San Ramon, California, is now home to the world’s largest multicampus solar and energy storage installation. Equating to nearly 25 MW, the project is part of an initiative by Sunset Development Co. and DSD Renewables (DSD) bring renewable energy to Bishop Ranch, a 600-acre, mixed-use Bay Area neighborhood.
The solar installation is Phase 2 of the development plan that will add 35,000 solar panels across Bishop Ranch’s office buildings, including Bishop Ranch Nos. 1, 15, 8, 9, 3 and 2600. Once completed in the first quarter of 2024, the second installation will produce 22,239,778 kWh of energy per year, offsetting the neighborhood’s energy usage by 90%.
“As we continue to transform Bishop Ranch into a vibrant downtown, DSD remains the ideal partner to assist in getting us one step closer to our ultimate goal of relying 100% on clean, renewable energy,” said Alexander Mehran Jr., president and CEO of Sunset Development. “DSD’s acclaimed state-of-the-art technology reflects and complements Bishop Ranch’s commitment to sustainability. The immense scale of this second phase, along with its innovative design and overall aesthetic, is set to place San Ramon on the map for solar and energy storage installations.”
In 2021, Sunset Development worked with DSD to develop the first phase of the solar installation at City Center Bishop Ranch, which features rooftop and canopy PV systems that offset 75% of City Center’s total energy usage. Together, the 1.33 MW systems produce 2,073,023 kWh annually. City Center Bishop Ranch is the largest shopping center in the world to be awarded LEED Platinum certification.
“The second phase of solar installation at Bishop Ranch is a testament to their sustainable business practices, and we are excited to partner with them at this scale to design and build this architecturally stunning solar plus storage portfolio,” said Ben Jones, executive vice president of canopy design engineering at DSD.
Bishop Ranch already holds the distinction of the largest concentration of LEED space outside of a major metropolitan area. With an existing comprehensive program in place to minimize its environmental footprint, this latest project supports the company’s core green philosophy and complements an award-winning transit program, extensive recycling initiative, green cleaning practices and more.
— Solar Builder magazine
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