This 12 kW project is Phase 1 of a three-phase, 36 kW, solar demonstration project to highlight three different types of solar PV technology, educate the public and generate solar power for Western’s Folsom facility. Phase 1 consists of 234 Solarex MSX-64 polycrystalline silicon modules, rated at 64 watts peak, attached to the building’s standing seam metal roof with special clamps. Each of the three strings (78 modules, 4 kW) provides 48 volt DC power to an inverter, which converts it to 240 volt AC, single phase.

The inverter output is boosted by a transformer to 480 volts AC, three phase, for connection to the building’s electrical system. The remaining two phases of the project will have 12 kW of thin film amorphous silicon and 12 kW of thin film copper-indium diselenide modules. All three project phases will be monitored with a data acquisition system to compare performances.

Facility Information

• System Building Owner: Western Area Power
• Site Location: Folsom, CA

Contractors

• Prime/System integrator: SMUD

Schedule

• Installation Completed: November 1997
• Contract to completion: 6 weeks
• Construction Duration: 7 days

Electrical Design

• AC Output: 240 V single phase
• PV Configuration (per string): 3 series; 26 parallel
• DC Current and Voltage: 91 A @ 48 Vmp

Performance Parameters

• Power Capacity: 12 kW peak; 10.8 kW AC
• Annual Energy (est.): 28,500 kWh/year
• Lifetime CO₂ Savings: 720 tons

PV Modules

• PV Cell Material: Polycrystalline silicon
• PV Manufacturer/Model: Solarex, MSX-64
• Module Size: 20″ × 44″