A COMPLETELY FLAT SITE with no changes in slope or terrain is rare to find even at only 10 or 20 acres, however grading an entire 150-acre site would quickly raise costs on the project beyond the point of feasibility.
Case Study: Utility Scale Project Using DCE Solar's Contour System
Contributed by | DCE Solar
When one of the Southeast’s leading utility companies was looking to expand their renewable energy operations, they tapped Crowder Construction - one of the industry’s top providers of heavy-duty civil construction, industrial construction, and energy services. Knowing that this array would be large scale (the selected site was approximately 150 acres in size), even the smallest modifications to the grounds would result in significant costs to the utility company.
The Challenge
A COMPLETELY FLAT SITE with no changes in slope or terrain is rare to find even at only 10 or 20 acres, however grading an entire 150-acre site would quickly raise costs on the project beyond the point of feasibility.
AS AN ENERGY PROVIDER - the utility company needed an industrial-grade array that would perform consistently over time, with minimal maintenance, and simplified operation.
The Solution
3 DCE SOLAR’S Contour System once again proved to be the solution with its adaptable base that accommodates up to a 20% change in slope.
THE FLEXIBILITY INHERENT in the Contour design also eliminates the “table-top” effect common on uneven ground, and instead delivers a seamless visual field that also eliminates shadows on neighboring panels. The result is a quality appearance that also maximizes yield without requiring the extra expense of site grading.
The Results: Ahead of the Curve Energy Production
THE ENERGY PRODUCED by the new solar array at the utility company’s site can power more than 3,500 typical homes, when functioning at peak production
THE NEW SITE WILL CONTRIBUTE to the utility company’s ability to meet or exceed North Carolina’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard for the State.
BECAUSE ONLY ONE TYPE of racking system was necessary on the site, installation time was also reduced, presenting an additional savings related to time for the utility company, and better profitability opportunities for the installer, Crowder Construction in terms of necessary manpower and installation expense.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
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