Overview
The Port of Camas-Washougal provides facilities and services for land, air, and water-based commerce along the Columbia River. In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of their operation and become more resilient in the event of power outages, the port commission worked with Power Northwest on a 25kW solar system with 40kWh battery attachment. The project is helping keep their energy costs under control while demonstrating their commitment to protecting the natural world to which they are so closely connected.
Background
The Port of Camas-Washougal was founded in 1935 and has been a staple in the community for both commerce and outdoor recreation. As a way to increase the efficiency and resiliency of one of their key buildings, they decided to explore solar and battery backup as an alternative to relying solely on the electricity grid.
This project was the second collaboration between Power Northwest and the Port of Camas Washougal. The first being a 799 kW Community Solar installation across a handful of buildings owned by the Port that generates renewable electricity for a range of homes and businesses.
Objectives
The needs of the Port’s administration building were a bit more modest but no less critical. The goal of the project was to build a system that would help the port keep their electricity costs under control over time while incorporating an emergency backup power supply in the event of a grid outage.
Results
The resulting system designed and installed by Power Northwest will provide the port with solar power for decades to come. The panels installed come with a 25 year production warranty and should continue to produce well beyond that. Some key stats include:
- 59 420w solar panels
- 26,000 kWh/yr in estimated solar production
- $2,300/yr utility bill savings
- 260,000 metric tons of lifetime carbon offset
- 40 kWh battery backup capacity for when the grid goes down
