Solar Pergola Racking Recommenation

[heimdm]

We are fed by 50 kvA transformer, and we are the only ones on it. Our angle will be 15 degree's, which optimally would be about 2x that. I am in southern indiana, which for the past 5 years, we have not got much snow. So, if there is an uptick in snow in the area in the next couple of years, you can blame me.

We did add extra panels to make the winter performance not as bad. My intent is that we will underproduce during the winter months (Nov-Feb). Until 2032, we have net-metering. Once we get past that, we might add some panels at a steep angle on the ground, to offset winter (December, January). Bruce, what kind of performance do you get during the winter months? Trying to determine if the energy is worth hunting during a Midwest winter.

The distance between the inverters and grid interconnect is about 75ft. Current design calls for 4/0 wire. Always appreciate your insights and feedback.energyUsage.png

[bcroe]

I am guessing, the PoCo brought a feed for a small service building for your inverters,
and DC lines go from there to the panel array? With that low angle, the inverter AC
capacity may be well below the panel peak rating. As for snow sliding off, good luck.
Here at 42 deg Lat in IL, that only happens with temps not much below freezing.

Give the distances involved, you might want to calculate (ohms law, etc) how much of
the generated solar power will be lost in wire resistance getting to the meter. That was
substantial here with the distances involved, but heavier wire eventually got the AC and
DC total below 3%. Bruce Roe

[heimdm]

Quick update:
- Received Duke Energy Interconnect agreement. They approved 36.8 kW (DC).
- Purchased LG Bifacial Panels LG405N2T-J5 (transparent backsheet). I got them for $250 a panel. That comes out to $0.61/watt. I had prices for REC around $0.48/watt. It was either all black panels or transparent from a visual perspective. Since we plan to use the area under the structure as a patio, having some light under there was preferred.

[heimdm]

Just another update. Duke Energy has sure taken their time on the interconnect agreement. Originally submitted back in November, and today they finally submitted it to their technical review team. They wanted the address on the one line diagram to not have "South" on the street name. Just a lot of wasted time and a little frustrating. Hopefully this means by the end of this month we will have confirmation of how much power that will let us backfeed.

[heimdm]

It's been awhile, so thought I'd give a quick update. The yard was sloped a pretty good amount so that was dug out and retaining wall was constructed along with utilities trenched in. Being in southern Indiana, there is quite a bit of large rocks/limestone. This slowed down the excavation quite a bit. At this point, I am waiting for our electric company to give approval of the interconnect. We lucked out with the mild weather, that this was able to be completed in December/January.



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[ametrine]

@heimdm, I tried to post the info, but it may not get approved (perhaps a violation of terms here?). If you can perhaps PM me, then I can pass it on I guess.

[ametrine]

@heimdm, Give James a call on 800-xxxxxxx. If he wants a point of reference (since it was about 2 years back that I bought) then say the name Richard that did solar, and he can probably design something similar. Their website is actually www.try-tech.com and in fact the first picture you see is my patio cover.

Mod Note: Please do not attach phone numbers to your post.

[heimdm]

I would be interested in that option.

[ametrine]

If anyone is interested, I worked with a company that supplied me with alumawood patio cover, and they got me the structural stuff sorted out with a cover letter stamped by a PE. I can supply the details if its needed by anyone.

[heimdm]

What inverter and panels are you using?

[khanh dam]

you are getting ripped off on the price of solar panels and inverters. I got quoted 24KW worth for 44 cent a watt or about $10,000 last week. Many electrical companies limit production to 10Kw. couple of 10K inverters are about $5,000. glad to see the project coming along, but I would renegotiate those prices. they are already making a killing on the pergola, no need to jack up price of components too.

"Pergola Structure w/ Solar Racking: 45k
Inverters: 7k
Solar Panels: 25-30k
Electrical Work: 5k"

[heimdm]

Sorry for the delay. Next week they are trenching in the utilities between the house and the pergola, along with grading the are and installing the retaining wall. This spring the concrete will poured, single garage built next to the array, and the pergola structure built. In spring/summer, we will finish up the solar commissioning. I had the single line drawing and interconnect request submitted to the electric company. We are waiting to get that approval. If we need to downsize the array we will do that, prior to the work in the spring.

[khanh dam]

so what happened with this project? is it finished? for anyone else thinking of a solar pergola. this racking looks excellent since the channel support the entire solar panel frame. All that is needed is a U channel under neather to hide the pv wires.
REQUEST A QUOTE - PV RackingGround-Rail-pv-part-206x300.jpg

[heimdm]

I toyed with the idea of creating a slightly raised area and putting a ground mount system in that sunken area and having it basically follow the contour of the ground. If you aren't bound by HoA restrictions, I'd do something like Bruce did.. having a corner lots isn't great for concealing panels.

[bcroe]

My yard has a 5-6 degree slope, so I need to get that leveled and a retaining
wall. That is 20-30k. (Area to be leveled 35x x 110ft).
Pergola Structure w/ Solar Racking: 45k
Inverters: 7k
Solar Panels: 25-30k
Electrical Work: 5k
Garage Next to Array that will house inverters, etc: 10k

if we concrete under it and make an outdoor space that would add another 20k.

I suppose a Pergola needs to be level, solar panels certainly do not care. I attached a level
here to show that the 66 foot array follows the 10% slope of my ground. Others have spent
huge resources bulldozing ground and building walls, I see it as a waste. Bruce Roe

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