Solar Southwest Florida

I am seeing an uptick in requests about Alternating Current Photovoltaic (ACPV) Modules. ACPV solar panels are traditional solar electric panels that have an inverter affixed to the back. The module assembly is UL listed as a complete assembly, and is essentially an appliance. Rather than output DC power that needs to be converted to AC for use in your home, the appliance puts out AC energy that can be connected directly to your home’s wiring system.

ACPV Solar Module with Microinverter Attached

Despite what manufacturer’s may say, these are not the same as the “plug-and-play” solar panel concept, which doesn’t really exist. ACPV modules are still required to be connected to dedicated branch circuit wiring and fall under many of the same National Electric Code (NEC) requirements found under Chapter 690 of the NEC. They require a qualified professional to install, and are no less dangerous than a typical solar photovoltaic module. Some have argued that ACPV panels are the next evolution from the current microinverter revolution. Microinverters convert each solar panel’s energy to usable AC energy, but are not integral with the panel. They mount beneath the panel on rails or to the module frame in some cases.

So what are the pros and cons of ACPV solar panels?

Pros

• Simplified installation wiring – no DC disconnects required or DC combiner boxes.
• Simplified installation mounting – no microinverter to mount on rails or central inverter to mount on wall.
• Elimination of many NEC grounding requirements.
• Per-panel maximum power point tracking eliminates module mismatch losses, increasing energy harvest over string inverters.
• Reduces impact of shading on solar arrays. Allows installation on multiple orientations and pitches.
• No high-voltage DC electricity on roof, reducing shock hazard and potentially increasing firefighter safety.
• No high-voltage DC conductors run through attics and walls, possibly reducing arc-fault potential and severity and fire risk.
• Reduced chance for DC ground faults.
• Easy identification of under-performing and failed components.
• Per-module performance monitoring.
• Inverter warranty length typically exceeds string inverters (but not traditional microinverters).

Cons

• Failure of the PV module or attached inverter requires replacement of complete assembly, increasing shipping costs and complexity of service.
• Proprietary connectors on inverters – questions about long-term serviceability and availability of components.

At first glance it would seem that the pros greatly outweigh the cons. However, many of the pros are achievable with traditional DC solar modules with “traditional” microinverters (the word “traditional” is in quotes because microinverters are in their product life-cycle infancy, but this pair is essentially the same thing as a disassembled ACPV module). More importantly the cons offer significant questions about what happens down the road if warranty service is required.

While the DC component of an ACPV module is generally very reliable, there are still questions by many about the long-term failure rate of the microinverter component. With traditional microinverters, the inverter component can be replaced separately from the module. Furthermore, a DC module is likely to work with future technology iterations and can always be converted for use in different systems. The proprietary nature of an ACPV module requires that a matching replacement component be installed. Technically an ACPV module could be converted to a traditional DC module, but it’s unclear if it would be properly listed for that intended use and thus be code compliant for any installation other than an ACPV system.

Since the panel and the associated microinverter are manufactured by different companies, if the inverter manufacturer goes out of business, I assume the panel manufacture would be on the hook to produce replacement parts for warranty service. This could be difficult to do, but I assume that manufacturers have thought that through (I hope). Remember, you would presumably have to return the entire ~38″ x 65″, 50 pound solar module for warranty service to the solar panel manufacturer.

Conceptually, I love the idea of the ACPV module. It is one step closer to “plug-and-play” solar. It makes the job of solar installers very easy. Many of the great advantages of microinverters are incorporated, because ACPV modules are essentially microinverters permanently mounted to the panel. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend ACPV modules at this time due to questions about future serviceability and availability. Some of my colleagues will make the same argument against “traditional” microinverters, but I am convinced that a separate solar panel and inverter makes more sense at this time than an ACPV appliance. If the future of microinverters is bleak, and I don’t think it is, then at least there will be better options for servicing existing microinverter systems. The few cons of ACPV modules outweigh the many pros in my opinion when there are microinverter options available.

If you are convinced about the benefits of microinverters over central/string inverters, I would recommend going the microinverter route and avoiding ACPV solutions at this time.

As expected, Cape Coral passed the Public Service Tax measure on April 29, 2013. The tax impacts every utility electric customer in the City. The more you use electricity, the more tax you pay.

As I noted in my earlier post, solar energy producers can avoid tax on every kilowatt-hour they reduce or produce with solar energy.

