Florida's Naples Airport Installs 100-kW Solar System on New Warehouse Storage Building
Key Takeaways
- •Naples Airport is installing a 100-kilowatt solar array on a newly built warehouse facility, with full operation expected by summer's end.
- •The solar system was engineered as a non-penetrating design to withstand Florida's extreme weather conditions while maintaining the roof warranty.
- •The airport authority secured an interconnection agreement with Florida Power & Light earlier this year, as mandated by the Florida Public Service Commission for self-generating utility customers.
- •The solar project complements prior sustainability initiatives at the airport, including the adoption of electric ground vehicles, cleaner-burning fuels, and a new water filtration system protecting the Gordon River and Naples Bay.
- •U.S. airports are increasingly adopting on-site solar generation, supported by FAA programs such as the Voluntary Airport Low Emission Program, to reduce costs and lower carbon emissions.
Naples Airport in Florida is installing a 100-kilowatt solar system atop a newly built warehouse storage building on its campus. The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of summer.
"The cost savings by adding solar are substantial, but the environmental impacts are even greater," said Chris Rozansky, executive director for the Naples Airport Authority. "Naples Airport has been 'going green' for many years, and this solar installation is yet another example of how an airport can be good stewards to the environment while simultaneously making sound financial decisions."
General contractor Owen-Ames-Kimball led construction of the airport's new building, while PayOli Energy designed and installed the rooftop solar array. The non-penetrating system was engineered for Florida's extreme weather conditions. It powers the facility while preserving the roof warranty and maintaining a sleek, low-profile aesthetic.
"Partnering with Owen-Ames-Kimball on this landmark Naples Airport project highlights what can be achieved when construction and solar engineering align," said Juan David Payares, founder and CEO of PayOli Energy. "Delivering high-capacity, reliable, clean energy to critical municipal infrastructure requires an uncompromising commitment to quality. This installation demonstrates how solar can enhance operational resiliency, protect vital assets and advance sustainability across Southwest Florida for decades to come."
The Naples Airport Authority's board approved an interconnection agreement with Florida Power & Light earlier this year, as required by the Florida Public Service Commission for self-generating utility customers.
The solar installation builds on a series of sustainability initiatives undertaken by the airport in recent years. These include the introduction of alternative, cleaner-burning fuels and the conversion of many ground vehicles and equipment from gasoline to electric power. Additionally, Naples Airport authorized the design and construction of a new water management system that filters water and removes impurities before runoff flows into the Gordon River and Naples Bay.
Airports across the United States have increasingly turned to on-site solar generation to reduce energy costs and lower carbon emissions, with the Federal Aviation Administration supporting such projects through its Voluntary Airport Low Emission Program and other sustainability initiatives. Florida ranks among the top states nationally for installed solar capacity, benefiting from abundant sunshine that makes rooftop arrays like Naples Airport's particularly productive.
News item from Naples Airport Authority.
