187973.jpg

301 Moved Permanently

301 Moved Permanently


nginx

For the second year in a row, Intersolar North America will recognize key North American solar projects that exemplify a high degree of technological innovation, uniqueness, pioneering character, economic feasibility and benefits for the environment and society during its exhibition in San Francisco.

Among this year’s award finalists in the “Solar Projects in North America” category are Solar Electric Light Fund’s and Outback Power’s project in Haiti and O2 Energies’ project in North Carolina, which uses SnapNrack’s mounting system. They implemented advanced monitoring systems and utilized new installation techniques that improve efficiency, thereby increasing the overall economic advantage of the solar system.

Two projects in particular that exemplify tailored solutions based on system locations include the Sunora Energy Solutions project at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School in New Orleans and the Solaire Generation Inc. system at Dow Jones & Co. in South Brunswick, N.J.

Construction of the 112 kW solar system at the charter school required installation techniques that minimized safety risk and disruption to classroom activities. Panels were located in two distinct campus locations, and an existing walkway and new steel shading structure (over a playground) created additional complications. Sunora Energy Solutions overcame these system requirements - a site-specific system design coupled with a compressed construction schedule - by utilizing modular and preassembled components. The resulting system provides not only renewable energy, but also educational opportunities around the refracted light hitting the playground from the system.

Similarly, Solaire Generation installed a system that incorporated elegant aesthetics while also properly managing the snow and storm weather expected in New Jersey. Using its innovative carport design, the company was able to meet both these conditions and complete the largest solar carport system in North America, at 3.6 MW.

Increasingly, new customers are installing solar systems due to its low upfront cost, reliability and additional economic benefits. Trina Solar and Outback Power both worked to complete projects for at-risk and low-income populations.

The Trina PV solar system is a rooftop retrofit that provides sustainable power to 144 affordable housing units in San Diego. Through virtual net metering, 95% of the generated power now goes toward reducing the residents’ energy bills.

Beyond the significant financial benefits provided to the community, this project served as a location for Everyday Energy’s Green Jobs initiative. As part of the program, 10 residents from the housing complex were instructed on the basics of solar installation during the system’s construction.

Outback Power’s advanced inverter system maximizes the system efficiency of Solar Electric Light Fund’s 11.7 kW array at a hospital in Haiti. The inverters optimize run time and enable the 16,000 Haitians served by the hospital to access healthcare in a facility that is no longer reliant on an unpredictable grid prone to frequent power outages.

Throughout the U.S., more communities are realizing that large-scale solar installations can have a significant impact on a region’s quality of life and serve as an economic stimulus.

19139.jpg

18957.jpg

In Celina, Ohio, New Energy Capital and SolarVision LLC jointly developed a project utilizing Hanwha Q CELLS. The project was made possible through a new market tax credit that was implemented to help finance business investments in economically distressed communities nationwide. Built on city-owned land, the 4.9 MW system is equipped with a transformer substation to boost generated power in order to meet the city’s electrical grid standards.

Similarly, O2 Energies developed a 4.5 MW system in Fairmont, N.C. Utilizing racking solutions from SnapNrack, the project created more than 100 jobs in the county. Now the electricity needs of more than 1,200 homes can be met with clean energy. Additionally, the project brought close to $6 million to Robeson County’s tax base.

The final two project nominations for this year’s Intersolar AWARD both uniquely employ innovative solar technologies. Free Hot Water designed a comprehensive solar energy system that would provide domestic hot water for a studio apartment complex located in San Francisco. The 9 kW PV system will also offset a portion of the building’s costs for lighting hallways and other common areas.

Through an integrated control panel, building managers are able to monitor the solar PV, solar radiant heat and solar hot water systems from a single dashboard. This dashboard is compatible from any Web-enabled device, allowing the building’s owners to view solar operations on the go and maximize efficiency.

Solar Technology Acceleration Center, managed by MRIGlobal, a research institute headquartered in Kansas City, hosts a variety of solar technologies at a research, test and demonstration facility on a 74-acre site provided by the City of Aurora in Colorado. Scientists utilize the site as a proving ground for commercialization of new technologies, measuring the 2 MW of electricity generated on-site and determining new ways to improve efficiency.

Winners will be announced at Intersolar North America on July 9 at 3:00 p.m. during a special ceremony at the Innovation and Application Stage (Moscone West, level 3, booth 9659). S

 

Markus Elsaesser is CEO of Solar Promotion International GmbH. He can be reached at 49 7231585980.

Product: Solar Installations

Applauding The Innovative: Unique Solar Projects From Haiti To San Francisco

By Markus Elsaesser

The finalists for the Intersolar AWARD for Solar Projects in North America demonstrate significant advancements for design and installation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

si body si body i si body bi si body b

si depbio

author bio

si sh

si subhead

pullquote

si first graph

si sh no rule

si last graph

si sh first item

si sh no rule

sidebar_headline