NY Buffalo The largest utility-scale solar project in Connecticut, located in Canterbury, has already been completed, according to Terrasmart, a division of Gibraltar Industries (NASDAQ: ROCK).
The 66.5-MWAC fixed-tilt system was mechanically installed by Terrasmart in just seven months, which is 75 percent quicker than the industry average for a system of this size. Terrasmart surveyed the site, designed a system to withstand New England weather, produced the racking, and carried out the mechanical installation. In a short period of time, Terrasmart transformed 270 acres of woodland, farmland, and recovered gravel mining into the production of renewable energy while collaborating closely with the project’s partners. Terrasmart’s ultra-reliable ground screw foundations and GLIDE racks are used in the 150,000-module system built for one of the major utilities in the nation to endure frost heave, severe snowfall, and strong wind. After this project was finished, Terrasmart applied its unmatched project expertise to the installation of 1.1 GWs in the Northeast over the course of only the previous two years.
This project, which is the largest solar farm in Connecticut and one of the largest in all of New England, exemplifies Terrasmart President Ed McKiernan’s full-scope approach to PV execution. We were able to quickly value-engineer and deliver a reliable system for the utility thanks to our end-to-end solution.
To complete the project on time, Terrasmart self-performed all of the work, sending out 170 team members seven days a week for ten hours each day. The team collaborated closely with the developer and other key players to whittle down a 130-week project to just over 33 weeks. The adjustable racking system from Terrasmart is 33 percent more efficient than comparable fixed systems since it has less hardware and parts.
According to Richard Van Fleet, director of construction at Terrasmart, serving as PM for this project was a significant accomplishment and one of the pinnacles of his professional career. I’m pleased of our construction crew because they went above and above to shorten the project’s timeframe and achieve success.
As a provider of integrated racking, Terrasmart sped up installation and increased accuracy with its own surveying technology. The system was built to resist icy New England weather with up to 120 mph winds, 35 psf of snow load, and 27 inches of frost depth by internal geological, mechanical, electrical, and civil expertise. The high-velocity manufacturing facility at Terrasmart streamlines metal treatments, adds accuracy, and boosts output. Instead of doing the testing sequentially as is usually done, the highly trained staff staggered installation and testing by rows to ensure optimal efficiency.
Visit terrasmart.com for additional details on how Terrasmart’s survey-to-glass scope increases project efficiency to reach ambitious goals.
Thanks to AA1
Terrasmart is the source of the featured photo.
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