Canadian Solar Inc. is one of the world's largest solar companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingot, wafer, solar cell, solar module and other solar applications, Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar system solutions for on-grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide.
3 Case Studies from Canadian Solar
Contributed by | Canadian Solar
Engineering Skill:
Valley Pro Solar for Knight Transportation Solar Field, Phoenix, AZ
Valley Pro Solar for Knight Transportation Solar Field, Phoenix, AZ

Project Name*: | Knight Transportation Solar Field |
System Type*: | Commercial |
Designer*: | Rick Dancer, owner , Sky Line Steel Inc. |
Lead Installer: | Terry Rials owner Valley Pro Electric & Solar vpe-solar.com |
Date Activated: |
3/1/2010
|
Installation Timeframe: | 120 days |
Location: | Phoenix, AZ 30 |
Array Capacity: | 200.8 kW |
Avg annual production: | 357,200 AC kWhs per year (Jan: 24,913 Feb: 26,841 Mar: 31,275 Apr: 33,825 May: 34,156 Jun: 30,879 Jul: 31,415 Aug: 31,807 Sep: 30,745 Oct: 31,216 Nov: 25,935 Dec: 24,193) |
Canadian Solar Modules: | 1116 CS5A-180 |
Inverter/s: | (2) PV Powered PVP 100 kW |
Array installation*: | This was a design build using Steel Structurals for the solar mounting while allowing shade for employee parking (shade from the desert sun / heat). The tilt angle is exactly 33.5 degrees to the south. The most optimal & efficient angle possible for our latitue. This was a design done by Sky Line Steel in Gilbert, AZ. |
Additional array installation info: | There are three parking structures each with equal number of modules. Modules were installed in string sets of 12 modules each. Each module was tested before installation for output. The higher output modules were place on the 3rd the structure or the farthest from the Inverters. Then the next set of modules more efficent in the middle structure and so on... |
Monitoring: | Yes - monitored every couple of seconds - actually 2 monitoring packages one is Spatia and the other is real time data link a file server installed by PV Powered Tech. |
Project Description: | This solar field was installed for Knight Transportation at 5601 W Buckeye Rd Phoenix, AZ 85043. There were 2 design teams involved with this project: Sky Line Steel and Mead Engineering. This project started mid-November 2009 and finished March 1, 2010. The installation is 200 kW which is the maximum size the local utility Salt River Project (SRP) would allow for their upfront incentive in that time period. There were many obstacles we encountered from the beginning in the design phase to getting the permit from the County permit, alignment issues during installation and grounding challenges. Challenges: One design issue was there are 3 parking structures with equal amount modules or DC watts go to two inverters. There are two inverters in this installation (2) PV Powered PVP 100 kW. We brought in an outside consultant (Stu Siebens) to mathematically divide up the the string sets going into the two inverters (separate diagram). Our largest challenge (not related to solar) was getting our County permit. It took over 10 months to finally get the permit (more on this later). We encountered two installation challenges - one was lining up the holes from the Z purlins with the module's holes (4 screws per module). We had to drill additional holes in the Z purlins to line everything up right. We had to ground each module in the array with a long thin board to get the bare copper into the grounding lugs. |
Name: | Mike Craig |
Company Affiliation: | Valley Pro Electric |
Website: | www.vpe-solar.com |
Phone: | 623-217-9866 |
Email: | mike.craig@vpe-solar.com |
Aesthetics:
Ameresco for Nock Middle School, Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School and Department of Public Works Building, Newburyport, MA
Ameresco for Nock Middle School, Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School and Department of Public Works Building, Newburyport, MA

The installation required no capital investment by Newburyport taxpayers. The City received $1.6 million in rebate funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (formerly the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust), from which Newburyport was allowed to retain $400,000. The Green Communities Act of 2008, which was championed by Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Legislature, allows municipalities to engage private third parties to provide turnkey energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions under a performance-based energy contract. The Commonwealth set a goal of 250 MW of solar energy by 2017.
Project Name*: | Nock Elementary School, Edward G. Molin Middle School & the town's DPW building |
System Type*: | Commercial |
Designer*: | Ameresco |
Lead Installer: | Ameresco |
Date Activated: | 9/1/2009 |
Installation Timeframe: | About 7 weeks for all 3 roofs |
Location: | Newburyport, MA |
Array Capacity: | 518,384 kWh |
Avg annual production: | 502 kW |
Canadian Solar Modules: | (2,184) CS6P-200 panels |
Inverter/s: | (2) 5kW inverters |
Array installation*: | Ballast system |
Monitoring: | yes |
Project Description: | The largest municipal solar project in Massachusetts. The photovoltaic system's power output is equivalent to 70 homes per year and will offset 402 tons of carbon output per year. |
Name: | Glenn Maltais |
Company Affiliation: | Munro Electric |
Website: | www.munroelectric.com |
Phone: | Office: 508 536 2097 |
Email: | glennm@munroelectric.com |
Jersey Pools and Spas Reaps Benefits of Canadian Solar NewEdge Installation in Medford, NJ

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
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