Project Overview
Project location	Wilton, CA
System Completion	August 2008
Solar System Type	Leave No Trace Ground Mount
Total System Size	1,200 kW-DC
Power Purchase Agreement	enXco
System Configuration
PV modules types	First Solar
Total PV modules used	17,226
kW per module	72W
Performance Facts¹
Estimated annual production	1,820,000 kWh
Estimated lifetime production	44,000,000 kWh
Meet annual energy requirements of	187 homes
Environmental benefits, annually²
Greenhouse gases reduction (CO2)	2,855,198 lbs
Oil not consumed	3,012 barrels
Gasoline not consumed	147,003 gallons
Coal not burned	6.8 railcars
Offset CO2 emissions from the energy use from home	171 homes

Sources
¹PV Watts Solar Energy Calculator (http://www.pvwatts.org)
²U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html)

A 1.2 MW Solar Farm for enXco and SMUD in Only Six Weeks

BACKGROUND

Until recently, people living in the Sacramento, California area interested in using solar electricity had to install photovoltaic (PV) panels onsite. Unfortunately, this was not an option for the many utility customers who lived in apartments or locations that simply could not support a solar energy system (e.g., too much shade or lack of space).

SOLARSHARES® TO THE RESCUE

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), one of the area’s leading advocates for solar power, wanted to make clean energy available to any of its ratepayers. As a result, SMUD created a voluntary program called SolarShares that enabled any of its customers to buy power from the sun, regardless of their housing situation. And, to make the option more attractive, SMUD wanted to make sure that ratepayers could buy power generated locally.

SMUD contracted with enXco, an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company specializing in Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), to build a “solar farm” over about 8.5 acres of land with the capacity to serve between 800 and 1,000 customers. enXco would own and maintain the solar equipment and SMUD would agree to purchase the electricity at a fixed rate for the next 20 years.

THE SUN IS UP, THE TIME IS NOW

It was May of 2008. For the program to have maximum impact, the solar farm needed to start producing electricity as soon as possible, preferably within the next two months during solar’s peak-production period. Several solar installation and integration companies were contacted and presented with the scope of the project. However, with a mere six weeks to complete the installation, only Premier Power stepped up to the challenge.

When asked how it could possibly dig more than 2,300 holes, pour concrete, and set as many posts to support the racking and panels in such a short time, Premier Power answered, “Simple, you don’t dig, you don’t pour; you vibrate and push.”

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FROM START TO FINISH

Not only did Premier Power complete the 1.2 MW solar farm within the deadline, but it was able to do so with minimal environmental impact. By using a VibraHammer to push the poles into the ground, a technique normally associated with construction of highway safety rails, Premier Power sidestepped traditional methods that called for injecting 170 to 340 tons of cement into the ground. At the end of the project’s 20+ year life span, Premier Power can lift the ballasts and use a reverse-vibration process to pull the poles out for re-use, leaving the land in its original, pre-installation state.

A QUICK, EFFICIENT AND SUCCESSFUL SOLAR FARM

“This solar energy project is set to benefit SMUD customers directly through its SolarShares program. In order to offer SMUD the greatest impact and benefit, we asked Premier Power to have it installed and ready to produce electricity when it was most needed – the heart of summer,” said Mark Tholke, Regional Development Manager at enXco. “You could say Premier Power ‘shook things up’ as soon as they started vibrating and pushing in the supports. enXco committed to complete this project on time and on budget and thanks to Premier Power’s ability to mobilize equipment, crew and materials so quickly, we accomplished the goal and everyone wins. Put simply, Premier Power delivered.”

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE ON-SITE CONSULTATION

Contact us today to schedule your on-site commercial solar power consultation and learn what Premier Power can bring to your project, how to benefit from Green Marketing and how to take advantage of the new stimulus package. Our dedicated professionals will take care of your project from start to finish.