Martifer Solar partners on community solar with Clean Energy Collective

 

The Garfield community solar gardenThe majority of solar installed today, particularly in the U.S. is one of two types utility-scale or residential. However, a new type of solar installation is starting to gain ground in the U.S., community solar gardens. And Martifer Solar, working with Clean Energy Collective, already has more than a megawatt of community solar projects in its pipeline and anticipates 5 megawatts of such projects in the U.S. by the end of 2012.

Unlike residential, small commercial or utility-scale solar projects, community solar projects are locally owned on a voluntary basis, so they’re built to fit the needs and wants of the community they’re in. Home, business owners or renters in the region can buy into the solar garden, effectively owning a certain amount of generation that the solar photovoltaic module or modules they bought, produces. That power can be used to offset part or all of their electric use.

“Currently we have built solar gardens in Colorado. However, Martifer Solar USA operates nationwide,” said Vice President of Martifer Solar USA’s Central Region Nick Galesic. In fact the collaboration with Clean Energy Collective has already resulted in what was, when completed, the largest community solar garden in the U.S. That’s the 858-kilowatt Garfield County Airport Solar Array, which was completed in 2011.

Such projects are helping to popularize solar gardens, according to Galesic. “A few years ago, the community solar concept was largely unfamiliar in the U.S. Now we see residents, utilities, and solar integrators and project developers working together to make community owned solar an essential part of the nation’s energy infrastructure,” he said. “Our recently completed array in Poudre Valley was created as a response to the demand generated by the success of the Garfield County project…and it is already 100 percent sold out.”

The two are also moving forward on other community solar projects. “We will complete the San Miguel Power Association project within the year. The more traction we gain, the higher exposure this model gets, the more people step forward and say, ‘This makes sense. Why haven’t we implemented this in our community?’,” Galesic said.

While the companies will continue to work together, the relationship isn’t exclusive. “Both Martifer Solar USA and the Clean Energy Collective are committed to the success of community owned solar. As such, we mutually pursue project development opportunities that further that goal. If either of us encounters an opportunity that falls outside the scope of the others’ services or capabilities, then naturally we will pursue that project. We have always had a successful partnership and continue to collaborate intensely whenever possible,” Galesic said.