Project Data

End-User: Garfield School

Installer: Evco Mechanical

Location: Kearny, NJ

Date of install: Nov. 2005

Size of system in kW: 54kW

Energy produced since installation

Special Challenges Met: 1) inclement weather, 2) 100 year structure with timber-frame roof

Project Brief

TurtleEnergy successfully won the bid to design and support a Photovoltaic (PV) system for the Kearny Board of Education (BOE) in September of 2004. Evco Mechanical successfully won the public bid to install the TurtleEnergy PV system on four Kearny schools. The Garfield school was the third of 4 schools to be installed by Evco Mechanical. The project commenced in January of 2006. Due to much snow and inclement weather it was completed in April of 2006.

The Garfield School is a 100 year old structure with a timber-frame roof. A detailed analysis of the site was done by TurtleEnergy. This analysis was comprised of the following steps and implementation.

Shading Analysis

Optimal System Design and Concept Planning

Industrial Design of the Components of the System

Multi-Disciplinary Coordination with Architects, Structural Engineers, Electrical Engineers, and Construction Managers

TurtleEnergy together with Schott Solar provided detailed loading criteria data to Civil Engineer Pany & Letts who carried out a wind analysis to certify that the penetration-less mounting system would perform well in high winds. Structural engineer Robert Silman Associates certified that the weight of the PV system was compatible with the 100 year old existing structure. The size of the PV system for the Garfield School is 54kW.

Fat Spaniel’s integrated Satcon inverter direct internet-based monitoring system was implemented for the Service Tire project. The Fat Spaniel data acquisition system, logs the actual energy generation by the PV system. The resulting measurements are in compliance with the predicted analysis done by TurtleEnergy. The Fat Spaniel system data monitoring results are available both on a real-time and historical basis. Measurements can be viewed on daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or lifetime intervals.

Schott Solar provided TurtleEnergy with valuable design support and supply of PV modules and mounting hardware for the project. The New Jersey Clean Energy Program and the school’s construction corporation provided full funding for the project.

For additional information on product specifications see the appropriate cut sheets listed below.

Satcon 100kw Inverter

SMA inverter

Schott Solar ASE 300 – 270W PV Module

B-Line Cable Tray

Schott Solar FS Mounting System

Fat Spaniel (remote monitoring system)

Multi-Contact Connectors

ILSCO Direct Bury Grounding Lugs