by Shane Henson — July 27, 2012—Solar Community, a solar integrator and contractor with national coverage and delivery capabilities, recently completed production and installation on a 20.01kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the Porsche of San Antonio dealership in Texas, an undertaking the company expects to help it earn LEED Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
The project commenced in early spring 2012 with a site survey, design, and installation soon after receiving approval by CPS Energy for their Solar Rebate Program. According to Solar Community, the system was constructed using 87 Schuco 230-watt solar panels, each with a 25-year production warranty. The highly developed Schuco modules used allow for higher efficiency in production, beginning earlier in the morning and ending later in the evening than the standard solar panel, explains Solar Community.
Also included in the Porsche of San Antonio solar PV system are 87 Enphase M-215 Microinverters, each with a 25-year warranty as well. The advanced microinverter technology outfitted in this installation allows for monitoring of the system’s production as a whole, as well as the monitoring of each individual panel’s production from a variety of sources. The new solar PV system is tied into the grid of the CPS Energy utility company in San Antonio.
The installation of a solar photovoltaic system on the San Antonio Porsche dealership is another step in the corporate model to begin to achieve higher levels of sustainability, Porsche says. Early in 2010, Porsche installed what is reportedly one of the most modern and efficient solar photovoltaic systems in Stuttgart, Germany, generating nearly two million kilowatt hours per year, which is reportedly equivalent to the average energy consumption of approximately 500 four-person households.
