Nextek power systems' new solar power application approaches 100% efficiency for the town of Hempstead, NY

Nextek Power Systems, Inc. and the Town of Hempstead have announced the commissioning of the first commercial-scale installation of solar electricity Direct Coupled(R) to Allen-Bradley PowerFlex(R) 700 series motor drives, integrated in the Town Hall's HVAC system.

This is the southern face of Hempstead's Town Hall where a 256-panel, 40-kilowatt solar energy system is supporting Allen-Bradley motor drives without any hardware modification. The solar PV contribution carries 2 motors (a 40hp and a 25hp) during the peak of the day, seamlessly changing the power source to grid-supplied Alternating Current (AC) as the sun goes down, watt for watt. The electrical efficiency of the Nextek Power Gateway PV interface is 98%; this improves the capacity utilization of the solar by about 10% when compared to conventional systems, thereby producing out-sized results over the 20-year life of the solar array. A smaller PV array can now be used to generate the desired number of kW hours than ever before. This reduced up-front capital expenditure, combined with the benefit of the avoided grid power purchases, lower demand charges and other control benefits improve the Town's Return on Investment (ROI) by 30% to 40%, Nextek says.

"Hempstead Town continues to lead the way in implementing environmentally friendly technology," stated Supervisor Kate Murray. "We are proud to have installed a solar energy system at town hall that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and we are committed to incorporating alternative energy systems in to our overall power scheme."

Source: www.renewableenergyaccess.com