(Credit: Dulles International Airport)A significant new solar and energy storage project at Dulles International Airport in Virginia has broken ground.
The Dulles Solar and Energy Project will be the largest renewable energy project ever developed at a U.S. airport, generating up to 100 megawatts of solar energy and able to store up to 50 megawatts of power. That’s enough to power more than 37,000 Virginia homes at peak output, and the energy produced will serve Dominion Energy customers, which is spearheading the effort.
As part of the lease agreement, Dominion will develop two 1 MW solar carports that will partially power Dulles facilities, as well as provide 18 electric transit buses, 50 electric fleet vehicles, and electric vehicle charging stations for Dulles operations. This exchange is instead of Dominion providing rent to MWAA.
The project will be developed across 835 acres in the southwest corner of Dulles, with construction to begin in late 2023. It is expected to be completed by late 2026.
"This is an exciting moment for the future of clean, reliable energy, not only for Virginia but for the entire nation," Bob Blue, chair, president and CEO of Dominion Energy, said in a statement. "Thanks to our strong partnership with MWAA, millions of travelers flying in and out of Dulles every year will see this powerful symbol of the clean energy transition. Just as air travelers can always count on Dulles to reach their destination, our customers can always count on us to deliver reliable and increasingly clean energy."
Dominion Energy has about 7 million customers in 16 states and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
The development is also expected to offer an economic boon to the area, bringing 300 jobs and $200 million in economic activity. It was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, and Virginia State Corporation Commission, as well as other state and federal agencies, after a multi-year review.
"This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a historic achievement – a first-of-its-kind renewable energy project at a major U.S. airport," Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said in a statement. "I'm hopeful this partnership will serve as a model for future renewable energy projects across the country, paving the way for a greener, energy-independent future. With additional federal investments in clean energy made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, I'm confident that Virginia will continue to lead the way in innovative clean energy production."
The project comes as the aviation industry is testing out alternative jet fuels to replace conventional jet fuel. Recently, Jet Blue and Shell Aviation announced a collaboration to bring sustainable alternative fuel to Los Angeles International Airport.