The City of Cape Coral released an online calculator that has a few deficiencies. Most importantly to me is that the calculator ignores solar producing customers using LCEC’s netmetering program (both commercial and residential). If you are a small commercial (non-demand charge) or residential customer with solar electric panels and you have a netmetered account, you pay different rates than standard utility customers. As a result, your tax calculation is different. The City’s calculator only shows large commercial (demand charge) rates, and not small commercial rates.

The good news is that there isn’t much tax difference for netmetered customers, who often pay lower rates than those who don’t produce solar energy. In fact, many residential netmetered customers fall below the 500 kWh tax threshold, so they will pay no tax except tax on the customer charge, or $1.35. Netmetered customers with an energy surplus in any month will also pay just $1.35!

I felt obligated to produce a better calculator that could be used by most commercial and residential netmetered customers who are producing solar energy. This calculator should match Cape Coral’s calculator for residential customers without solar electricity.

If the calculator does not appear below, you may access it directly at: http://szumlanski.com/PST/

Assumptions and Disclaimers: This calculator is based on the 7% Public Service Tax as approved on April 29, 2013 and utility rates are accurate as of May 1, 2013 to the best of my knowledge. SolarSouthwestFlorida and it’s author are not responsible for and errors or omissions in this calculator.  Please use with caution. Results are for approximate reference only. Rounding errors may exist. The City of Cape Coral’s office calculator can be accessed by clicking here.

Tonight I was invited to part of a panel before a public group at the Naples Community Hospital. I guess you could call it a Solar Panel.

Here is the text of my brief speech:

“I would like to address the most common misconception about solar energy: Solar energy is expensive and cannot survive without government and utility incentives.

The most common solar product installed in Southwest Florida is not solar electric or solar water heating for the home; it’s solar pool heating. Solar thermal energy has been effectively heating pools for four decades in Southwest Florida, and forms the bread and butter of the local solar energy industry. For virtually all of the 38 years that my employer has been installing solar pool heaters, there have been no rebates or tax credits. There has always been a clear and attractive return on investment with solar pool heaters vs. gas or electric heat pumps without any incentives whatsoever.

Solar electricity has long been seen as out-of-reach technology for the masses, and was admittedly expensive in the recent past. What most people don’t realize is that solar electric systems have come down in price dramatically in the last few years. In fact, wholesale solar electric panel costs have come down over 80% in just the last three years! The total installed price of a system has come down by 60%. Here’s a key fact: The cost of purchasing a solar electric system today without incentives is less than the cost of the same system with incentives three years ago! I should mention that there is still a 30% Federal Tax Credit available for solar electric systems.

Some effective solar energy products like solar water heaters currently have great incentives available, but don’t garner much attention. Others like solar attic fans and solar tubular skylights may have no incentives, yet the price point makes them a popular entry-level solar energy product.

Incentives can be very disruptive. They skew the market and create the perception that the true cost of a product is too high for it to stand on its own. The FL State Solar Rebate program (which is long behind us) was underfunded by the Florida legislature and left the industry with a black eye. Incentives encourage sellers to artificially inflate selling prices. Limited incentive programs like some utility rebates create an unfair playing field for potential buyers and ultimately reduce the adoption of customer owned solar energy systems. The solar industry and its customers gladly embraced all available incentives over the years. The news and marketing message from the industry ingrained the public perception that incentives are a fundamental requirement for solar energy.

The local Southwest Florida solar energy consumer has little to worry about when it comes to net installed prices. This happens to be the most price competitive area in the nation for solar pool heating systems, brought on by fierce competition and strong demand. Typical solar electric prices locally are a full $1 per watt lower than the national average – about 20% lower than states that have healthy incentive programs. While incentives have helped spur demand for solar energy in many states, the demand is largely a result of a slew of leasing companies chasing rebates, which has the effect of reducing the dollar benefit to the ultimate consumer. Incentives are, and should be, a short-term stimulus to an emerging industry.

The solar industry has emerged. We shouldn’t worry about solar rebates anymore. The likelihood of expanded Federal programs or new State programs for distributed solar power generation are less than remote. Utility rebate programs currently in place are ineffective and should not be renewed, at least in their current form. The combination of plummeting component costs, a highly competitive local marketplace, and a growing demand for solar products nation- and world-wide is great for the industry. The misconception that solar energy needs incentives to be successful is old news. Hopefully we can put the myth to bed here tonight!”

