Rocky Flats Site upgrades solar technology, donates equipment to community nonprofit.
November 30, 2022
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The Rocky Flats Site in Colorado received a solar technology upgrade at the Solar Ponds Plume Treatment System (SPPTS), which also benefitted the community.
The new solar power facility at the Solar Ponds Plume Treatment System (SPPTS) will support current and future power needs at the Rocky Flats Site.
Solar panels, batteries, controllers, and other materials from the previous system were repurposed and donated to GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit organization providing energy access programs to households and solar education training to individuals interested in the field.
“When we make updates at Rocky Flats, it’s great to be able to share our surplus equipment with community groups that can put them to good use,” said Rocky Flats Site Manager Andy Keim.
The solar facility upgrade at the SPPTS is robust enough to charge an electric vehicle (EV), while also maintaining power needs to the system. It can run without charging for a minimum of three days if skies are cloudy.
The new solar facility has a level 2 electric vehicle charger.
The SPPTS is one of three treatment systems at the Rocky Flats Site and was originally designed to passively capture and treat groundwater contaminated with nitrate and uranium. Over time, the system was reconfigured to incorporate active treatment components to improve performance. These active treatment components require power from the Rocky Flats Site, which is off the grid and relies on solar power.
The previous SPPTS power facility was installed in 2009 and incorporated 24 lead acid batteries and 24 ground-mounted solar panels. The electrical equipment for the previous facility was located in open-bottom, underground vaults. The placement and age of the previous components and frequency of maintenance were factors in determining the need for a new facility.
“At LM, we’re here for the long haul, so we periodically replace equipment to ensure the continuing protection of people and the environment at Rocky Flats,” Keim said.
The solar upgrade utilizes advanced technology to manage power needs safely and effectively at the SPPTS. The new facility is constructed around a 40’ x 8’ x 9.5’ tall one-trip, insulated Conex container, lined on the interior with fire-rated plywood. The interior of the Conex is subdivided, with a separate room for the 10 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. These batteries utilize the safest lithium-ion chemistry and are used for residential purposes.
The interior of the Conex houses 10 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries to support power needs at the SPPTS.
The container includes distribution panels, inverters, controllers, lighting, outlets, thermostats, electric baseboard heat in the battery room, and an exhaust fan. A display monitor indicates where the solar system’s electricity is being allocated. The new facility is similar to the facility at the East Trenches Plume Treatment System (ETPTS) at the Rocky Flats Site and will allow for consistency in maintenance and monitoring.
Mounted on the outside and on the top south-side of the Conex are 28, 400-watt (11.20 kWh potential) American-made solar panels. Power conversion and power distribution takes place in a metering vault in waterproof electrical boxes. A level 2 EV charger was also installed on the outside of the Conex.
The new SPPTS solar facility was built to fit expansion needs at the Rocky Flats Site, including powering the future uranium treatment component. The new design can also accommodate additional batteries and solar panels if warranted.