Last 2006, Xantrex Technology Inc. was chosen by an energy systems integrator to transform a 41,500 sq. ft facility into a high-performance “Net Zero Electric” office and shop for Ferreira. The company supplied two 100 kilowatt PV Series commercial inverters on the site in order to convert DC power which was gathered and produced by solar panels. The panels were distributed strategically on the building’s rooftop. The solar inverters converted the gathered power into sustainable AC power which can be used to provide full functionality for Ferreira’s electrical and HVAC systems.

Background of the project

In an attempt to promote the use of renewable energy sources, the U.S. Department of Energy initiated the Zero Energy campaign. This program capitalizes on the use of energy-efficient appliances along with commercially available renewable energy systems (such as solar electricity) in order to gain a net-zero energy consumption.

In this program, renewable energy systems and converters such as the home solar panels Xantrex will be used to generate electricity for a residential or commercial site. The Zero Energy Building will then be connected to the utility grid. If the energy systems are efficient, the building will be capable of producing the same amount of energy that it consumes on a yearly basis.

Very promising results

According to Ferreira, the use of the home solar panels Xantrex and solar inverters allowed the company to save an estimated 30,700 therms and 245,000 kWh every year. These figures imply that the construction company had a 65 percent reduction in their regular energy consumption because of the efficient solar panel systems and renewable energy equipment installed by Xantrex. Such figures made the building the first “Net Zero Electric” commercial structure in Eastern USA.

Moreover, the Ferreira building was able to produce more electricity to the grid than it uses annually. As claimed by Gaurav A. Naik, Director of the GeoGenix LLC, “The system supplied enough power back to the utility grid to offset the peak electricity demands of 20 average New Jersey homes. With Xantrex inverters providing 100 percent availability, we were able to exceed Zero Energy standards.”

Through the use of photovoltaic home solar panels Xantrex which were situated on the entire rooftop of the commercial building, Ferreira successfully generated 223,300 DC Watts. This electric supply proved to be sufficient in running the notable features of the building such as the thermal domestic hot water generator, fully radiant heating system, highly efficient rooftop units, a condensing boiler plant, and the integrated web-based building controls. GP