Marathon Elementary School

Marathon Elementary School opened in the fall of 2018 and serves over 550 students in grades K-1.

Challenge

With over a million dollars budgeted for utilities a year, the Hopkinton Public School District sought a creative way to reduce their spending.

Solution

Hopkinton Public Schools (HPS) engaged Solect Energy to discuss adding solar to schools in the district. The recently constructed Marathon Elementary School seemed like a perfect fit as the roof was brand new. When constructed, a small amount of solar had been added to the school, so Solect evaluated what could be done to cover the entire rooftop. As a member of PowerOptions, HPS was able to add 260 kW of rooftop solar through a no-cost Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from the Solect Energy and PowerOptions Partnership.

When evaluating the project, Solect Energy showed HPS how pairing the solar with energy storage could deliver even more financial savings for the district. Thrilled at the opportunity to further reduce its energy budget, HPS utilized a no-cost shared savings agreement to add a 222 kWh Tesla Powerpack battery to the project.

Results

The solar-plus-storage project is expected to reduce Hopkinton Marathon Elementary School’s energy bills by 75%, resulting in about $35,000 savings per year with no upfront cost. HPS expects to save nearly $1 million throughout the system’s life.

The Marathon Elementary School project is one of the first solar-plus-storage installations in Massachusetts financed through a no-cost shared savings agreement.

Salem State University

Salem state university

Located just 15 miles north of Boston, Salem State is one of the largest and most diverse state universities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is an important partner in the economic, cultural and intellectual vitality of the greater north-of-Boston region. Situated in the historic seacoast city of Salem, Massachusetts on more than 115 acres and five campuses, Salem State provides a diverse community of over 9,000 students, a high quality, student-centered education; one that prepares them to contribute responsibly and creatively to a global society and to serve as a resource to advance the region’s cultural, social and economic development.

Challenge

For years, Salem State University has instilled a culture of sustainability across its programs, considering it to be a critical part of its “commitment to academic excellence, civic engagement, and operational efficiency.” Since 2007, when the university pledged to carbon neutrality by 2050, Salem State has made inspiring strides towards its sustainability goals, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 38%, instituting more than 30 sustainability courses across curricula, divesting from fossil fuels, and so much more. As it continues its impressive journey to its 2050 goal, the university seeks to incorporate more renewable energy sources on campus.

Solution

As a longtime member of PowerOptions, the largest energy-buying consortium in New England, Salem State was able to take advantage of the organization’s partnership with Solect Energy and install three rooftop solar arrays. The arrays are located on the Frederick E. Berry Library (175 kW), Marsh Residence Hall (139 kW), and Gassett Fitness Center (100 kW) and total approximately 415 kW.

Results

The solar arrays are expected to save Salem State approximately $1 million and avoid 7,000 tons of greenhouse gases over the life of the systems. Not only will this help Salem State on its journey to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, but the financial savings will benefit students by making tuition more affordable and increasing university resources.

O&G Industries

O&G Industries, Connecticut’s largest privately-held diversified construction company, has been one of the leading providers of construction services and products in the Northeast for over 90 years.

CHALLENGE

O&G had evaluated the idea of incorporating solar at their quarry for a number of years.

They met with an engineer to develop a solar design and planned to carry out the project themselves. As the process went on, they realized that an experienced solar developer might be more helpful, as executing the project internally meant that they would have been responsible for purchasing the panels and equipment, hiring a contractor to install the system, as well as working with the utility and managing incentives. That’s where Solect came in.

According to Matt Tobin, the engineering manager in O&G’s Power Division, “When we found Solect and they offered all of those services in one bundle, that’s what really made us decide to go with them…[including] the economic analysis, familiarity with state incentive programs, familiarity with utilities, both engineering, purchase of products and rapidly changing technology, and the installation of the project.”

SOLUTION

Solect Energy and Enel X partnered together to install a 1.3-megawatt (MW) solar array and 280 kW Energy Storage System (ESS) at O&G’s quarry in Southbury, Connecticut. The 3,762-panel array sits on 5 acres of land onsite. By adding the lithium-ion battery to the solar ground mount, O&G was able to capture the excess solar production to offset their peak demand charges and take advantage of an additional revenue source not available to them before.

RESULTS

The solar and storage system powers 100% of the annual consumption needs of the O&G quarry, while the ESS allows O&G to take advantage of additional revenue sources.

The system is estimated to produce 1.520 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year – enough power to offset roughly 100% of the site’s annual energy needs. The amount of electricity produced annually by the array is enough to power nearly 200 homes.

The new solar and storage system is the latest addition to many energy-saving and sustainability initiatives that O&G has undertaken, which include two other solar arrays installed by Solect Energy along with other energy efficiency upgrades.

