Kyocera Solar, Inc. and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest announced the completion of a 1.4 megawatt (MW) solar electric system on the United States Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, just north of San Diego, Calif. NAVFAC Southwest celebrated the completion of the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on February 3.

Composed of 6,300 KD235 modules produced locally at Kyocera’s San Diego facility, the solar electric system represents the largest photovoltaic (PV) system on a Marine Corps base — and ranks among the largest solar installations in San Diego County. 

Through a partnership with AEE Solar, San Diego-based integrator Synergy Electric Company installed the 225 panel solar system that stands on the site of the Box Canyon landfill — effectively transforming unusable land into a site producing clean energy.

Global engineering firm AECOM led the design of the project, including geotechnical, civil and photovoltaic system design.  “AECOM incorporated numerous design elements to address the unique environmental and engineering challenges of the landfill site,” said AECOM Project Manager David Cyr. “We are proud to have contributed to the success of this significant project.” 

The ground-mounted system feeds Camp Pendleton’s electric grid and is expected to produce about 2,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, enough electricity to power 400 average homes.  NAVFAC anticipates the renewable energy conversion will save the Marine Corps $336,000 yearly in electricity costs while more than tripling its previous solar energy capacity. 

“The Box Canyon PV project is a very exciting venture that is making use of a previously unusable piece of real estate, and providing a renewable energy source to help Camp Pendleton meet its on-site renewable energy generation goals,” said Bernadette Rose, NAVFAC Southwest ROICC Construction Manager at Camp Pendleton.

The Camp Pendleton project demonstrates the growing demand for solar electricity. To meet the increasing market demand in the U.S., Kyocera began manufacturing solar panels at its San Diego production facility in June 2010. 

“This sizable solar installation and the Marine Corps’ sustainable energy goals demonstrate its commitment to environmental preservation and advancing national security through energy independence,” stated Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc.