Local Casino Going Solar

Steven Lake
Steven Lake Solar Expert Posts: 402 ✭✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
I've been driving by my local casino over the past couple weeks and I've noticed that right down near the highway they've put in 10 units that look a lot like solar mounting frameworks. Now here's the kicker. They're not your "normal" sized ones. I did some calculating and each mount can hole twenty one, yes, you read that right, twenty one (21) panels in what appears to be the 200-300 watt size. (probably 245's most likely) Now obviously I'm going by at highway speeds, but I've learned enough to know that at the bare minimum that's what they'll be. Yes, the framing is THAT BIG. Even better is there's 10 of those suckers. So 10 frame units x 21 panels = 210 panels x 245w = 51,450w @24v of panels. The mounting units even have tracking units and motors and the whole 9 yards.

They haven't started installing the support equipment, and the panels are nowhere to be seen, but those should go in soon enough. Even so, that's one huge frigging system. Anyhow, thought I'd share this with you. This, combined with all of the solar stuff I've been seeing going in around here is really incredible. It's like the whole state is going solar crazy. :)
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    Steven Lake wrote: »
    It's like the whole state is going solar crazy. :)

    Well of course Michigan is well-known for its bountiful year-round sunshine. :p

    But it would be interesting to know the details and performance of this mega-system. Maybe they will do a bit of promotion about it? Perhaps provide a web site with production data? Could be a PR coup. :D
    · Share on Twitter
  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar

    And everybody knows that casinos at paragons of energy efficiency!

    Icarus
    · Share on Twitter
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    Steven Lake wrote: »
    I've been driving by my local casino over the past couple weeks and I've noticed that right down near the highway they've put in 10 units that look a lot like solar mounting frameworks. Now here's the kicker. They're not your "normal" sized ones. I did some calculating and each mount can hole twenty one, yes, you read that right, twenty one (21) panels in what appears to be the 200-300 watt size. (probably 245's most likely) Now obviously I'm going by at highway speeds, but I've learned enough to know that at the bare minimum that's what they'll be. Yes, the framing is THAT BIG. Even better is there's 10 of those suckers. So 10 frame units x 21 panels = 210 panels x 245w = 51,450w @24v of panels. The mounting units even have tracking units and motors and the whole 9 yards.

    They haven't started installing the support equipment, and the panels are nowhere to be seen, but those should go in soon enough. Even so, that's one huge frigging system. Anyhow, thought I'd share this with you. This, combined with all of the solar stuff I've been seeing going in around here is really incredible. It's like the whole state is going solar crazy. :)

    51.5kW is huge? ;^)

    Everything is relative. I am just winding up the installation of a 630kW system in San Antonio; I am the design engineer and field supervisor. It's 2469 255W modules and 72 Sunny Boy inverters on the roofs of two schools. Fun project.
    · Share on Twitter
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    ggunn wrote: »
    51.5kW is huge? ;^)

    Everything is relative. I am just winding up the installation of a 630kW system in San Antonio; I am the design engineer and field supervisor. It's 2469 255W modules and 72 Sunny Boy inverters on the roofs of two schools. Fun project.

    Aha! Wasting taxpayer's money, eh? :p

    Seriously, what sort of tax incentive/rebates does a school get for doing a solar install? We know it doesn't save money on electric. Perhaps this is a private institution?
    · Share on Twitter
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    Aha! Wasting taxpayer's money, eh? :p

    Seriously, what sort of tax incentive/rebates does a school get for doing a solar install? We know it doesn't save money on electric. Perhaps this is a private institution?
    No rebate. It's part of San Antonio's Solartricity program whereby the utility pays the school district 27 cents per kWh for 20 years for the energy produced by the system(s).
    · Share on Twitter
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    ggunn wrote: »
    No rebate. It's part of San Antonio's Solartricity program whereby the utility pays the school district 27 cents per kWh for 20 years for the energy produced by the system(s).

    27 cents per kW hour? How inexpensive is the install? Around here that would work out as a net loss for the taxpayer of about 23 cents per kW hour.

    Maybe someone has figured out how expensive electricity really is. When you think about it, the school would use most of its power during the day when the panels are producing - thus taking a major load off the grid. Add on the school "down time" production for holidays and it's probably a lot more practical than a typical home install would be (not to mention the scale factor).
    · Share on Twitter
  • jagec
    jagec Solar Expert Posts: 157 ✭✭
    #8
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    Maybe someone has figured out how expensive electricity really is. When you think about it, the school would use most of its power during the day when the panels are producing - thus taking a major load off the grid.

    True, and that's also a compelling reason for NOT installing solar on a casino!
    · Share on Twitter
  • Steven Lake
    Steven Lake Solar Expert Posts: 402 ✭✭
    #9
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    ggunn wrote: »
    51.5kW is huge? ;^)

    Everything is relative. I am just winding up the installation of a 630kW system in San Antonio; I am the design engineer and field supervisor. It's 2469 255W modules and 72 Sunny Boy inverters on the roofs of two schools. Fun project.
    lol. Yes, size is relative. Around here, 51.5kW is a big system. :P
    jagec wrote: »
    True, and that's also a compelling reason for NOT installing solar on a casino!
    Well, given that it's a Casino, they're probably doing it for promotional purposes. We have just as many tree huggers up here as you guys do down south. The only difference is that ours wear plaid. ;)
    · Share on Twitter
  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    ggunn wrote: »
    51.5kW is huge? ;^)

    Everything is relative. I am just winding up the installation of a 630kW system in San Antonio; I am the design engineer and field supervisor. It's 2469 255W modules and 72 Sunny Boy inverters on the roofs of two schools. Fun project.

    ggunn,
    i remember you had a problem trying to figure out the utility tie in. i don't remember where the thread is off hand, but i'd like you to update things on that install and can you give us some pics? that's a job to be proud of.
    · Share on Twitter
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #11
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar
    niel wrote: »
    ggunn,
    i remember you had a problem trying to figure out the utility tie in. i don't remember where the thread is off hand, but i'd like you to update things on that install and can you give us some pics? that's a job to be proud of.

    'Tis true, I had some things to learn about three phase power and voltage drop for a long AC run on one of the systems. I'll try to upload some pix later; as they are now they are too big.
    · Share on Twitter
  • Steven Lake
    Steven Lake Solar Expert Posts: 402 ✭✭
    #12
    Re: Local Casino Going Solar

    Ok, it appears I was wrong about the number of panels per frame. They've got 28, not 21. Again I haven't been allowed near the actual units yet, so I'm simply making these observations via the highway as I go by, but I got lucky enough to have one turned my way as I was driving by so I could get a headcount. :)
    · Share on Twitter

Categories