Eaton Provides Power Management Solutions for Community Solar Projects in Minnesota Generating Sufficient Energy to Power 7,200 Homes
PITTSBURGH — Power management company Eaton today announced it has been awarded a contract to provide electrical distribution equipment for community solar installations in Minnesota. Eaton’s solutions will help support safe, cost-effective and reliable power generation in three sites, including Taylors Falls, Randolf and Cottage Grove. Upon completion, the community solar installations are predicted to generate 70 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually – enough to power 7,200 homes.
Eaton received the contracts from Ecoplexus, a provider of development, design, engineering, construction, and financing services for solar energy systems in the non-profit, commercial, municipal, and utility markets. The ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) installations are part of the local utility’s community solar program and will be interconnected into the utility’s Minnesota electrical grid, increasing the capacity of clean energy distributed throughout the state.
“The community-based solar projects in Minnesota will help meet state-wide renewable energy standards requiring utilities to provide 25 percent of their electrical generation from renewable resources by 2025,” said John Vernacchia, global segment manager for renewable energy at Eaton. “By combining the capabilities of Eaton’s proven power management solutions with the expertise of Ecoplexus, the installations will also help transform the way Minnesota municipalities produce and consume electrical energy.”
The project will incorporate Eaton’s solar balance of system (BOS) solutions to help support safe, cost-effective and reliable solar generation. Under the contract, Eaton will supply a range of electrical power management products, including grid-connection medium-voltage switchgear, power transformers and low-voltage AC collection panelboards and switchboards.
With a robust portfolio of electrical balance of system solutions for solar installations, and a team of experienced engineers, Eaton provides power management equipment and software tailored to customer requirements and the skills needed to successfully complete a project, from initial design and application assistance through post-installation measurement, verification and maintenance. Eaton solutions for solar applications are on display at Solar Power International from September 11 to 13, in booth #3175. For more information, visit www.eaton.com/solar.
Eaton’s electrical business is a global leader with expertise in power distribution and circuit protection; backup power protection; control and automation; lighting and security; structural solutions and wiring devices; solutions for harsh and hazardous environments; and engineering services. Eaton is positioned through its global solutions to answer today’s most critical electrical power management challenges.
Eaton is a power management company with 2016 sales of $19.7 billion. We provide energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies and services. Eaton has approximately 95,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit Eaton.com.
