Renewable Energy
The life cycle of a renewable energy project typically includes several key phases. It begins with the planning and feasibility stage, where site assessments and environmental impacts are evaluated. Next is the design and development phase, followed by construction, where the actual installation of the renewable energy systems takes place. Once operational, the project enters the operation and maintenance phase, ensuring efficiency and longevity, before eventually transitioning into decommissioning, where systems are safelyled or repurposed.
Solar Farm, MD
BEI provided services for design and engineering phase for building a total of 10MW solar farm on the following two sites for WSSC, on a combined total of 40 acres of land.
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Seneca Creek WWT, Gaithersburg
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Western Branch WWT, Upper Marlboro
Each site featured nearly 8,500 ground mounted solar panels, with approximate generation of 6.6 million kWh of solar energy each year. This accounted for approximately 17% of the electricity required to operate the two plants. The following aspects were considered:
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Site selection
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Land Characteristics
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Proximity to Electrical Infrastructure
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Solar Irradiance
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Transportation and site access assessment
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Environmental Impact Assessment
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Environmental Permits
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Zoning and Land Use Permits
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Client: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Reagan Airport, Washington DC
BEI designed for a 110 KW roof mount, solar system. This included 45 solar panels, ballast mounted on approximately 2,000 SF of existing roof of the airport terminal.
These ballast blocks were strategically placed along the perimeter of the solar panel array to counterbalance wind forces and keep the system secure. The installation process involved carefully positioning the blocks on the mounting surface, ensuring that they are evenly distributed to maintain equilibrium, to prevent the panels from shifting or tipping over. This not only enhanced the structural integrity of the solar array but also contributed to its overall energy output and performance by optimizing the system’s angle towards the sun for maximum efficiency. The following aspects were considered:
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Field investigation to evaluate the existing roof layout
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Structural analysis/ Load survey of existing roof members
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Design for additional beam reinforcement to handle the proposed solar panel loads
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Solar panel and conduit layout
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Designed for obtained building permits from WMATA
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Client: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
