New solar system enables studies into new technologies Reference

ALFA UPS has completed the rooftop solar installation for North Carolina State University’s FREEDM Systems Center. Designed for the newly-built Keystone Science Center in the university’s Centennial Campus, the Photovoltaic (PV) installation will provide energy to the 15,000 square-foot headquarters of the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center.

The photovoltaic system is one of the new technologies to demonstrate how distributed renewable energy resources can be tied to the grid while reducing energy costs. In partnership with ALFA UPS engineers, FREEDM research scientists will be able to study these new technologies to transform centralized generation of energy into a distributed network containing ‘switchable’ renewable energy sources and grid intelligence. Due to the high quality membrane roof installed on the newly constructed Keystone Science Center and the need to preserve the warranty, ALFA UPS designed a non-penetrating installation to minimize the impact to the roof. Therefore many parts of the PV installation are integrated into the center’s structure and tie directly to the FREEDM Systems Center’s labs. This helps minimize installation impact on the building and enables structural advantages for expanding or changing the system in the future.