In line with the name of the company “Liberty” and what it represents, they chose an American Flag solar panel array designed by The Next Energy Technology as a symbolic source of pride and unity for all Americans.

Liberty Self Storage - American Flag Solar Array Case Study
Liberty Self Storage - American Flag Solar Array Case Study

Case Study from | S-5!

The Project

Liberty Self Storage, a multi-site storage facility business in Louisiana and the state's largest solar-powered company, contacted The Next Energy Technology, a Louisiana-based solar power company, to do a conversion project for one of their locations. Liberty Self Storage dedicated itself to green energy in 2016, commissioning solar conversion for the first nine of 12 locations in St. Tammany Parish, but this time they wanted to do something different. 

In line with the name of the company “Liberty” and what it represents, they chose an American Flag solar panel array designed by The Next Energy Technology as a symbolic source of pride and unity for all Americans.

The facility, located in Covington, La., features a 74.88kW DC solar array securely mounted to the MBCI Ultra-Dek standing seam metal roof with the   S-5! PVKIT 2.0 solar attachment solution. In trading string inverters for 64 APsystems microinverters in the project design, they created one of the most energy-efficient locations in the Liberty chain, and helped Liberty take the lead as one of the most progressive mid-sized companies in the South.

The Challenge

The Next Energy Technology was challenged with designing and installing solar panels in the arrangement of an American flag. A traditional rail-mounted system was not ideal because it would add additional weight to the array, and in certain areas, the rails would remain exposed and compromise the designAdditionally, Liberty Storage was adamant that the array be attached to the metal roof without any penetrations.

Another challenge was the area’s high wind speeds due to its proximity to the Gulf coast. The design wind load requirements for the roof necessitated a solar mounting product capable of withstanding up to 140-mile-per-hour winds.

 

The Solution

Solar solution provider, Ontility recommended the PVKIT direct-attach™ (rail-less) solar solution paired with the S-5-V Mini clamp to provide a secure, economical and penetration-free method for attaching solar modules to the metal roof, enabling solar installers to “lay & play” PV modules with tested, engineered, cost-saving, attachment. The solution also allowed a precise physical module arrangement to achieve the artistic objective.

In high-wind areas such as this, wind forces will try to tear a roof from its mountings. The exceptional performance of metal roofing in these conditions is due in part to its attachment methods and interlocking installation where panels are interlocked and attached to the structure of the building, reducing the ability of wind to disrupt the roof panels.

Standing seam metal has a distinct advantage over other roof types because it serves as a “structural” covering, meaning it can be engineered to withstand almost any force imposed by wind. It also serves as the perfect platform for mounting solar PV because the structural ribs or seams can be used as inherent (and cost-free) “rails” for mounting solar PV via reliable mechanical attachments.

 

Long-Term Outlook

With the standing seam metal roof, good south exposure, no obstructions and a clear objective, The Next Energy Technology was able to overcome any and all challenges. As a result, they transformed a solar array into a symbol of freedom in the Deep South–an American flag.

 

Project Team

General Contractor: The Next Energy Technology, Kenner, LA

Engineer: Renewable Design Solutions, Dallas, TX

Distributor: ONTILITY Powered by Smith, Houston, TX

Solar Mounting: S-5!, Colorado Springs, CO      

 

Solar Stats

Project Size: 74.88kW DC

Solar Installer:  The Next Energy Technology, Kenner, LA

Module manufacturer: Hanwha Q-Cell 390w modules, South Korea 

Inverter manufacturer: APsystems YC1000 Microinverters, Seattle, WA

 

Roof Stats

Roof Profile: MBCI Ultra-Dek

Roof Measured: H 72’ x W 166’ (south-facing roof surface)

Roof Pitch: 14°

 

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
S-5!

S-5!

In 1992, S-5! invented the very market space of manufactured roof attachment solutions. S-5!'s clamps and brackets are engineered for a variety of applications, including residential and commercial solar installations on exposed-fastened and standing seam metal roofing. The company has a portfolio of more than 5+ GigaWatts of rooftop solar arrays, including many Fed-Ex and Walmart buildings; 700 Costco stores in eight countries; international airports; and corporate headquarters for Google, IBM, NATO, NREL and Apple. S-5! technologies are also affordable for domestic applications with more than 15,000 such solar installations in 50 countries.

Other Articles

Demolition Ranch HQ, Boerne, Texas―Case Study
Due to the ranch’s remote location, the owner wished to build an off-the-grid building featuring a 3.84kW rooftop solar array together with a battery storage system to power the building. The rooftop solar modules are secured in place using the ProteaBracketTM by S-5!
Simplifying Solar Module Installation
The MLPE mount provides flexibility to install the MLPE device on the underside of the module frame at desired locations so wire management is simplified. The tab feature eliminates hassle
Wire Management of Rail-Less Solar PV Systems on Low-Slope Metal Roofing
Module Preparation & Strategic String Design - Part I. By strategically designing module and string layouts, prepping modules in staging areas and performing repeatable installation procedures, all hurdles to installing rail-less solar can be overcome.
More about S-5!

Comments (0)

This post does not have any comments. Be the first to leave a comment below.


Post A Comment

You must be logged in before you can post a comment. Login now.

Featured Product

SOLTEC – SFOne single axis tracker

SOLTEC - SFOne single axis tracker

SFOne is the 1P single-axis tracker by Soltec. This tracker combines the mechanical simplicity with the extraordinary expertise of Soltec for more than 18 years. Specially designed for larger 72 an 78 cell modules, this tracker is self-powered thanks to its dedicated module, which results into a lower cost-operational power supply. The SFOne has a 5% less piles than standard competitor, what reduces a 75% the labor time.