format polycrystalline Talesun Solar modules that will generate enough electricity to offset half of the facility’s electricity needs or 120,000 kWh of electricity per year.
The solar plant is equipped with a QBotix tracking system, which the manufacturer says increases solar panel’s energy generation by more than 30% compared to traditional fixed mount systems. The durable “SolBot” travels on a track and adjusts each module tracker periodically to optimally face the sun. Each SolBot comes with its own back-up and replaces hundreds of individual motors and controllers found in conventional tracking systems.
Signal Energy, one of Solar Power World’s top contractors of 2012, designed and built the Santa Rita project, which will reduce carbon emissions by 90 tons annually or the equivalent to the sequestration of 450 trees per year.
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