Project Data

End-User: Lincoln School

Installer: Evco Mechanical and IBEW

Location: Kearny, NJ

Date of install: Sept. 2005

Size of system in kW: 150kW

Energy produced since installation

Special Challenges Met: 1) roof addition;   2) roof-top mechanical upgrade;  3) roof-mounted HVAC system; 204v to 408v upgrade

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 Lincoln School was the first of 4 schools to be installed by Evco Mechanical. The project commence in September of 2005.

The design of the Lincoln School PV system was a challenge because the BOE had decided to implement a plan to build an addition to the school and update the rooftop mechanical systems in the school. The engineers designing the future rooftop mechanical system provided TurtleEnergy with the plans for the new HVAC system on the 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 designed the PV system to coexist with the future roof-mounted HVAC system. In addition, the electrical engineer had plans to upgrade the main electrical voltage to the building from 208 volts to 480 volts in two years time. TurtleEnergy designed the PV system to accommodate the future change of voltage. Evco Mechanical together with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) (local 164) installed the PV system in 60 days. The size of the PV system for the Lincoln School is 150kw.

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 cut sheets listed below.

Satcon 135kw Inverter

Sapc ASE 300 Module

B-Line Cable Tray

Schott Solar FS Mounting System

Fat Spaniel (remote monitoring system)

Multi-Contact Connectors

ILSCO Direct Bury Grounding Lugs