All aircraft hangers should be solar powered. There is plenty of space on top of the roof to put solar powered panels. It makes sense for the military as well. There is enough space on top of the hangers at an air station military base to run the entire base. Including all computer systems, runway lights and electrical needs. One of the largest solar projects is at the military base in San Diego, where a huge parking lot with a canopy overhang has solar panels on it and it generates a ton of energy. For small general aviation airports it makes sense to have four or five; six by six panels on top of the Hangar for lighting and electrical outlets. For large hangers and commercial airports, which also have offices and waiting rooms attached they could run all the electrical needs by installing solar panels on top, which might cost about $60,000. The long-term return on investment for solar panels is making more and more sense these days due to the costs of buying the energy from grid. Also consider the cost of solar panels has come down by 50 percent in the last five years alone. This is because the materials to make solar panels using new technologies does not costs is much. Even better is the fact that the batteries are now twice as efficient as they were five years ago and the solar panels are over 65 percent more efficient. What does all this add up to? It means that solar power has arrived. Wont you please consider this in 2006. |
