Clean Generation – Solar Power
Challenge
A major health care company wanted to reduce its energy costs and increase the sustainability of its business through the implementation of a high-efficiency solar power system at its facility in the San Francisco Bay Area.
High wind and seismic activity in the geographic location of the facility posed special challenges to the secure installation of the system.
Solution
EPS installed 1,512 Sharp 175-watt panels in strings of 12 on a semi-secured rack system. Though the high wind and seismic activity in the area made a non-penetrating system too risky, EPS was able to ensure stability with just 256 strategically placed hold-downs. EPS also installed a SatCon 225 inverter, with a newly designed and installed ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), near the main service entrance. The system generates 223 kW of solar power.
As always, EPS took a holistic approach to the energy management opportunity. In engineering the optimal photovoltaic (PV) system for the customer, EPS identified a potential safety hazard in the standard design. To mitigate the risk, EPS proposed the following options: use oversized ground conductors or install a GFCI in the inverter. The latter, EPS pointed out, would result in significant savings to the customer on installation and on maintenance over the life of the system. The customer chose to have a GFCI installed in the inverter, marking the first time an inverter of the size used in this project was ever equipped with a GFCI. It is now the industry standard for installations similar to this one to employ an inverter with a GFCI.
In addition, EPS negotiated with the owner of the building to provide a sizeable amount of tenant improvement funding for the project, reducing its payback period to less than three years.
Result
Through the implementation of the PV generating system, the health care company achieved its goal of reducing its energy costs and increasing the sustainability of its business.
The company now enjoys the following benefits of being a solar power user:
- A significantly smaller carbon footprint
- Lower electricity spend
- A substantial incentive payment from the local utility
- Tax credits, including accelerated depreciation
- Virtually no maintenance or operating costs for the power generating system
- An enhanced reputation as an environmentally responsible company
By engaging EPS to provide the turnkey installation of the system, the company received the additional benefits of EPS’ expertise and holistic approach to the project, which resulted in:
- Mitigation of a safety risk inherent in the system
- Secure mounting of the system on the roof of the building with a minimum number of roof penetrations
- A system with the highest efficiency ratings in the industry
- Installation of PV panels at the optimum slope for maximum electricity production and self-cleaning
- Partial funding of the project by the property owner as a tenant improvement
- Identification of available incentives and support in applying for and securing them
- Inclusion of online monitoring of the system’s realtime performance, which the company displays on a wide screen in the building’s lobby, demonstrating its sustainability commitment to all its visitors
