new Breathe easy New Mexico. Solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm Affordable Solar, has partnered with Array Technologies, Inc. (ATI), an industry leader in solar tracking technology, to bring clean solar energy to thousands of New Mexicans in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. Industry pioneers Affordable Solar and ATI are both locally owned and operate out of Albuquerque.
The Santa Fe Solar Energy Center and Santolina Solar Energy Center, roughly 12 MW (dc) each, haven recently been completed near Santa Fe and Albuquerque respectively. The projects’ 78,000+ Jinko modules mounted on ATI’s DuraTrack HZ v3 single-axis trackers will provide reliable power to the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM).
The projects were developed by PNM as part of the replacement plan for closing two coal fired units at San Juan Generating Station and also to respond to state-mandated Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The declining cost of solar energy, combined with solar’s ability to provide energy at peak demand times, is driving utility adoption of solar plants to meet RPS requirements across the nation. Solar trackers enhance peak power generation by broadening daily production curves, delivering smooth energy to the grid well into the late afternoon and early evening.
“This has been a great opportunity to work with ATI and to use their new DuraTrack HZ v3 system,” said Kevin Bassalleck, President of Affordable Solar’s Commercial Division, “ATI’s unique tracker design easily accommodates changes in topography and helped achieve PNM’s goal of minimizing environmental impact by avoiding any site grading.”
“We are proud to partner with Affordable Solar to deliver competitive solar power to PNM here in our home state,” explained ATI founder and CEO, Ron Corio. ”Thanks to solar tracking technology, Santa Fe Solar Energy Center and Santolina Solar Energy Center will provide smooth and continuous power throughout the day, especially when PNM needs it most.”
Chosen for its proven reliability in desert environments, installation efficiency and zero scheduled maintenance for 30 years, Array’s DuraTrack HZ v3 system will provide PNM sustainable electricity for years to come.