Solar Projects

Ron de Lugo Federal Building and Courthouse St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Helios Energy™ was contracted to remove and replace the St. Thomas Ron de Lugo Federal Building and Courthouse PV system that was severely damaged during the 2017 hurricane season. Helios implemented a solar PV system that consists of two primary sections. The installation was part of an agency-wide initiative to expand energy efficiency and clean energy production measures at sites within the U.S.V.I. Further, the systems were built primarily in the evening to not disrupt building operations and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented unique supply chain, transportation, and labor challenges.

Challenge

Design a value-engineered rooftop and carport solar PV solution for the GSA.

Need 1: Meet hurricane wind standards of 180 mph for all solutions, the first system to do so in the Caribbean
Need 2: Meet megawatt hour production goals
Need 3: Deliver high-quality solutions against budget targets
Need 4: Complete installation during the COVID-19 pandemic when global supply chain issues and labor shortages present unique, unprecedented challenges

Scope of Project

A rooftop mounted Solar PV rated at 206.5kW DC with 4 x 50kW Core 1 SMA PV Inverters mounted on the 4th floor mezzanine consisting of 25 strings of PV Modules totaling 523 modules and, a Carport Solar PV rated at 173kWdc with 3 x 50kW Core 1 SMA PV inverters consisting of 22 strings of PV Modules totaling 438 modules.

Technology Specs:

PV Modules are LG Chem 395Q1C-A6 rated 395W each
All AC voltages are 480V three phase 60Hz
All PV DC is rated at <1000Vdc
The combined system has a DC rating of 380kW and a maximum AC rating of 350kW achieving a DC:AC ratio of 1.086 average

Application: Supply the daytime energy load for all Government buildings on the property, while offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with environmental initiatives.

Result

When exploring partners to design, build, and employ the 380 kW DC solar system, Schneider Electric sought out previous partners with experience in the Caribbean. Further, with a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and tenured solar PV expertise, a partnership with Helios Energy™ became the logical next step.
The Helios Energy™ Team is grateful to be delivering the solar PV solution to the deserving St. Thomas community.
Additionally, Helios was proud to partner with local contractors Eleven Construction, Silver Sun Solar, ATEC Energy BVI to have injected over 90% of the project labor budget into the local economy.

The Helios Energy™ Impact

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) was seeking to substantially reduce energy consumption and install clean, solar energy production for the Ron de Lugo Federal Building and Courthouse, located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Key to the success of this initiative was a value-engineered 380 kW system, comprised of rooftop and carport canopy solar PV, designed, and built by the Helios Energy™ Team in partnership with Schneider Electric. Further, the successful execution of this project during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplified an ability to creatively solve from solution design to site testing, product procurement to multifaceted installation.

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