Construction begins on largest floating solar project in the US

• NJR Clean Energy Ventures (CEV) has begun construction on an 8.9-MW floating solar setup in Millburn, New Jersey, that will be the biggest floating array in the USA.

Using a floating racking system, 16,510 solar panels will be set up on a reservoir located at the New Jersey American Water Canoe Brook Water Treatment Plant. The clean power created by the array will certainly supply approximately 95% of the facility's annual power needs through a power acquisition agreement with CEV.

" Floating solar innovation develops new chances for bodies of water to be a home for large-scale renewable energy generation and also bring the benefits of clean energy to much more customers," stated Steve Westhoven, head of state as well as CEO of New Jersey Resources. "As a leader in New Jersey's solar industry, we expect working with New Jersey American Water to support their power needs as well as development the state's clean energy and climate goals."

The Canoe Brook project was established by Solar Renewable Energy (SRE) and also RETTEW is supplying design, purchase and construction solutions. CEV obtained the fully permitted and also authorized the project in Q1 2022. With construction underway, the installment is expected to be completely functional in Fall 2022.

" As the state's biggest water and also wastewater utility company, it is crucial for us to be great guardians of the setting by running effectively and also in a way that aids protect our natural resources," claimed Mark McDonough, head of state of New Jersey American Water. "This effort offers a meaningful decrease of standard energy use that profits the setting, as well as our customers with minimal capital spending as well as decreased power costs."

Floating solar projects use an option to the difficulty of finding suitable areas to accommodate large-scale commercial solar installments. Constructed primarily on manufactured lakes or storage tanks, where trends and also seawater will certainly not influence the panels, floating solar projects turn underutilized area into clean energy. Floating photovoltaic panels can also help in reducing dissipation and algae growth, which shields the water resource. Furthermore, water gives a cooling result on the arrays, which aids the panels run much more successfully.

" NJR Clean Energy Ventures and also New Jersey American Water have been great companions for establishing this tough project. With innovative bargain structuring, the Canoe Brook team has crafted a project that takes full advantage of the economic benefits of renewable energy, while focusing on New Jersey American Water's core objective for risk-free as well as dependable water solution," said Douglas Berry, president and also chief executive officer of SRE.

Clayton Bubeck, head of state as well as chief executive officer of RETTEW included, "The Canoe Brook project developments floating solar in the USA, combining the cutting edges for large power level bifacial panels with next-generation floats and also anchoring. We're thrilled to once more build the biggest floating array in the United States."

Canoe Brook will be the 2nd floating solar project in CEV's portfolio. The very first, a 4.4 MW array located in Sayreville, New Jersey that was also created by SRE, was added in 2020.