New Bern Solar Project Will Use Warehouse Rooftop
RALEIGH, N.C. – Progress Energy Carolinas has signed a contract with Advanced Green Technologies (AGT) in which AGT will build, own and operate a 1.27-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof of a BSH Home Appliances warehouse in New Bern, N.C., and sell the output to the utility for distribution to its customers.
It is the seventh large-scale solar PV project announced by Progress Energy and is the result of the company’s 2008 request for renewable energy proposals. It brings the total amount of solar-generated electricity scheduled to be purchased by the company to more than 10 megawatts. The New Bern solar plant will be the largest in Eastern N.C.
“We are pleased that our expanding portfolio of solar projects has passed the 10-megawatt milestone and remain committed to responsibly pursuing renewable energy resources,” said Lloyd Yates, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Carolinas. “Projects such as this, coupled with our aggressive energy-efficiency programs and advanced generation facilities, will provide the clean, reliable, affordable power our customers rely on us to provide. We are proud to partner with Advanced Green Technologies and BSH Home Appliances on this innovative project.”
AGT, an American renewable energy company with offices in Charlotte, N.C., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is developing the project along with BSH Home Appliances, the appliances manufacturer based in New Bern. BSH Home Appliances is the tenant of the large New Bern warehouse upon which the solar PV array will be built, located at 300 Executive Parkway. Baker Renewable Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baker Roofing in Raleigh, will install the array and Southern Energy Management of Morrisville will be responsible for administering the electrical connections of the project.
Using thin-film, building-integrated solar PV (BIPV) technology, the array will cover approximately 210,000 square feet of the roof area. A BIPV system integrates photovoltaic modules into the building envelope, such as the roof or the façade. All system components are manufactured in the USA.
“Our partnership with Progress Energy and BSH Home Appliances illustrates the advancement of solar energy in North Carolina, with strong support from both public and private sectors,” said Richard Milanese, vice president of Advanced Green Technologies. “These rooftop solar installations will continue the growth of the local green-collar job sector while adding clean energy to Progress Energy’s portfolio.”
The new AGT solar array is expected to be online in spring 2010 and will generate about 1.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,000 tons annually. This is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from about 200 vehicles. The expected annual energy output equals the annual energy usage of about 100 typical households.
“BSH is constantly developing and adapting new procedures that will reduce our environmental impact – from employing green manufacturing practices to engineering energy-efficient appliance performance,” said Michael Traub, president and chief executive officer of BSH Home Appliances. “The New Bern solar project allows us to take our eco-commitment a step further by bringing even more renewable energy to the power grid.”
The BIPV array is a collection of flexible, thin-film, amorphous silicon solar panels that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. The solar panels are characterized by their triple-junction technology, capturing the full spectrum of sunlight more efficiently and generating electricity at low light levels.
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