Free Astronomy Magazine January-February 2024

13 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024 ASTRO PUBLISHING C onducting fron- tier research into the wonders of the Universe is a never- ending pursuit that re- quires observatories to have a reliable source of energy to power their operations. NOIRLab recognizes the impact that its energy needs have on the environ- ment and surrounding communities and is thus committed to minimiz- ing the environmental impact of its facilities and operations in Ari- zona, Chile and Hawai’i. This commitment incor- porates diverse initia- tives ranging from re- ducing NOIRLab’s facili- ties’ grid electricity us- age and staff air travel to making improve- ments to base facility equipment and infra- structure. Projects such as these will allow NOIRLab to maintain good steward- ship both locally and globally. Guiding this endeavor is NOIRLab’s Environmental Sustainability Pro- gram, which aims to reduce NOIR- Lab’s entire annual carbon output by 50% by the end of 2027, relative to the 2019 baseline and including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory oper- ations at Cerro Pachón. Without ac- tion, NOIRLab’s current carbon foot- print is approximately 12,500 tons CO 2 equivalent per year. The goal is to reach 6200 tons CO 2 equivalent by late 2027 — a reduction comparable to the footprint of the annual elec- tricity consumption of 1250 typical US houses. This goal will be achieved thanks to generous funding from the National Science Foundation. With the approved supplemental funding, NOIRLab will install one T his night-time photo of the Gemini South telescope on Cerro Pachón, Chile features a marvelous view of the Milky Way arching overhead and reflecting off some of the 668 photovoltaic panels that help power the facil- ity. [Gemini Observatory/NOIR- Lab/NSF/AURA/M. Paredes] C onducting a geotechnical survey of the selected site for the Cerro Pachón photovoltaic and bat- tery system. [NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Anticona] large integrated photovoltaic (solar panel) and battery energy storage system to feed the facilities on Cerro Pachón in Chile. In particular, this system will cover 100% of the elec- tricity usage from the Gemini South telescope, one half of the Interna- tional Gemini Observatory operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, and about 60% of Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s electric- ity needs. When completed the joint system will comprise a 2860-kilowatt photovoltaic system paired with a 11-Megawatt Hour (MWh) battery storage system. This system will pro- duce about 5300 MWh of electricity annually and will reduce NOIRLab’s annual carbon footprint by 2900 tons CO2 equivalent — comparable to the annual electricity consump- tion of about 500 typical US houses. The impact of such actions will not