- Paul Higa, House Foods of America Corp.
Sometimes the most challenging aspect of utility-scale solar or commercial solar installations is not getting the equipment running and connected to the grid. It’s where to put the equipment or how to fit it into a specific plot of land that is irregularly shaped while avoiding the alligators.
This was the case with the recently launched 5.9MW Stanton Solar Farm we designed and engineered for OUC in Orange County, Florida. (more…)
In the second quarter of 2011, manufactures of inverters and combiners began receiving certifications for meeting the updated UL1741-2010 standard, bringing 1000V listed products to the US market. Previously, only utility and behind-the-fence projects were able to install 1000V systems by using European inverters.
In addition solar panels, fuses, and disconnects have been UL listed to 1000V with their respective UL standards. European installations have been operating with 1000V systems for years, so it’s great to see the U.S. attempting to catch up.
The drive for increases to the DC system voltage is to reduce costs of wire and other balance of system components. With a higher voltage and more modules connected in series, more power can be transmitted on a given wire size and fewer source circuits are needed. The result? More efficiency. (more…)
Blue Oak Energy was fortunate to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on November 18, 2011 for a project we began designing in May 2009. There was an abundance of enthusiasm, community support and sunshine at this event to celebrate full operation of this awesome solar electric system.
This project is known as the Long Island Solar Farm which is a 37MWp (32MWac) solar farm covering six distinct parcels of land within the confines of the Brookhaven National Laboratory property. Brookhaven National Laboratory’s role is to produce excellent science and advanced technology with the cooperation, support, and appropriate involvement of our scientific and local communities. As such, this solar electric system is an indicative example of their leadership in science and technology. Brookhaven is one of ten total national laboratories in the United States and is located in the center of Long Island in Upton, New York. (more…)
How IBM is being smart and could be smarter
A fabulous article on solar powered data centers has been blanketing the media recently. IBM intends to use the variable and intermittent solar energy produced on a rooftop solar photovoltaic system to provide Direct Current to power their data centers.
This is an application for solar energy which has been underutilized over the years, in my opinion. Given the huge and constant energy demand which data centers require and the variable-rate structures from utility companies, solar energy folds nicely into an energy diversification portfolio and generally makes a healthy investment for a data center or server farm. (more…)
Solar Industry Converges on Dallas, Texas in 2011
From California to Texas, where “everything is bigger”.
The annual Solar Power International Conference has outgrown California and has moved on to take 325,000 square feet of exhibition hall area. With more than 20,000 visitors and more than 1200 Exhibitors, the must-attend solar event of the year will not disappoint. Blue Oak Energy is here in force to learn about the latest and greatest product releases, showcase our talented staff, and participate in conference meetings. We’re honored to be here in Texas, and appreciate the hospitality and future this state has to offer the solar industry. Texas has more solar legislation pending than any other state and we expect great things!