Note: my actual speech may have varied slightly from what I had prepared.

NBC-2 News reported that a smart car charger caused a fire in Estero, FL yesterday causing $200,000 to a home. From the story I gather that the homeowner installed the smart charger himself. While I can’t say if he was qualified or if the fire was caused by installation errors or product failure, it brings an important issue to the forefront – electric car charging is going to bring a whole host of problems for home electrical systems.

The problem is that many homes already have fully loaded main distribution panels. Several tandem breakers may be installed to accommodate new circuits for things like lighting, appliances, and pool equipment added after the home was built. And electric car chargers use a LOT of power! For example, the Leviton Evr-Green 320 Charging Station is rated for 32A @ 240V, or 7,700 watts. The only appliances in your home that carry higher ratings are likely your electric range and the electric heater in your air conditioning system. Adding a Charging Station is no trivial matter in terms of power consumption.

People are getting interested in solar charging for electric vehicles at home. It doesn’t make much sense to install a solar-direct charging system because the solar panels would not function when the car is not at the home. It makes much more sense to install a grid-interconnected solar energy system and charge the vehicle with the home’s existing electrical distribution system. That way, excess electricity provided by solar panels is sold back to the utility company. Adding solar to a home can increase the power capacity of the home, but only if done correctly and safely in accordance with applicable codes.

A Charging Station can be safely added to any home with the right distribution equipment, and it doesn’t need to break the bank. It may be possible to simply add a new (dedicated) circuit for the Charging Station. Adding a second main distribution panel is sometimes the best option. This must be done by a licensed electrical contractor, and requires pulling the utility meter. A load analysis should be performed to make sure added circuits do not overload distribution equipment. Doing this during a solar energy installation is an ideal time. Since the solar electric system needs to be interconnected to the utility, updating the home’s capacity concurrently can be accomplished with minimal extra effort (cost). Better yet, some of the new distribution equipment may be eligible for the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit because it is necessary and part of the solar energy production system.

A solar electric system can be used to offset the additional electricity that your home will use when you purchase an electric vehicle. (Side note: remember when purchasing an electric vehicle that you are still using fossil fuel to power it! If you plan to purchase an electric vehicle, be sure to let your solar installer know so provisions can be made for the future.

My heart goes out to the Schardein family. Losing a home to fire must be devastating. Hopefully the damage is fully insured and the impact is minimal.

With the fantastic monitoring tools available today, we can see exactly how much energy production drops on cloudy days and when storms pass by. Tropical Storm Isaac just passed by Southwest Florida, and I’ve been reviewing energy output from many of  the systems we have out there. Saturday and Sunday were completely cloud covered days. Sunday August 26, 2012 was not only cloudy, but it was dark and rainy virtually all day long.

Despite the cloud cover, photovoltaic systems continued to put out significant amounts of energy. In general, most systems across Southwest Florida had production cut in half on Saturday and lost almost 3/4ths production on Sunday. Here are a couple of examples:

PV Energy Output During Tropical Storm Isaac

PV Energy Output During Tropical Storm Isaac (Residential)

The last two days were extraordinary, of course. It is interesting to see the performance of the systems during a storm, because there would definitely be an impact on battery backup systems if a power outage were to occur during a storm. Fortunately, there is usually plenty of sunshine to recharge batteries the day after a storm. We still have off and on rain today, but I have seen glimpses of blue sky already. Go Sun!

The solar boat Ra has docked in Fort Myers on its 6,000 mile “adventure powered by the sun.” Captain Jim Greer and crew are taking the solar powered vessel around the Great Loop of the United States while filming the entire journey.

I went down to see the boat this evening and snapped a few pictures of the Ra. It looks like a boat equipped for an adventure, outfit with 15 solar panels and a cockpit perfect for viewing the scenery along the way. I’m hoping to meet the crew tomorrow and learn more about the inner workings of the solar energy system. I get so many requests about solar panels on boats in Southwest Florida, and with my off-grid and mobile solar experience, I figure this could be a great opportunity to offer more services to area boaters. I’d love to learn anything I can from the Ra crew.

The boat is propelled by dual Torqeedo electric outboard motors, a 14 module solar array, and a dedicated battery bank for propulsion. The house battery for other power needs are charged from a separate solar panel. While it won’t beat any speed records, it appears to be a well thought out design, possibly with room for more solar production capacity in the future.

