PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

New Jersey's rebates yield two 500 kW systems in October

Dome-Tech Solar of Edison, New Jersey in early October completed its installation of a 502 kW fixed-tilt PV system at a water treatment plant owned by New Jersey American Water, calling it »the largest ground-mounted system east of the Rockies.«

	© Dome-Tech Solar Inc.
Biggest in the East?: Dome-Tech completed this 502 kW fixed-tilt system in New Jersey in October. PowerLight's tracking system beat it by 3 kW later in the month. Dome-Tech is adding 86 kW in 2006.

The system, which uses 2,800 panels from Schott Solar, is expected to save the water utility about $125,000 a year in electricity costs and pay back in about seven years. The project was able to make use of rebates offered through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, totaling $1.9 million, and covering nearly 60 percent of its total cost.

Not to be outdone, Berkeley, California-based PowerLight Corp. completed its installation of a $3.3 million, 505 kW ground-mounted single-axis tracking system for Johnson & Johnson later in October, using 2,520 panels. The project also garnered $1.9 million in New Jersey rebates. The pharmaceutical giant has invested in several other large PV projects in New Jersey, including a 500 kW flat-roof installation (see PI 5/2003, p. 34).

In 2006, however, Dom-Tech is adding another 86 kW to its system to recapture the title for largest ground-mounted system east of the Rocky Mountains. The company is also set to complete a 510 kW flat-roof system in mid-December for pharmaceutical company Merck, which will then be the largest flat-roof system in New Jersey, ahead of PowerLight's 500 kW system installed for Johnson & Johnson in 2003 (see PI 5/2003 p. 34).