Northern Power Systems, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp, has entered into an agreement to design, engineer and construct a 400 kW solar power system at Timberland's 429,000 square-foot Ontario distribution center in Southern California.
The 401.8 kW photovoltaic (PV) system will be installed on a new “TruckPort” steel mounting structure next to Timberland's warehouse, leveraging an unused area of the facility's truck yard by providing storage space for the facility as well as shaded parking for employees. A total of 1,960 PV modules will be mounted on the structure in strings of 14 each. The high-efficiency modules and inverters are expected to produce almost 60% of the facility's electrical load.
Also included in the design of the project will be Northern Power's “SmartView” remote monitoring software technology, allowing Timberland to manage and report on the site's power production in real time from any location via the Internet.
The timing of the system installation is expected to maximize available incentives under California's Self-Generation Incentive Program, offering Timberland a rebate of over $1.5 million. By reliably delivering up to 60% of the facility's energy needs, the new power system is also expected to create a hedge against potential critical peak pricing surcharges of as much as $1 per kilowatt hour, which may be put into effect in California over the next several summers.
Timberland will retain all of the green credits associated with the power generated by the system. These green credits represent the value of the emissions-free generation of the PV system compared to the emissions (CO2, SO2 and NOx, particulate matter and other pollutants) associated with power that would have come from the grid. According to data collected in a study of emissions in California by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the new system will avoid releasing almost 935,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year, or at least 11,690 tons during the system's 25-year lifespan. Data researched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates this to be the equivalent of planting over 78,000 acres of trees (or 3,150 acres per year).
Noting that the project would further affirm Timberland's leadership commitment to renewable energy, Betsy Blaisdell, Manager of Environmental Stewardship of Timberland, stated, “The proposed PV system offers a tremendous value, combining a sound business decision with Timberland's ongoing commitment to social responsibility. We examined the proposals of multiple vendors over a period of 18 months, and Northern's creativity in finding a solution that met our economic and environmental objectives, as well as their track record of designing and installing successful renewable power projects, were determining factors in the contract award.” Blaisdell added, “The system's alignment with Timberland's core values makes it the natural next step in our exciting evolution.”
