Largest Corporate Solar System in NC Switched On In Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park – A 30-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system was switched on late last week at Delta Products’ office in Research Triangle Park (RTP). Comprised of 160 solar panels, the array is the largest corporate-owned, roof-mounted solar PV system in the state. On average, it will produce about 36,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year – enough to power 3 to 4 typical NC homes and offset approximately 37 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Delta partnered with Triangle-based sustainable energy company Southern Energy Management to engineer, design and install the solar system.
“We are thrilled we had the chance to work with Delta on this project, which we believe is just the first of many milestones to come for North Carolina’s burgeoning solar industry,” said Bob Kingery, co-owner of Southern Energy Management. “This project demonstrates that large-scale solar systems are feasible in our state, and that solar power is a smart financial investment for companies.”
The electricity generated by Delta’s solar system flows directly into nearby utility power lines, adding to the supply of locally produced clean energy while also earning Delta a qualified facility rate from the utility as well as renewable energy payments from the NC GreenPower program.
In addition to NC GreenPower and utility payments, Delta received generous tax incentives for its solar system, including state and federal tax credits, and accelerated depreciation. Altogether, these incentives cover more than 70 percent of the cost of the system, which will pay for itself in less than 12 years.
While the economic incentives make solar more attractive as a corporate investment, Delta has other reasons to invest in solar power. Renewable power supplies, including inverters and solar panels, are a core part of Delta’s global product line, and switching power components are a primary focus of the company’s engineering R&D lab in RTP.
“One unique opportunity we had with this project was engineering the system around Delta’s own solar power inverters,” said Shawn Fitzpatrick, P.E., lead solar engineer at Southern Energy Management. “We also ballast-mounted the solar panels, which means there are no penetrations made to the roof, so the system offers lower liability and requires less maintenance over time.”
Delta’s solar system is the company’s second in North America, adding to one already generating power in California. The company’s investments in solar power, along with other sustainability efforts, are part of a larger initiative to slow down the impacts of global warming.
Until now, the largest corporate solar PV systems in the state have been around 10 kW, about one-third the size of Delta’s new array. But larger corporate solar systems are already on the horizon.
“For the time being, Delta’s PV system has set a new standard in the trend toward large commercial solar systems in our state,” said Kingery. “In our minds, they definitely deserve some recognition for stepping up as leaders and helping pave the way for other business leaders to incorporate solar power into their sustainability programs.”
*For a detailed explanation of the carbon offset calculation methodology used in this release, please visit NC GreenPower, http://www.ncgreenpower.org/signup/calculator.html.)
