Conergy builds one of the largest photovoltaic plants on the American east coast

America’s energy and water suppliers are becoming green:By building “Ingram’s Mill Farm”, Conergy is erecting one of the largest photovoltaic plants on the east coast of the USA, and is therefore equipping the second large US water supplier with solar technology this year. The large 1.1-megawatt photovoltaic plant in Chester County, Pennsylvania, will generate savings in the five-digit dollar range each year for the operator, Aqua Pennsylvania. The Hamburg company wants to complete “Ingram’s Mill Farm” before the end of the year and connect it to the grid. This plant is also the third major project that Conergy has realized in the USA for local utility companies.

Aqua Pennsylvania supplies fresh drinking water to hundreds of thousands of homes in the southeast region of the state. The large 18,000 m² Conergy photovoltaic plant close to an Aqua retention basin will supply around 1,300,500 kWh of clean electricity each year to the future operator. Aqua will use this energy for the treatment and transport of its water, which will save the company around 77,000 dollars in energy costs each year. Aqua CEO Nick DeBenedictis: “The approval procedures with the US authorities for such projects have improved tremendously in recent times. For that reason, and thanks to Conergy's high level of solar expertise, we will soon be able to utilize the economical and ecological benefits of renewable energy with “Ingram’s Mill Farm."

America’s energy and water suppliers are becoming green

Three energy and water suppliers in the USA are already exploiting Conergy's solar expertise and reaping its benefits. “Conergy has managed to establish an impressive success record in its collaboration with US energy suppliers within one year – from coast to coast,” says Conergy Manager Kurt Zwerko. “At the end of 2008, we erected a 3 MW photovoltaic plant for the largest American electricity and gas producer, Exelon. In mid 2009, we realized the next 1.6 MW solar project for the water supplier SSJID. By building “Ingram’s Mill Farm”, we have achieved a new, greater milestone and others will follow.

There is good reason for this. Since the election of US President Barack Obama, green thinking has also gained a foothold in US policies. For example, the photovoltaic plant in Pennsylvania is one of 25 projects, which received a financial subsidy totalling 20.7 million dollars from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority for the development of renewable energies in the state. Pennsylvania’s Governor Edward G. Rendell, who has been setting up his state for years to be a forerunner in the field of renewable energies, says: “In the past, America has allowed itself to become much too dependent on foreign oil. There is now a new train of thought regarding how we want to generate our energy in the future. And the effects can be seen. With every kilowatt of renewable energy that we install, we are slowly but surely making ourselves more independent of traditional energy sources.”