Thanks to a newly-installed solar field and battery energy storage system at 5 CDSB Gagetown鈥檚 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Facility, the Department of National Defence (DND) is one step closer to achieving its first net-zero building.
Located approximately 15-km within the training area, the facility already features the following dedicated systems: geothermal heating, domestic water, greywater and septic.
鈥淩ight now, the building is tied to the grid,鈥 explains Doug Thompson, 糖心视频 Coordinator, Facility Management, who has been working closely with DND and the contractor, Maritech Construction Inc. with subcontractor FCC Electrical. 鈥淥nce the facility is fully commissioned in December 2021, we鈥檙e going to disconnect it and run it off the solar field and battery system to verify that the facility can fully function on its own.鈥
The solar field consists of 984 440-watt bifacial panels that capture sunlight from above and reflected light from snow below. The battery system uses intelligent technology based on weather and other data to optimize energy storage, releasing it on demand for systems such as lighting.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what鈥檚 called an island effect, as the building can basically stand alone,鈥 says Thompson. 鈥淚n today鈥檚 world, energy is at the top of everyone鈥檚 mind鈥攆or the construction industry and for DND, to meet its emission reduction target of 40聽percent by 2025. This is definitely moving in that direction.鈥