The 62 panel solar project is a type of system that is an example for a residential home and would offset 100% of most homes. The panels can be located on a home, barn, garage or as a ground mount in order to cut utility costs and become part of the energy solution.

Single-Phase Roof mount or Ground Mount Grid-Tied Residential PV Systems will be connected to Enphase micro-inverters or string-inverters (designed to offset 100%+ of the home’s electric usage).

This system, located in Reinholds, PA, was for the purpose of offsetting 100% of the homeowner’s electrical usage. Because the dormers on the house were not ideal for accommodating solar panels, it was decided that system would be installed in the the property’s pasture. The client was then presented with a contract, complete with the installed system price and a financial analysis detailing return on investment and projected payback time. Once the signed contract was secured, Smucker’s Energy began the system design and paperwork.

The PV system size was determined to be 22.30KW and the type of system was decided to be a grid-tied ground mount with a single array. To the customer’s specifications, a Fronius inverter was planned for the system to meet the objective of comparing micro-inverter and string-inverter performance. Once the design was complete, fully engineered drawings of the system were generated; including the site plan and one-line electrical drawings.

Once the electrical drawings were complete the permit application was submitted. At the same time, the Interconnection Utility Agreement (Part A) was submitted. The drawings were also reviewed by Smucker’s team of technicians and electricians who would complete the installation, and an installation plan and schedule were created. While these various forms were under review, the ordering of the specific components (modules, inverters, and racking) for the system took place. After the permit and letters of agreement were received from all entities, installation of the system began.

The first step in the installation was to measure and mark the area for the ground mount as well as the for the wiring trench. After the excavation of the trench, wires were pulled through the inlaid conduit from the arrays to the utility interconnection on the side of the house. A disconnect is also added that allows the power from the PV System to quickly be disconnected from the grid for servicing or emergencies. Back at the site of the system, the ground mount racking was assembled and the panels and inverters attached. Careful testing took place to ensure that all components were properly connected.

With the installation completed and tested, arrangements were made for inspections by the local municipality and the utility company. Following the inspections, a final interconnection approval was given by the utility.. Once the utility’s final approval letter was received, the system was turned on and began supplying the homeowner with energy and sending excess power to the grid.

In addition to savings on your electric bill your solar system can help generate additional revenue via SREC’s. Currently we suggest using Knollwood Energy as a SREC market provider. The Process takes little effort and is easy to sign up for, as Smucker’s Energy fills out the required applications and clients only need to submit monthly readings to Knollwood energy. System owners receive 1 REC for each 1,000KWH (1MWH) of power the system generates, which can be sold in the SREC market (much like that of a carbon market model). These credits are accumulated regardless of whether the client uses the energy the system produces or if it is pumped back into the local utility grid. SREC prices are determined by the market, therefore they will fluctuate quarterly.

Systems can be enabled with Internet Monitoring, allowing the owner to monitor the system’s energy output via the Web to ensure peak production at all times. For larger systems, the ability to track the specific output of a system can be invaluable if it is noticed right away that part of the system may be underperforming. This allows the client to quickly contact Smucker’s Energy to resolve any issues that may occur after the system is turned on.