BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – A new day has dawned at Berkeley Electric Cooperative as the co-op energized its first community solar garden last Friday during a small dedication ceremony.
The 120-kW ground-mounted solar array, located at the co-op’s Strawberry Substation in Moncks Corner, is the first phase of the community solar program which allows members to benefit from solar energy by leasing panels without having to install them on their property.
The second phase of the project will be the construction of canopy-mounted solar panels on covered parking at the co-op’s Awendaw office capable of generating an additional 80-kW. The combined 200-kW output will be able to power the equivalent of 25 homes per year.
The Strawberry site is also a pilot program for testing two Tesla battery packs designed to store 464 kWh or about 4 hours of solar PV production. These battery packs will be charged largely at night during off-peak hours when electricity prices are the lowest.
The stored energy will then be discharged during periods of peak energy use to help reduce demand costs for all members. The pilot program is being conducted by the co-op’s statewide partner, Central Electric Power Cooperative in Columbia.
Berkeley Electric residential members participate in the community solar program by subscribing to the output of the solar gardens which will be credited to their monthly electric bill. A total of 200 blocks, each representing 1/200th of the actual output (150 kWh), can be leased through the program.
Members will receive their portion of the output based on the number of blocks they lease with a five-block maximum, or 16 solar panels. It is important to note that solar production will vary monthly based on weather and time of year.
Each block costs $10 per block for 8 years and members will receive the credit value of the solar produced for 15 years. Both phases are already fully subscribed with 46 members participating.
“We created the sponsorship to mimic if you were installing at your home, with long term potential savings,” said Eddie Plowden, manager of marketing/energy services. “This is also a hassle-free way for members to go solar without worrying about having holes in their roof or maintaining a solar system. It also enables members who may have homeowner association restrictions to participate and the subscriptions are transferrable.”
Berkeley Electric Cooperative also offers a renewable energy rider for member installing rooftop solar. “Currently we have 830 members participating through our renewable energy rider producing twice the solar energy than the entire Colleton Solar Farm in Walterboro which has over 10,000 panels,” said Plowden.
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