Bellingham, Wash.-based target="_blank">Alpha Energy recently completed the construction and commissioning of a 1MW elevated solar photovoltaic (PV) grid-tied structure for the Manheim NJ National Auto Dealers Exchange (NADE) auction facility in Bordentown, N.J. "eWe are proud to design and deliver a full megawatt of solar power to the renewable energy power grid," says Drew Zogby, president and COO of Alpha Technologies. "This new solar power installation is a great example of effectively provisioning a major PV installation at an existing commercial site."
The system is installed on the largest continuous elevated solar racking structure in the United States. It is equivalent in size to three football fields elevated 23 ft into the air, and provides protection from the elements for Manheim NJ Auto Auction to prep and stage vehicles for sale.
The 1MW single continuous array of solar modules includes more than 5,000 photovoltaic panels spanning a total area of 104,000 square feet. The panels are tied in to one single meter via 11 separate inverters; this ensures that if a single array needs troubleshooting, 90% of the system will be producing electricity.
Construction and installation required 550,000 lb of steel, 240 cubic yd of concrete and 54,000 ft of wiring. The system will generate more than one million kilowatt hours per year, which is roughly the amount required to power 114 homes.
