Photo courtesy of Jade K. Patrick

Address: 1023 B Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415

Overview:

In November 2010, Solarflow Energy installed 52 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of D&E Management, a Minneapolis-based property management company. This grid-tied installation uses 230 watt Canadian solar panels, an 11.96 kW DC system. D&E Management, owned and operated by Dale Howey, provides high-quality loft living in its downtown location. D&E Management is part of an innovative solar leasing pilot project through Solarflow Energy, a Minneapolis company which received a grant from Xcel Energy to install 280 kW of solar PV energy in Xcel Energy service territory.

Benefits:

• Operating Savings – D&E Management is leasing their solar PV system for an 18 year term. For the first 5 years, D&E Management will pay the lessor, Solarflow Energy, a monthly rate equivalent to the charges on their Xcel Energy bill. In other words, lease payments will increase for the first five years to match the rate pricing of Xcel Energy. The lease prices will remain fixed through the remaining 13 years, bringing significant savings as a result.
• Energy Savings – This 52 panel, 11.96 kW DC system is estimated to produce 13,638 kWh of electricity per year. The buildings current use in the common areas is 13,445 kWh per year. Therefore, this building will offset more than 100% of its common-area electrical use through solar PV.
• Carbon Savings – The carbon offset given by this solar PV system is equivalent to 21, 602 pounds of carbon, 1,193 gallons of gas saved and the equivalent of 273 trees saved each year.

Partners:

• Solarflow Energy
• Xcel Energy