by Shane Henson — February 20, 2012—PowerPlay Solar Development recently announced the commissioning of a two-megawatt, nine-acre photovoltaic solar plant developed by the company for Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, a private, co-ed boarding school for grades 9 to12. According to the integrated solar development and finance company, the project is currently the largest operating solar facility of its kind at any school or college in New England.
PowerPlay Solar Development designed and constructed the project in collaboration with Spire Solar Systems, a solar systems design builder. The Berkshire School ground-mounted system is composed of 8,332 high-performance crystalline silicon solar panels manufactured in the USA by SolarWorld, provider of brand-name, high-quality, crystalline solar power technology.
PowerPlay Solar Development expects the project to save the school a significant amount of money through energy savings. The solar field will generate approximately 45% of the school’s electricity needs and is part of the school’s broad sustainability master plan submitted by Berkshire students to the School’s Board of Trustees. An important cornerstone of the plan is having the school achieve carbon neutrality by 2016.
