SunPower & Goldman Sachs To Build JFK Airport PV Project

• SunPower and Goldman Sachs Renewable Energy have secured the contract to build a solar with storage and community solar project for the JFK Airport in New York
• It will comprise 13 MW onsite solar capacity with 7.5 MW of battery storage including 6.1 MW community solar generation facility
• Panels will be deployed at Building 141 and Long Term Parking Lot 9 along with energy storage capacity

With approximately 13 MW project capacity, John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport is set to host New York City's 'single-largest solar energy project.' The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has selected SunPower Corporation and Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group to build this project.

SunPower, that recently split itself in downstream and an upstream company, will build the project as a developer and contractor, whereas Goldman Sachs will be responsible for the power purchase agreement (PPA). Community solar company BlueWave Solar will provide access to small businesses and residents near the airport to the grid connected clean power generated by the Airport PV project at a discounted price.

Along with 13 MW onsite solar capacity, the JFK International Airport Solar Photovoltaic Project will also have close to 7.5 MW of battery storage, including a 6.1 MW community solar generation facility. This makes it the 'largest planned community solar project at an airport' in the US, added the Port Authority.

The project will be developed in partnership with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and will help the Port Authority bring down its purchase of conventional electricity and reduce the airport's GHG emissions by around 6,699 tons annually.

Approximately 1 MW rooftop solar capacity will be installed on Building 141 and more than 13 MW will be hosted on Long Term Parking Lot 9, along with 7.5 MW of energy storage.

The Port Authority says this solar project is part of its goal of bringing down its GHG emissions by 35% by 2025 and 80% by 2050, under its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. For New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is aiming for an overall target of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 (see New York Calls For 6 GW Distributed Solar By 2025).

It seems solar airports are becoming fashionable in the US. In October 2019, Dominion Energy Virginia and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority proposed a 100 MW solar power facility to be located on the property owned by Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia (see 100 MW Solar Project Planned For US Airport).