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Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Solar-Powered Microgrids

Burns is consulting with the PA Turnpike to develop microgrids and solar installations along turnpike property. The project supports the PA Turnpike’s efforts to advance sustainability, increase revenue generation, and enhance the travel experience for drivers of electric vehicles (EVs).

When the Pennsylvania Turnpike was constructed, it became the first long-distance, limited-access road in the United States. Today, it aims to become the country’s first “Sustainable Superhighway,” with goals of achieving energy independence for turnpike operations by 2040.

In 2022, the PA Turnpike’s solar- and natural gas-powered microgrid came online. A tolling industry first, it supplies the Greensburg Maintenance Facility campus with 1.3 Megawatts (MW) of power. The microgrid is projected to yield significant annual utility cost savings by selling excess electricity back to the power grid.

Building on the success of the Greensburg project, the PA Turnpike engaged Burns to lead feasibility studies exploring potential microgrid configurations at multiple sites across the Commonwealth. Ongoing projects include installing EV charging infrastructure at service plazas and maintenance facilities. Plans are underway to pilot inductive charging technology within PA Turnpike’s roadways.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are expanding power capacity for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), enhancing operational resilience at critical PA Turnpike facilities, lowering utility costs, and contributing low- or no-carbon electricity to the power grid.

Western Regional Office, New Stanton, PA

Burns served as the engineer of record for the Western Regional Office microgrid. A 2-MW solar PV array and 1.2-MW cogeneration unit provide the 27,000-square-foot office, data center, and maintenance complex’s complete power and heating needs. The microgrid provides resilience for a critical asset, enabling continuous operations in the event of a grid outage. Burns’ services included:

  • Coordination with the local utility to upgrade the medium-voltage power supply
  • Electrical design of the solar arrays, standby power system, and combined heat and power (CHP) system
  • Mechanical designs to integrate the CHP system with existing thermal distribution
  • Electrical design for four EV charging stations
  • Consultation on Pennsylvania net metering regulations
  • Construction administration services

Central Administration Building, Middletown, PA

In preparation for a roof replacement, the PA Turnpike explored benefits of adding rooftop solar PVs at a building with some of the highest energy costs systemwide. Plans are underway to install the solar PV system. Burns’ analysis produced:

  • Solar PV layouts, structural and civil engineering designs for rooftop solar PV and solar canopy configurations
  • Energy production forecasts and financial payback from virtual net metering
  • Electrical design and load calculations for wireless induction charging pilot program

Various Maintenance Facilities and Service Plazas

Burns investigated the feasibility of installing CHP generators, ground-mounted or rooftop solar PVs, and solar canopies at four maintenance facilities and three service plazas located across the state. Burns’ analysis reviewed:

  • Feasibility of utilizing waste heat from the microgrid’s generator to offset site loads
  • Structural capacity studies to determine potential for rooftop solar PV
  • Preliminary electrical and mechanical designs
  • Consultation on Pennsylvania net metering regulations
  • Energy production forecasts and financial payback from virtual net metering
  • Utility interconnection and coordination with state regulators

Location

Middletown, PA

Client

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

Industry

Public Works

Learn more about Burns’ resilient power and microgrids solutions.

Resilient Power + Microgrids

Key Team Member

Philip Gonski, PE

Director, Power & Utilities