Solar Spotlight: Sustainability is at the CORE of Spraying Systems’ Values and Business Strategies

GRNE Solar recently installed a new solar system powered by SMA Sunny Tripower CORE1 inverters and monitored with the SMA Data Manager M at the headquarters of Spraying Systems, a spray technology company in Illinois.

The Spraying Systems team works closely with customers to identify and capitalize on opportunities to improve the sustainability of their spraying applications. In doing so, customers minimize their environmental impact and exposure to adverse health effects while reducing raw material waste, energy consumption and pollution.

However, Spraying Systems’ operations also reflect their sustainability focus. In addition to helping customers operate more sustainably, Spraying Systems is dedicated to environmentally friendly, safe manufacturing practices in its facilities.

Their initiatives include:

• Water reuse in R&D processes
• Recycling brass, steel, aluminum, plastic and paper
• Composting in their cafeteria
• Natural gas conservation through HVAC equipment and building upgrades
• Reducing electricity use for lighting through fixture and ballast upgrades

The most recent effort towards achieving the company’s environmental goals is a 433.55 kWp rooftop solar system consisting of 1,334 Yingli Solar panels powered by seven SMA Sunny Tripower CORE1 units. GRNE Solar also incorporated an SMA Data Manager M for monitoring and control.

The Sunny Tripower CORE1 is the world’s first freestanding string inverter for decentralized rooftop and ground-based PV systems as well as covered parking spaces. The groundbreaking new design allows reductions in installation time of up to 60% and simultaneously lowers the total cost of ownership (OPEX).  It also enables the over-dimensioning of a PV array up to 150 percent. This system has a 1.23 DC/AC ratio. With the CORE1 it can reach up to 1.5.

The Data Manager M and the new Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS are perfectly coordinated with each other making it easier to monitor, analyze, parameterize and manage PV systems.

“We like the plug-and-play wiring functionality as well as the free-standing feet option for flat roof assemblies. We also like the ease of implementation and total control with the Data Manager M,” said GRNE Solar Design Engineer Travis Kepler.

The array, commissioned in April 2019, is a pilot project as Spraying Systems is evaluating a potential large-scale deployment in the future.

Watch this video and visit our gallery for more visuals courtesy of GRNE Solar.