American Solar and Alternative Power (ASAP, http://www.solarasap.com), a division of American Carrera Tech LLC, located in Stamford, Connecticut has recently completed the installation of a Photovoltaic System at the Stamford Twin Rinks in Stamford. ASAP began the construction of this turnkey project on September 5, 2009 and the system was substantially complete in Februray 2010 and was dedicated on May 26, when a ribbon-?cutting ceremony was held on site.
The Twin Rinks has been environmentally friendly since its construction 14 years ago; the development team took part in the Energy Conscious Construction program that helped to install many energy efficient features in the building. Continuing on this front, with the help of ASAP, the building is now equipped with a 306 kilowatt rooftop solar power plant.
The system consists of 1,456 chüco manufactured, 210 Watt mono-? crystalline solar modules, and 4 photovoltaic output circuits. These circuits run to an SMA SunnyCentral250 kW inverter located on the rooftop, where it converts the photovoltaic output circuit’s direct current (DC) into usable alternating current (AC).
It will provide approximately 15 percent of the facility’s annual electricity needs, while it is projected to produce up to 323,580 kilowatt-?hours of electricity per year to power the ice-?making machinery in the rinks.
ASAP is a Connecticut Clean Energy Fund approved solar integrator, composed of a staff with a wide level of expertise, and has installed millions of square feet of lighting upgrades over the past 25 years. This experience has allowed ASAP to acquire the ability to effectively assemble the right technologies to provide a project that has a great impact on energy savings while minimizing costs for clients.
The Twin Rinks integrated system, which was partially funded by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, is both practical and innovative. With the need to invest in alternative energy becoming greater, this project is a leap in the right direction. The rooftop system will contribute to not only the economic success of the Twin Rinks, but also provide enough energy to make ice and add to the environmental well being of the City of Stamford.
According to Jerry Charlup, CFO of ASAP, “The 306 kW system will reduce the city’s “carbon footprint” by about 290,259 pounds of Carbon Dioxide emissions each year, which is the annual equivalent to planting 39.2 acres of trees.” Taking into account the anticipated 25 year lifetime, this amounts to a total of 980 acres.
On display in the lobby of the building is a monitor that shows how the system benefits the environment. Here, visitors can see that the Photovoltaic System produces the most energy during the building’s peak demand period—a prime example of efficiency. In the wake of such disasters as the recent Gulf oil spill, what was once an idea of switching to alternative energies has become an utter necessity.
The partnership of companies like ASAP with commercial entities is essential in the stride toward a healthy environment and energy independence.
