The Refuge HOA
Overview
With modern community amenities such as a fitness center, swimming pool and club house, The Refuge at Dirickson Creek Home Owners Association recognized that the increasing cost of electricity would be an ever growing burden on its residents. To plan for the future financial prosperity of the community, the board determined that solar was the best method to not only reduce their energy costs, but also to generate income. With limited ground area available, the community elected to design and install two roof mounted solar arrays and Delaware’s first solar carport array.
Engineering
The one-of-a-kind community owned solar system includes (170) GE solar modules and (6) SMA Sunny Boy Inverters, grid-tied to a single electrical service. The system’s total size is 35.7 kW and the net-metering interconnection directly offsets the electric usage of the community’s club house, fitness center, and swimming pool equipment.
The solar carport system is constructed of galvanized steel supports and poured in place concrete pier footers. The steel structure was then painted to match the club house color and community aesthetics. The solar modules are attached to the carport structure by the low profile Unirac SunFrame mounting system.
Benefits
The solar carport provides The Refuge of Dirickson Creek with the dual benefits of electricity generation and covered parking without sacrificing any of the highly valued common area land. The homeowners and residents now are protected from utility rate increases and have eight prime parking spaces to keep their cars cool in the summer months. Additionally, all of the residents can closely track their investment through a web-based monitoring system from anywhere in the world.
Note: The Refuge at Dirickson Creek solar project was designed and constructed by Flexera, Inc. under the direction of Mr. Manlove during his tenure with the company.
302.545.9010
info@manloveengineering.comCopyright © 2012- Manlove Engineering, LLC. All rights reserved.
Design by Outfit Solutions
Information
Technology:
Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Sector:
Community/Commercial
Utility:
Delaware Electric Coop.
Interconnection Tariff:
Net-Metering
Interconnection Method:
Grid-Tied
City: Selbyville, DE
County: Sussex
"Every phase of this homeowners’ association project was guided by Mr. Manlove - from concept to installation to commissioning. The centerpiece of the system is Delaware’s first solar carport."
Carolyn Bray
HOA Solar Committee Chair
Design
Size (kWdc): 35.700
Module:
(170) GE PVP-210-M
Inverters:
(5) SMA SB7000US
(1) SMA SB3000US
Monitoring:
SMA Sunny WebBox
SMA Sunny Portal
Mounting:
Roof: Unirac SolarMount
Carport: Unirac SunFrame
Generation
Monthly kWh Production:
3,531
Annual kWh Production:
42,376
30 Year kWh Production:
1,200,226
Annual CO2 Offset (lbs.):
64,421
30 Year CO2 Offset (lbs.):
1,824,604