FINANTA Solar Array is Complete

Solar States Becomes Leading PPA in Philadelphia
with the FINANTA Center Solar Panel Installation

June 20, 2012 – Solar States
Original article can be found by visiting the Solar States website.

Solar States is now the leader in solar power purchase agreements in the city of Philadelphia. With the completion of the Finanta solar rooftop Solar States now manages over 100 kW of rooftop solar capacity in the American St. corridor section of Philadelphia.

Located at 1301 N. Second St., the Finanta rooftop solar array is an almost 30 kW system that will cover all of Finanta’s electrical needs (and maybe more!). A heart felt thank you goes out to Luis Mora, who’s vision and determination were critical to seeing this project through. Solar States is proud to partner with Finanta, which is a non-profit lending corporation that promotes the growth and economic expansion of diverse Philadelphia communities through the infusion of capital and provision of business consultation services and homeownership counseling.

Solar States was integral in planning the system out, assisting with the structual engineering (thanks to Larsen & Landis) and providing all of the gear needed for the installation. We used 120 Renogy 245 kW solar panels and 120 M215 Enphase Microinverters. Helio Power Systems did a great job performing the installation and Sparks Electrical performed all of the electrical work. A real team effort!

Finanta and Solar States will be hosting a flip the switch event to celebrate the completion of this array, so check back soon for more details.

Array Description
Solar States’ photovoltaic array atop the 6,000 square foot roof of the Finanta has a nameplate capacity of 29.4kW.  The array consists of a total of 122 Renogy RNG-245 modules.  Each module is connected to an Enphase M215 microinverter. A total of 122 M215′s were installed. All strings are connected together in an AC combiner box located on the roof of the building.

Mounting and Racks
Modlues and microinverters were mounted on the roof using Sollega Instarack ballest weight racking system.  The modular mounts and racks provide great flexibility in configuration and expansion.  The Instarack system has pans built into it to hold ballasting materials (concrete block).

Why microinverters?
The choice of individual microinverters over a traditional large inverter was driven by several factors.  1) Performance is no longer limited by the lowest performing panel in the string; 2) Inverter failure will only impact an individual module no the whole installation; 3) These micronverters allow performance tracking on a panel-by-panel basis.  On a cost basis, the entire installation was equivalent to previous estimates of similar nameplate using string inverters (when increased output is calculated in).

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About FINANTA
FINANTA is a non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides a wide range of financial products and services, including business loans and business technical assistance, mortgage counseling and mortgages, and financial literacy services to Philadelphia residents.  Founded in 1996, FINANTA has distinguished itself among the region’s micro and small business sector by delivering service in a way that is uniquely conscious of the cultural, social, and language barriers that the growing immigrant and minority population faces. Our mission is to promote the growth and economic expansion of diverse Philadelphia communities though the infusion of capital with the provision of technical assistance and business consultation services.  In this effort, the financial products and services that FINANTA provides to underserved, low-income individuals aim to connect micro and small businesses with the resources needed to start, support or expand their business.
For more information about FINANTA, please contact Alyssa Ryan at Alyssaryan@finanta.org

About Solar States
Solar States is a leading solar power purchase agreement provider (PPA) currently serving the northeast United States. We offer a zero cost PPA with low, stable energy prices over a 15 – 25 year term. Solar States has expertise working with commercial, government, and school solar PPAs. We not only handle the all aspects of the financing and installation of solar energy, we maintain the system over the course of the PPA. Easy, no-cost, solar energy brought to you by Solar States. In addition to PPAs, Solar States is connecting Philadelphia public school students with the green-collar economy through training and jobs. Solar States is partnering with Philadelphia High Schools to create a solar energy course-curriculum.
For more information about Solar States, please contact Micah Gold-Markel at Micah@solar-states.com.