NREL will extract data for its own research from Mercury Solar’s solar test-bed, a solar photovoltaic (PV) testing facility in the Northeast. The system will be constructed on the roof of Mercury Solar’s corporate headquarters in Westchester County, NewYork, and is expected to be operational by the end of the summer. A grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will help finance the project.
Lloyd Hoffstatter, vice president of engineering at Mercury Solar, said: “Our partnership with NREL will help validate panel performance for the entire solar industry. Combining several different solar panels into one system is an innovative approach to evaluate and monitor panel performance.
“It will also give us quantifiable engineering data to design, construct and integrate the most state-of-the-art solar energy systems for our customers, giving us a significant edge over other firms in this industry.”
The 81kW solar PV system will consist of several hundred panels from eight different manufacturers. It is expected to generate 90,000kWh of power each year. The system will also incorporate a hybrid PV/solar hot water system.
