bp service stations worldwide go on a low-carbon diet

Solar Design helps one of the world's largest oil companies power its gas stations with solar electricity.

SDA helps BP deploy solar power for their service stations

Location: Hundreds of sites in USA and abroad Client: British Petroleum Use: PV-powered service station canopies

SDA specified Solar Chargeports for plug-in hyrbrid / electric vehiclesBackground:
As part of a major corporate re-branding effort, British Petroleum fielded solar arrays to generate power for hundreds of BP Connect gas stations throughout the United States. With the help of SDA, this initiative, ("Beyond Petroleum"), extends BP's planning horizon to the post-petroleum era.
Program objectives are:

• help run gasoline pumps, lights and other station equipment
• create visibility and increase public awareness of the commercial viability of solar and other renewable energy sources
• decrease the amount of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere as a result of station operations.

Special Features:

• SDA consulted on design and installation of solar-electric canopies at BP service stations nationwide.
• SDA provided design, engineering, code and utility compliance, construction oversight and acceptance testing.
• For the new stations, SDA worked with the BP design team to develop a shallow, barrel-vaulted BIPV canopy glazed with transparent PV elements to daylight the service islands.
• Existing flat-panel canopies received a series of low-profile crystalline arrays.
• "SDA defined solar-powered charge ports for electric and plug-in electric / hybrid vehicles at a number of the stations", said SDA President Steven Strong.

Outcome:
BP has deployed hundreds of PV-powered service stations in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, Portugal and Spain. Taken together, the BP panels are producing more than six megawatts of electricity per day, and reducing CO2 emission by 6,500 tons per year.

Solar Design Associates supported BP, designing both crystalline and thin film Sunflower systems, as well as producing the complete design and document packages. SDA oversaw installation, wrote and produced training materials, assisted in training contractors, project managers, maintenance staff, code officials and others, and helped commissio the installations.

"SDA worked with the architectural aluminum manufacturer to define the wiring methods and guide the design through the approval process and obtain Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listing. SDA defined solar-powered charge ports for electric and plug-in electric / hybrid vehicles at a number of the stations." Steven Strong, SDA President

SDA is well-versed in power systems engineering, and in specification and sourcing of the most cost-effective and appropriate materials for your renewable energy needs. We welcome inquiries for moderate to large industrial and utility design projects.

Please contact us with your development ideas.

SDA will work with you to craft a profitable project that embodies sustainable development principles.

• BP

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