Check back tomorrow, hopefully for more pictures and inside information!

More info about the project: http://www.thesolarodyssey.com

The price of residential electricity has historically trended upwards despite routine promises of future innovation resulting in lower energy prices. Based on the linear trend, electricity in 25 years will cost about 50% more than it does today. At a 3% annual increase, typical of expected inflation rates, electricity would more than double in the next 25 years. In other words, a $150 electricity bill today will be over $300 in 25 years!

Florida Historical Residential Electricity Prices

What if I told you that you could prepay for 25 years of electricity at well under the current price of about 11.5 cents per kilowatt-hour? Wouldn’t that be a smart financial move and a great hedge against rising future energy costs? Whether you expect to be on a fixed income, want to improve your future quality of life, or are looking for a solid return on your investment, I have a solution for you.

Solar electric (photovoltaic) systems have come down in price so substantially over the last 3 years that, with available incentives, the levelized cost of electricity produced by the system over the 25 year warranty period can be well below the current cost of electricity. If you have the money to install a solar electric system and a suitable roof, it is completely reasonable (and profitable) to install solar electricity on your Florida home today!

Utility electric rates in Southwest Florida vary quite a bit depending on how much electricity you consume. I created a spreadsheet to calculate what your utility electric rate would be with different utilities depending on the amount of energy consumed.

What you will find is that the effective rate for LCEC is higher for typical residential customers because of the higher fixed customer charge. Another interesting fact is that LCEC netmetered customers with solar electric generation pay more that regular LCEC customers until they consume at least 1,342 kilowatt hours (net). Again, this is because of a higher customer charge.

The rates are current as of April 16, 2012 and include all charges, fees, and taxes.

Note: The Franchise Fee will vary by municipality. I have used 3% to provide a reasonable approximation and comparison. For example, the Lee County fee is 3% and the Cape Coral fee is 3.173%.

SWFL Utility Rate Comparison

Southwest Florida Utility Electric Rate Spreadsheet (Requires Excel 2007 or greater)

Fafco Solar Video on Pentair Variable Speed Pump

Fafco Solar just released a short promotional video on the Pentair Variable Speed pool pump.

The variable speed pump is a perfect match for solar pool heating systems, especially when an automatic controller is used. Without a controller the pump can be scheduled to run at optimum solar circulation speed when solar energy is most likely to be available. Adding a controller adds the capability of changing the pump speed based on the availability and demand for solar heating.

With or without solar energy, the variable speed pump will pay for itself with energy savings. You can cut pumping costs up to 90% with this great technology while getting a far quieter and longer lasting pool pump.

Solar pool heaters work better with variable speed pumps because the optimum flow rate can be achieved to maximize solar performance. A single speed pump is typically fine to use with solar pool heating, but if you want maximum pool heating, a variable speed pump can both save you a tremendous amount of money and provide the proper flow rate.

Typical efficiency vs. flow curve for solar pool heating panels (FAFCO Sunsaver shown).

Most solar pool heating panel manufacturers recommend a flow rate of 4 gallons per minute per panel. If you have seven panels, you need a flow rate of 28 gallons per minute. Anything less and the efficiency drops off quite rapidly. Anything more and you are wasting money on  your pumping costs, pumping water at a rate higher than required for solar pool heating to be efficient.

When we have a solar pool heater installed, we insist that every job gets a flow meter installed (at least temporarily).  The pump can be programmed to operate at the proper speed when solar pool heating is likely to be required. With an automatic controller, the pump can be set to go to optimum speed whenever solar pool heating is required, but reduce the speed when heating is not active.

There are lots of other variable speed pump resources on my Solar Southwest Florida blog. I have also assembled some Pentair variable speed pump marketing videos below. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcZfjpk_eeA

I recently set up a Wattvision meter on my Fort Myers, FL home to evaluate its effectiveness. I have to say, I love it! It definitely clues you in to how much energy you are using, when you are using it, and what appliances cost to operate. The device pays for itself by identifying power hogs. For example, I cut down the time my pool lights come on each night because they were consuming 600 watts! On the other hand, I decided to run my fountain longer each day because it uses next to no energy.

The charts on the Wattvision website are excellent. You can view real time, hourly, daily, and monthly data, and can download raw data to use in spreadsheets for further analysis. Take a look at this chart from last Monday.

