Cox Communications is installing the company’s first solar plus storage project in the country to help reduce its carbon footprint, and the project is taking place in San Diego.
Cox has selected EDF Renewables North America to provide solar photovoltaics and battery energy storage services in support of Cox’s long-term financial and sustainability goals. EDF Renewables will design and build an integrated 360 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic and 560 kW / 1,360 kilowatt hour (kWh) onsite behind-the-meter battery storage solution at Cox Communications’ main campus in San Diego, located at 5159 Federal Blvd.
The carport and roof-top solar installation combined are projected to offset more than 374 tons of carbon each year, contributing to the more than 567,000 tons of CO2 offset by Cox’s parent company, Cox Enterprises, since 2007 as a part of the Cox Conserves program.
“Sustainability and driving positive environmental change are core to the way Cox does business,” said Sam Attisha, Senior Vice President and Region Manager for Cox Communications’ California region. “We’re excited our largest California facility is spearheading the use of solar power and battery storage to reduce our carbon footprint in the region.”
The installation marks the first solar plus storage project in the country for Cox Communications.
“This solar project will generate nearly 20% of the building’s energy usage,” added Attisha, who grew up in San Diego. “And it moves us closer to Cox Enterprise’s goal of sending zero waste to landfills by 2024 and being carbon and water neutral by 2044.”
Solar reduces utility costs by reducing energy consumption, while the battery storage shifts the solar generation into the evening on-peak period of expensive power. The storage system will also be used to mitigate spikes in usage, thereby, lowering utility demand charges.
Raphael Declercq, Executive Vice President, Distributed Solutions and Strategy, at EDF Renewables said, “EDF Renewables is proud to work with Cox on this multi-technology project, demonstrating how a holistic solution provides the facility the most control of its operating energy costs – and further providing benefits to the employees and supporting Cox’s sustainability initiatives.”
