Kingspan Energy has recently finished installing more than 500 solar panels on the roof at the North Haven, Conn. Ulbrich Shaped Wire, a division of Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, a leading global supplier of stainless steels and special metals. The 508 Hanwha Q CELLS 72-cell 330-W panels were installed on Ulbrich’s existing warehouse (roof space coverage of 18,837 SF), along with four Yaskawa – Solectria Solar inverters and a Polar Racking PRR racking system. The building’s conversion to solar power is expected to produce immediate benefits in terms of energy conservation, generating an output of 197,780 kilowatt hours.
The sustainability of solar energy along with the rising cost of electricity makes the cost of a solar-powered energy system equal to or less than that of traditional energy sources. This fact, coupled with growing concern over pollution from other energy sources, has made clean and renewable energy an increasingly attractive option for customers like Ulbrich.
“What’s especially interesting about this application is that the metal that is produced by Ulbrich is used in the modules themselves, making this a highly collaborative project,” said Gavin Blower, Kingspan Energy General Manager. “We’re working closely with our partners and customers to help facilitate more LED retrofits and solar photovoltaic (PV) installations than ever before, helping businesses across the country realize benefits of reduced energy costs and increased energy security.”
According to Kingspan, large-scale rooftop PV installations are an ideal commercial investment, particularly when companies can find the up-front capital. In Ulbrich’s case, the company received Class 1 zero renewable energy credits (ZREC) under the Low & Zero Emissions Renewable Energy Credit Program. The ZRECs will generate nearly $20,000 in revenue to Ulbrich annually for 15 years.
Installation of Ulbrich’s solar panels was completed in June.
“As a company, we’ve always believed in doing things right – placing high priority on protecting the environment. This, in fact, has guided and driven several programs of product development and application focused on energy conservation and clean energy,” said Chris Ulbrich, Ulbrich CEO. “Our deep respect for the environment was really the driving force behind the decision to upgrade to a rooftop solar system, and is just one more way we are striving to adhere to sustainable business practices as we serve our customers around the world.”
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