What can you learn from the chart? Here is my analysis of what happened on Monday (list numbers correspond to numbers on the chart):

1. The baseline load for my home is around 400W at night when we are sleeping. This energy goes to digital video recorders, chargers, TVs, coffee maker, and other appliances that draw a small amount of energy constantly, plus some outdoor landscape and security lighting. The little bumps show the times when the refrigerator is running.
2. The water heater starts up about 4-5 times a day just to keep the water in the tank hot. Around 6:00 am we got up, took showers, and got ready for work. We used a substantial amount of hot water, and the water heater ran for a long period of time, costing us about 50 cents per hour of operation. Around dinner time the water heater worked during cooking and dish washing, and came back on as we got ready for bed.
3. My variable speed pool pump is scheduled to run at low speed from 9:00 am to noon, and again from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
4. The pool pump ramps up speed from noon to 2:30 pm to give the automatic cleaner time to work and get adequate pool filtration.
5. The baseline during the evening increases as we use lights, watch TV, and use computers. The fountain and outdoor lighting also comes on at dusk.

You may have seen the promise of plug-and-play solar panels coming to a store near you. I’ll try to make sense of these “new” products and tell you what they will and won’t do for you. There are two kinds of “plug-and-play solar panel” promises floating around out there. There is the solar panel that you can plug into your house and use or sell back to the utility, and there is the solar panel system into which you plug devices directly.

The first “plug-and-play solar panel” product promises that you can plug your solar panels into an existing outlet and feed power back into your home. This is completely unsafe and will not meet any building code in existence. This would require that the system have a male plug that you insert into the outlet. Guess what – that plug with exposed metal conductors could have live power on it (unless the inverter is listed to UL 1741 – let’s not get too technical here!) Even if the proper inverter were used, there are numerous National Electric Code sections that would not allow its use in this manner. No utility company would allow this power to be sent back to the grid. This is not an approved interconnection method, and it is completely unsafe.

Consider that you have a 15 amp circuit breaker feeding a string of outlets in your home. The wire and outlets on that circuit are capable of safely supplying 15 amps of power. If you plug a solar panel’s output into an electrical outlet, you have increased the amount of power available to that wire and all receptacles on the circuit. Furthermore, there is no way to restrict the number of solar panels that a homeowner would plug into a circuit. The homeowner could theoretically install dozens of solar panels into power strips on a single circuit. Hopefully the closest fire station is close by…

The second kind of “plug-and-play solar panel” is really nothing more than a complete mobile off-grid solar electric system. The components include a solar panel, an inverter, and possibly a battery. With this system you can plug devices directly into the inverter output using a standard AC receptacle. There is nothing wrong with this concept, except that it has serious limitations in usefulness, efficiency, and value.

A new product of this kind from Onyx Service and Solutions Inc promises to revolutionize plug-and-play solar. There is really nothing new with this product except that it is larger and higher powered than most other portable solar power devices. I use the word “portable” loosely here because it’s hardly something you can pop in the trunk for an afternoon outing. The included 330 watt solar panel is at least five feet long by three feet wide. The premise of this product is to include a solar panel, a battery, and an inverter in a single box with a standard AC outlet. That’s great, but the amount of power generated and stored isn’t even enough to run a laptop computer for 24 hours.

This system cannot be attached to your home’s electrical system and it cannot sell electricity back to the grid. Don’t be misled!

This type of product is fantastic for small power needs, like charging phones, tablets, or other small devices, or using some higher powered devices for shorter periods of time. They key is to make it portable enough. There is a nice consumer product line from Goal Zero that is perfect for modest power needs, and it does exactly what the Onyx system does, albeit on a much less powerful scale, but it is truly portable.

The promise of “plug-and-play solar panels” is a long way away. There is hope. The best opportunity for a plug-and-play type system may be using a transfer switch similar to the generator input to a home. One thing is certain – you will need to upgrade your home wiring or provide a proper receptacle that in some way makes this type of installation safe, and it will need to be done under the current or future requirements of the National Electric Code.

The best bet in solar electric today is still the basic grid-interactive solar electric system. Don’t be misled by promises of new revolutionary products that can’t deliver. If you want a portable consumer grade solar energy system, educate yourself on the limitations, and if it meets your needs, by all means, proceed!

Don’t panic! It’s not here yet!

