Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), BP Solar International (BP Solar) , Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) along with various government entities announced that the Long Island Solar Farm (LISF) Project has been completed and successfully commissioned.
The 32-megawatt photovoltaic array of the Long Island Solar Farm. The central Brookhaven National Lab campus is seen at left.
The LISF has a capacity of 32 MW and consists of 164,312 solar panels. The LISF is owned by Metlife and BP Solar and will generate 50 GW-h of clean energy annually. This output is estimated to cater to around 4,500 homes. Apart from this the project will also stop carbon emissions amounting to 30,000 Mt every year and other harmful pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These aspects of the project have enabled it to acquire New York Solar Energy Industries Association’s Best Photovoltaic Project of the Year Award.
Additionally LISF has also entered into an agreement to buy renewable energy credits and the energy generated from the farm. According to the agreement, the total costs incurred by LIPA for the energy produced is around $298 million during the contract period of 20 years. According to the COO of LIPA, Michael Hervey, the project will not only enable the company to provide clean energy to its customers but will also ensure stable prices. BNL, LIPA and BP Solar have set up a natural resource benefit fund, under which BNL will take care of an additional 51 A of area apart from the 500 A, LIPA will preserve open space in the Central Pine Barrens Region for $2 million and BP Solar will be responsible for providing restoration, research and ecological habitat for $75,000.