Seven Corners Apartments – Solar PV Panels
Address: 1400 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55454
Overview:
In November 2010, Solarflow Energy installed 173 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the rooftop of the Seven Corners Apartments in Minneapolis. This grid-tied installation uses 230 watt Canadian solar panels, an 39.79 kW DC system. Seven Corners 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 - Seven Corners is leasing their solar PV system for an 18 year term. Under the terms of this lease, Seven Corners will pay a monthly lease priced at 20% below the cost of the estimated quantity of electricity offset. In other words, the lease payment will increase each year to match Xcel Energy rate increases, but will always remain 20% below Xcel Energy rates.
- Energy Savings – This 173 panel, 39.79 kW DC system is estimated to produce 46,002 kWh of electricity each year. The buildings current use in the common areas is 422,600 kWh per year. Therefore, this building will offset 11% of its common-area electrical use through solar PV.
- Carbon Savings – The carbon offset given by this solar PV system is equivalent to 72,867 pounds of carbon. It is also saving 4,025 gallons of gas each year and saving the equivalent of 920 trees.
