OVERVIEW

Two Framingham companies, SolarFlair Energy, Inc. and Framingham Salvage Co. teamed up to build an 800KW Solar Farm in Framingham, MA. Over a five month period they transformed an under-utilized lot of land into a renewable energy generation plant. The system is connected to the utility grid and will convert the natural energy of the sun to clean reliable electricity. The energy generated will be applied to several Town of Framingham utility accounts providing the community with a clean source of energy as well as a discounted rate compared to using traditional fossil fuel energy. This is an innovative way for commercial businesses to lower operating costs for their Town, help reduce our dependency on fossil fuel, and educate the community about the current and future opportunities for clean energy technology.

Framingham Salvage Co. is a family owned and operated scrap metal recycling, and Brokerage Company based in Framingham since 1965. They have been a “green” business for over 45 years. Framingham Salvage are experts in every facet of metal recycling and base their work on the core belief that what is good for the environment is good for the bottom line as well. Now Framingham Salvage has a renewable energy system to show their commitment to a healthy environment and the wellness of the Framingham community. According to SolarFlair President, Matt Arner “This was an excellent opportunity for two local companies to make a difference in our Town. Solar projects like this are improving the environment and generating employment opportunities for our State in a sustainable manner.”

Framingham Salvage will benefit from the ARRA Federal Stimulus 1603 Treasury Grant and the Massachusetts Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program. The 1603 Grant covers 30% of the project cost and was paid within 60 days of project completion. In addition, for each KWh produced by the PV system, Framingham Salvage will earn a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) which can be sold to electric utilities needing to meet state renewable energy mandates, dramatically reducing payback periods and improving the return on investment for solar system owners.

The installation was designed and installed by SolarFlair Energy, Inc. of Framingham, MA. It includes 2,783 Suntech STP-290 and STP-285 solar panels, one SGI 500 inverter and one SGI 225 inverter manufactured by Massachusetts based Solectria Renewables. The products provided are among the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing in the industry. During its lifetime the solar system will produce over 27 million kilowatt hours (KWh) displacing 34 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. This much clean energy is equivalent to powering 150 typical homes for 30 years, planting 504,000 trees or driving 22,000,000 miles in an SUV.

The system includes a state of the art web-based monitoring system that provides a graphic interface to historical and real-time solar energy production data. Monitoring allows for greater visibility of the energy production and the information is utilized for both operational and educational purposes.