Loudoun County, Va

Loudoun County Public Schools Solar Photovoltaic Assessment

Scope of Services
PV Feasibility Study
Utility Rate Study
Electrical Systems Assessment
 

In 2018, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) contracted with 2RW to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays at County elementary, middle, and high schools. The goals of the project were to determine the feasibility of generating renewable energy on-site and to better inform LCPS’s capital planning efforts.

2RW Project Case Study Main Image
Services

2RW provided a feasibility study of prototype designs for an elementary, middle, and high school and the already constructed Academies of Loudoun, including:

  • The 25-year cost implications of PV array configurations and sizes, financial options (upfront PV purchase with net metering, PPA, or purchasing renewable energy credits with no PV), and panel degradation schedules
  • Rate structures analysis of Dominion Energy and Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)
  • Electrical systems assessment to identify electrical infrastructure modifications that might be required to support PV connections
Results

The study found that:

  • Installing solar PV arrays would consistently deliver long-term cost savings
  • A PPA- financed system should see the greatest cost savings over the life of the PV systems
Scope of Services
PV Feasibility Study
Utility Rate Study
Electrical Systems Assessment
 

OWNER: Loudoun County Public Schools

TIMEFRAME: 2018 – 2019

SIZE: 855,000 SF


Highlights

SCHOOLS STUDIED
Elementary School Prototype Design
Middle School Prototype Design
High School Prototype Design
Academies of Loudoun (Constructed)

ARRAY CONFIGURATIONS ANALYZED
Largest possible roof array (no ground-mounted arrays)
Combination of roof- and ground-mounted arrays large enough to offset 100% of annual electricity usage

FINANCIAL Options Analyzed
Upfront purchase of PV array with net metering
Power purchase agreement (PPA)
Purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) with no arrays

RATE STRUCTURES ANALYZED
Dominion Energy
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)

PANEL DEGRADATION SCHEDULES ANALYZED
Warranty-guaranteed
Flat degradation as commonly observed by solar installers
0% degradation as commonly assumed in PPA calculations