Special Solar Array Ballasted Footings Used for the Largest Solar Energy System in Northampton

July 11, 2011 - PRLog -- NORTHAMPTON, MA – Oldcastle Precast delivered 176 custom designed precast footings to Renewable Sales, LLC.,  a Massachusetts – based leading wholesale distributor of photovoltaic and solar thermal energy products to complete the construction of the largest photovoltaic solar system to date, in the city of Northampton, at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.  

The 108-kilowatt solar array, built on the school's old tennis courts, is composed of eighty-eight solar arrays which incorporate approximately 500-solar panels  that will reduce energy use by 20 percent annually after its completion in September. The system's panels can be tilted at different angles to capture the most sunlight, depending on the time of year. Renewable Sales, LLC contracted Oldcastle Precast, Inc.-Rehoboth to custom manufacture the at-grade precast ballasted footings for their solar arrays.

Renewable Sales, LLC needed special footings to ground mount their solar arrays due to the ground conditions at the site. Oldcastle Precast, Inc. provided their precast expertise and custom designed an at-grade precast ballasted footing for Renewable Sales’ GEMINI PV Ground Mount System. The ballasted footings are independent, precast concrete footings for ground mounted solar electrical systems. The GEMINI ballasted footings are engineered to work in virtually any location, environment or application conditions, including variations in wind speed, tilt angle, support and racking configuration, solar module size, weight, local design codes and project requirements.

This type of precast solar array foundation is designed for use in the most demanding solar panel applications where the panels need to be secured in unstable, environmentally sensitive, or impenetrable ground conditions or where a non- penetrating solution is required. These footings are also designed for relocation and reuse.

Due to the modular construction of the foundations and racking, the entire mounting system was constructed in two weeks, which is very impressive for an installation this size.

The roughly $500,000 project at Smith Vocational is being funded from two sources – 55 percent from a low-interest Clean Renewable Energy Bond and 45 percent from a state Green Communities grant. Earlier this year, the city qualified as a "Green Community," which enabled it to apply for grants to help with energy-efficiency and renewable-energy investment.

About Oldcastle Precast, Inc.:
Oldcastle Precast, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of precast and polymer concrete products in the U.S. Providing engineered product solutions nationwide to a number of market sectors including:
Water - Transportation - Power & Energy -Communications -Engineering Services - Construction Services - Government/Military. Oldcastle Precast is part of Oldcastle Building Products. For more information please visit www.oldcastleprecast.com.

About Renewable Sales, LLC:
Renewable Sales is a major U.S. east coast distributor of Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal equipment products. serving the professional and licensed contractor /installer market. Renewable Sales manufacturing division Constellation Mounting Systems fabricates roof and ground mount systems.

Contact:   Oldcastle Precast, Inc.                     
National Sales, Marketing, and Engineering            
888-965-3227                  
http://www.oldcastleprecast.com
Barbara.bogo@oldcastleprecast.com

Renewable Sales, LLC - Kevin Price, CEOwww.renewablesales.com
kprice@renewablesales.com

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Oldcastle Precast is the leading manufacturer of precast concrete, polymer concrete and plastic products in the United States for ALL industries. With more than 80 locations nationwide, our products are always close at hand.