The Green Energy Hub of the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center opened in June and has been completing various pieces of the complex system including the 40 kW solar array atop the new facility. The system was made available and installed by partner AEG Power Solutions (AEG PS), North America’s premier provider of turn-key solar solutions for commercial buildings. The solar system will provide energy to the 20,000 square-foot FREEDM headquarters. In addition to supplementing the FREEDM Systems Center’s energy usage, the solar system will be one of the new technologies to demonstrate how distributed renewable energy resources can be tied to the grid while reducing energy costs for customers. FREEDM Systems Center research scientists, in partnership with AEG PS engineers, will be able to study these new technologies to transform centralized generation of energy into a distributed network containing ‘switchable’ renewable energy sources and grid intelligence. As a full industry partner with the FREEDM Systems Center, AEG PS will share and benefit from the center’s applied research.

“Decentralizing the grid is a major undertaking and strategic market opportunity for AEG Power Solutions. The work being done at the FREEDM Systems Center will have a significant impact on how renewable energy sources can be used and managed in the future,” said Robert Huljak, chief strategic officer of AEG PS. “At AEG PS, we are excited and proud knowing our contribution and effort will go towards finding new ways to utilize clean, renewable energy resources. This is an amazing opportunity for everyone involved as well as the rest of the world that will benefit from the learning, experience and information gained by this research.” Due to the high quality membrane roof installed on the newly-constructed Keystone Science Center and the need to preserve the warranty, AEG PS designed a non-penetrating installation to minimize the impact to the roof. AEG PS and North Carolina State University worked hand-in-hand on the project with the building construction team and were able to incorporate many features and components into the overall design of the building. As a result, many parts of the solar system, such as the conduit, are integrated into the Keystone Science Center’s structure and tie directly into the FREEDM Systems Center’s labs. This not only helps minimize the installation’s impact on the building aesthetics, but enables structural advantages for expanding the system or changing its configurations in the future.

The 40 kW, ballasted rooftop solar system, which took three weeks to install, is forecasted to generate around 52,000 kWh of energy, annually, for the building. The entire solar system consists of 186 photovoltaic (PV) modules and four solar inverters. The solar inverters transition the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) for immediate use throughout the building and for specific research projects. In addition, the installation incorporates a monitoring system to feed real-time energy generation data to the FREEDM Systems Center engineers and AEG PS engineers. The system has a life expectancy of roughly 25 years. In accordance with North Carolina codes, the tilted, non-affixed panels are wind-rated for up to 95 miles per hour (mph).

“When AEG PS first approached us about partnering together to install a reference site on one of our buildings we were intrigued. At the FREEDM Systems Center, we’re committed to revolutionizing the grid with distributed renewable energy and AEG PS clearly demonstrated that they shared the same belief and commitment,” said Ewan Pritchard NSF FREEDM Systems Center director of industry, collaboration, and innovation, at North Carolina State University. “AEG PS is a company with more than 100 years of experience in paving the way for new power solutions across the globe and to have them partner with us is a great opportunity for us, the future of the FREEDM Systems Center and the future of solar technology.”

AEG PS implements and supports turn-key solar systems that enable places such as commercial buildings and industrial parks to utilize clean, renewable energy. Its solar systems feature solar panels, solar inverters, monitoring, diagnostics and communications equipment, all of which can be supported by smart-grid-enabled standards and can be monitored and maintained by AEG PS. Renewable energy solutions and distributed grid intelligence are new strategic focus areas for AEG PS’s North American operations. As a Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and Green Grid member, AEG PS is dedicated to providing its customers with renewable energy alternatives, such as solar, which will decrease environmental impact as well as reduce energy costs. With energy conservation and other green practices emerging as a critical part of day-to-day operations, AEG PS helps educate companies on the promise of renewable energy systems and leads them toward a greener tomorrow.