Hi All,
We have a campus with a substation on-site (on owner's property) that will be owned by the local utility. The Owner would like to tie in the power generated by an on-site solar energy production system at the transformer yard as the power is coming into the facility.
Does anyone have experience with such a strategy? On the face of it, this seems to be unacceptable, but at the same time, it seems to meet the intent and spirit of the requirements and is therefore a candidate for a CIR request.
Any thoughts?
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
August 17, 2016 - 10:43 am
Which side of the transformers would it tie into? Which side of the campus meter would it tie into? Who would own the solar system?
Joe Manganelli
architect, human factors consultantFluor, Kent State University, xplr design, llc
1 thumbs up
August 17, 2016 - 11:12 am
The utility side of the transformer upstream from the campus meter but within campus project boundary. Not sure yet who will own the system.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
August 17, 2016 - 11:35 am
This will probably come down to an issue of ownership of the system and the contractual relationships rather than where it ties into the grid. It is cleaner if the power ties into the owner's side after the meter but it can tie into the grid.
If the energy is sold into the grid it is not eligible. If the energy is purchased by the owner, who must also retain or replace the RECs, then it may be eligible. If the system is leased the term must be at least 10 years. Check into the campus guidance and LEED v4 for additional guidance on this kind of situation.