Time-of-use metering allows a utility company to charge you different rates based on the time of day. This billing approach is popular in places like California and the Northeast US where there are large peaks in electricity demand. Utilities deliver power by producing a “baseline” amount of power that corresponds with the lowest amount of total expected power demand for their customers at the lowest possible cost. It costs more to meet power needs that are above this baseline amount of power because production costs are higher to meet the peaks. Total demand changes based on the time of day and the time of year.

One way to think about it is how you drive your car. If you are cruising along at a constant speed, your fuel consumption is steady, predictable, and relatively low. When you accelerate and put the pedal to the metal, it costs a lot in terms of fuel consumption, and it’s a very inefficient way to consume fuel to get where you want to go. The same concept applies to utility companies’ power production. A utility’s dream is to be on cruise control, delivering a constant amount of power throughout the day and night.

LCEC's Southwest Florida Annual Load Demand Curve. January 2009 was particularly cold, causing a huge demand for electric heating.

Current electricity rates for PG&E customers in California with time-of-use metering can vary from 9 cents per kilowatt hour to over 47 cents per kilowatt hour! Depending on how much energy you use each day and when you use it, you could pay over 4 times the rate we pay in Southwest Florida!

Florida does have a relatively steady annual power demand because the population swells in the cool season. Even though less air conditioning is required per capita in the cool season, the sheer number of people here helps to level out the total amount of energy consumed each month. See the LCEC Annual Load Demand Curve to the right to illustrate this phenomenon. Nonetheless, demand throughout the day does vary significantly year-round.

The scary thing about time-of-use metering in Florida is that rates would be highest during the day in the summer when air conditioning is typically used. Electricity bills could skyrocket in Southwest Florida for annual residents and businesses unless habits are drastically changed. Commercial customers would be hit hard, as offices and shops consume the vast majority of their energy during peak hours. Retirees who are home during the day would also be hit with higher air conditioning costs. Lower income seniors may need to forego the luxury and comfort of temperature controlled surroundings.

The good news is that utility rates for off-peak times may actually be reduced dramatically. The other way for electric utilities to lower total cost of production is to actually raise the baseline. That means they want you to consume electricity during the off-peak times. One potential boon for this approach is electric cars. Imagine millions of electric cars charging up in garages overnight across Southwest Florida, flattening out the power demand curve!

Is time-of-use metering coming to Southwest Florida? Based on the status quo, we will probably not see time-of-use metering as a requirement in the near future. However, it is almost inevitable that some changes will be made to electricity rates in the mid- to long-run. It is totally impractical for utility companies to maintain a low baseline power production and meet peak demand with more expensive production options.

How does this relate to solar energy? Well, solar energy systems produce the most energy when the sun is out (surprise!) and this time generally corresponds to the peak power demand times for utility companies in Florida. If your solar energy system is reducing your usage during peak times, your bill will be reduced dramatically. You would be cutting down your usage of the most expensive power required for your home. Furthermore, any electricity that you sell back to the utility (power produced in excess of power concurrently used), would be sold back to the utility at premium rates!

Time-of-use metering is generally hated by the average consumer, but it is a more fair way to charge for electricity because it is tied to the cost to produce the power at the time it is consumed. If (when) time-of-use metering does come to Southwest Florida, one way to be prepared is to use a solar electric system to eliminate the most expensive power you will need.

Early morning dew covers PV panels at Naples Botanical Gardens

Fafco Solar has completed the FGCU Naples Botanical Garden photovoltaic system installation. I am particularly proud of this system and the expert installers that did the heavy lifting. The system includes 164 SolarWorld 245 watt solar photovoltaic modules, 164 Enphase M215 microinverters, a Unirac SolarMount mounting system, and S-5! Clamp attachments.

Because of the existing electrical system at the facility, the photovoltaic system is divided into two sub-arrays backfeeding power into two 208V 3-Phase electrical distribution panels. Commercial 3-Phase installations are always interesting from a design standpoint because typically we are dealing with various existing transformers and often generator backup systems.

Workers Install PV Module

It was truly a pleasure working with the Naples Botanical Garden staff and Manhattan Kraft Construction on this project. The weather cooperated for the most part. The job went very smoothly, finishing about a week ahead of my expectations.

This job is a model for future PV construction projects. We look forward to the next big PV job as we move on to a large multi-tenant solar water heating job in Fort Myers.