MTA, NYPA unveil solar-powered hot water heating system

Written by jrood

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York Power Authority unveiled an advanced rooftop-mounted solar thermal array that heats hot water used to wash subway cars at New York City Transit's Coney Island Overhaul Shop and Maintenance Facility. By lessening New York City Transit's need for electricity, the array will lower the agency's power bill by $94,000 and avoid 86 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

"The MTA and its
agencies are working hard to make sure that every dollar we receive is used
wisely, and that applies to our energy bill as well," said Thomas F.
Prendergast, President of MTA New York City Transit. "I want to thank the
New York Power Authority and NYSERDA, for helping MTA New York City Transit
save money and go even greener."

"It seems fitting
that we’re pioneering this advanced solar-thermal technology in a community
whose iconic attractions include the beach and sun," said Richard M.
Kessel, President and CEO of the New York Power Authority. "Initiatives like
this contribute to reducing fossil fuel use, which is an imperative we can all
agree on, with the disaster in the Gulf now giving us constant reminders every
day. We need to take advantage of renewable energy and energy efficiency
technologies, not only for reducing environmental risks like oil spills and
global warming, but for capitalizing on the economic development benefits of
these clean energy technologies."

The solar thermal system
consists of 48 panels that are mounted on the building’s roof. They capture the
radiant heat from the sun and transfer it to water in interconnected pipes. The
system functions as a water heater for domestic and other hot water use at the
facility. The water is used for cleaning and washing trains during their
scheduled maintenance and for domestic-use needs by staff.

Installation of the solar
thermal array cost $550,000, which was financed by NYPA with the help of a
$150,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA). "NYSERDA is pleased to partner with NYPA and the MTA
on a system that is notable both for reducing energy use, protecting the
environment and reducing costs. We commend the leadership of these two
authorities for developing an innovative solar thermal project that we hope
will serve as a model for other significant energy users," said Francis J.
Murray, Jr., NYSERDA president and CEO.

The solar thermal
project, which began in November, is part of a more than $1.1 million NYPA- and
NYSERDA-funded energy efficiency upgrade for the Coney Island Facility, which
also includes the installation of high-output fluorescent fixtures that are
more efficient, last longer and provide better illumination than the light
sources they replaced, saving the MTA $76,000 per year.

All together, the MTA and
NYPA have partnered on 85 energy projects for a savings of nearly $5.7 million
a year and annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of more than 34,000
tons. Among these initiatives have been:

• New subway signal
lighting using light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures that are more efficient and
brighter than the bulbs they replaced.

• A 200-kilowatt
fuel cell at NYC Transit’s New Corona Car Maintenance Facility in Queens,
providing a continuous source of non-polluting, on-site power and residual heat
for the shop’s domestic hot water system.

• A 300-kilowatt
roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array at the Gun Hill Bus Depot in the
Bronx

• LED necklace
lighting at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, replacing less efficient conventional
lights.

• Wireless equipment for
the remote control of electric resistance heaters on the third-rail systems
that provide power to the subways. The remote-control feature contributes to
minimizing electricity use when the weather conditions don’t warrant heater
use.

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