Solar Array Installation Progress

Solar Array Installation Progress
In early winter, SunCommon began the rooftop photovoltaic panel installation on the new South Burlington Public Library and City Hall.   180 single-sided panels were installed on the south-facing sloped roof.  These clamp right onto the standing seam with no roof penetrations. 

This spring, 137 two-sided solar panels (bi-facials) will be installed on the iron I-beam eaves that project out from the third-floor roof.   Once this is complete, the solar array will be turned on and start generating power.   This array will feed directly into the building and offset the building’s electrical energy use by about a third over the course of a typical year. 

The City had planned to include a battery in this project.  This has been postponed.  The City will collect actual power usage and array generation data over the first year or so of operation to better evaluate this option.  In the meantime, the City is working with Efficiency Vermont to explore other means to better spread-out electrical power usage to reduce costs and absorb onsite generation.

Sun and solar panel