Malden YMCA

The Malden YMCA was founded in 1881. Governed by a 23 member Board of Directors, the Malden YMCA employs 217 staff and 60 volunteers and provides services to over 10,000 individuals each year.

Challenge

Nonprofit organizations like the YMCA strive to maximize their budget to provide the best services possible to their communities. Rising and fluctuating energy costs have made powering their facility increasingly more challenging as the years go by.

Solution

By taking advantage of their relationship with PowerOptions, the Y was able to secure and finance a solar array through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solect Energy.

Results

$16,000 annual reduction of electricity costs

It is estimated that the array will cover approximately 15% of the YMCA’s energy needs, and is expected to generate approximately $400,000 in savings over the 25 year agreement.

Medford DPW

Founded in 1630, Medford is the fourth oldest English settlement in America. Established as a City in 1892, Medford is one of the oldest settlements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the US.

Challenge

Cities and towns in the US are challenged with the task of making the most of their budgets to deliver services and support to their residents each year. The City of Medford takes this responsibility seriously, and when it came time to build a new DPW facility, they were sure to set it up for success by building it to be retrofitted with a solar array.

Solution

The city then leveraged its relationship with PowerOptions to install a solar array on the facility at no cost to the town. The PPA they signed through PowerOptions enable Solect to install, own, and maintain the array, all while selling the power it produces to the town at a fixed, reduced rate.

Results

$11,000 annual reduction of electricity costs

It is estimated that the array will cover approximately 100% of the DPW’s energy needs, and is expected to generate $275,000 in savings over the 25 year agreement.

Accurounds

accurounds

AccuRounds, founded in 1976, is a leader in Advanced Manufacturing. We machine precision mechanical components such as shafts, pins and bushings for a variety of industries including medical, aerospace, defense, oil and gas, and emerging technology.

Challenge

Like most manufacturers, Accurounds high tech precision machinery generates a significant demand for energy. Plus, a portion of the components they produce are actually used in the solar industry, so the plans to install an array were always in the back of their minds. Plus with a new addition, and added operating costs, the time was right.

Solution

Accurounds partnered with Solect to install a 162 kW array that will help cut into the manufacturer’s significant energy costs over the next two decades. It also furthers the company’s sustainability efforts, and reinforces their dedication to the future.

Results

$18,400 reduction of electricity costs

It is estimated that the array will cover approximately 18% of the manufacturer’s energy needs, and is expected to generate $460,000 in savings over the 25 year agreement.

Charles Moore Arena

Built in 1972 as a privately-owned rink, Charles Moore Arena (CMA) offers programs including Learn to Skate, Summer Cross-Ice Youth Hockey, In-House Hockey, Lower Cape Youth Hockey, and more.

Challenge

Keeping an ice rink cold is among one of the biggest energy draws on the market, and many rinks, like CMA are nonprofits with very little wiggle room on their balance sheet. Looking for opportunities to save on the cost of electricity, Tony Nannini the Rink Manager at Charles Moore Arena turned to solar energy as the long-term solution.

Solution

The rooftop array is financed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solect, meaning Solect owns and operates the solar array, and sells the power generated back to the arena at a reduced, fixed rate for the duration of the agreement. In this case, CMA enjoys substantial cost savings while avoiding up-front capital outlays.

Results

50% reduction of electricity costs

The installation will help stabilize and reduce their biggest operating outlay, as the array will cover 50% of their energy demands, without the rink having to make the capital investment to build the installation.

Somerset Berkley Regional High School

Somerset Berkley Regional high school

Somerset Berkley Regional High School has approximately 990 students with the majority of students from the member towns of Somerset and Berkley, MA. In 2010, the District entered into an agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to build an $80 million dollar new regional high school. The school opened in September 2014.

Challenge

The District is continually looking for ways to reduce operating costs in order to shift more resources to students, utility costs are an expense that is constantly fluctuating. The original building plans for the high school included solar panels, and the new school was built with the necessary structural capacity and electrical service to support a large array on the roof. However, the District could not move forward during construction with purchasing and installing its own solar panels due to fiscal constraints.

Solution

Committed to pursuing solar, the District continued to explore alternative financing options, and ultimately selected PowerOption’s solar program. Under the program, Solect installs, owns, and operates the solar arrays on the school’s roof, and sells the power generated at a fixed rate for a period of 20 years under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) negotiated by PowerOptions.

Results

$19,000 yearly savings on electricity costs

The solar array is expected to cover up to 20 percent of the school’s annual electricity use, and to save the school approximately $19,000 annually on its energy expenses.