S&C Electric Company, renewable energy integrator, announces an $11 million project with Green States Energy to design and build a 3.6-MW solar photovoltaic farm in Devens, Mass. This project will be the third plant built by S&C for GSE and will leverage a standardized electrical system design to connect the plant to the grid.
The interconnection substation includes an integrated switching and control solution based on S&C’s field-proven System VI Switchgear. The complete solution eliminates the need for a separate control house in the substation and associated civil works, and use of standardized designs will also reduce engineering and installation costs for the substation.
“The standardized solution we’re providing not only reduces upfront costs, it also helps shorten the timeframe required to engineer and build a renewable energy plant. By getting the plant into service sooner, the owners will realize higher near-term revenues and accelerate returns on investment,” says Dan Girard, director—Business Development, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage, S&C. “We have a proven track record of anticipating and managing risks to the project schedule to ensure in-service dates are met.”
S&C recently completed two other projects for GSE, including a 2.5 MW solar farm in Roswell, N.M., and a 4.1 MW solar farm in Sandwich, Mass. For this new project, S&C is providing engineering, procurement and project management services for both the AC and DC portions of the project. S&C and GSE are again teaming up with Green Earth Developers, who worked on the Roswell and Sandwich solar farm projects.
S&C’s standard System VI Switchgear has already been approved by Massachusetts transmission system operators, which will further streamline the project and help ensure a predictable schedule.
“Meeting utility interconnection requirements is critical to meeting project in-service dates,” says Girard. “S&C has worked with utilities for over 100 years and has a strong understanding of their interconnection requirements. We have leveraged this expertise to develop solutions that meet grid codes and ensure a smooth, predictable development schedule for plant owners.”