Region Solar Completes 1-MW Ground-Mount in Florida

Region Solar has completed a 1.004-MW solar photovoltaic ground-mounted system at VizCo’s 26,000 sqft. manufacturing facility in Monticello, Florida. This solar system is projected to produce 1,002,400 kWh of electricity annually, and will be net-metered by Duke Energy.  The array will save 536 tons of CO2 from being emitted and is equal to powering 138 households per year.  Notably, this array was completed in under twelve weeks, from contract signing to commissioning.

Achieving project goals included constructing the galvanized steel racking system, designed by S:Flex Inc., and mounting 3,280 Lightway poly-crystalline modules. The system was designed with forty-five SolarEdge 20k String inverters and 1,640 SolarEdge P700 optimizers.

This array is situated on 4 acres of previous wooded land in Monticello, Florida, roughly 30 miles northeast of the state’s capital, Tallahassee.  The ground cover maintenance is achieved by a flock of grazing sheep.

VizCo, The Visionary Company, produces plastic injection-molded drip pans, alarms and pipe grips for water heaters. Increased production, efficiency, and reducing operational costs drove business owner Chris Cantolino to choose solar photovoltaic to power his manufacturing facility.  Seeking a clean and steady delivery of power through solar, Cantolino looked to combat small energy fluctuations in electrical current which created significant losses in the production process of his injection molded plastics machinery.

Region Solar owner Andrew Tanner said, “To our knowledge, VizCo is the only manufacturing facility in Florida completely powered by solar, through net metering.  Solar is a savvy choice for Florida manufacturers!”

Cantolino is passionate about American manufacturing and being a Florida manufacturer.  “Solar photovoltaic is a smart business choice.  Reducing and controlling operational costs increases a business’s competitive edge.”  In September, Region Solar completed a 150.3-kW rooftop and carport solar photovoltaic system at SimGar, the Simple Garden, in Bradenton, Florida — Cantolino’s second business.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: http://solarbuildermag.com/news/region-solar-completes-1-mw-ground-mount-florida/]