On December 31, 2012 Secure Futures LLC and the First Congregational Christian United Church of Christ – located in Chesterfield, Virginia – turned on the first solar system of its kind. The installation uses 14 Suniva OPT 260 watt panels, capable of producing 3.64kW during peak conditions.
The installation began on December 13th, 2012 and was completed by December 17th, followed by a Secure Futures’ commissioning test to confirm that the panels were correctly generating energy. The project was successfully commissioned on December 31st.
The Suniva panels are manufactured in the U.S. by a U.S. owned company.
Secure Futures owns and operates the First Congregational solar energy system through its subsidiary, FaithWorks Solar, LLC (FSLLC). The church entered into a 20-year Solar Self-Generation Agreement (Solar SGA®) with FaithWorks Solar.
Who Financed the Project?
Secure Futures, LLC, through a project company, FaithWorks Solar LLC, purchased, owns and operates the solar panels on the roof of First Congregational Christian United Church of Christ (FCCUCC). FCCUCC hosts the solar facility and self-generates the electricity produced by the solar system. The church pays a fixed service price to FWSLLC under the Solar SGA®.
Who Installed and Maintains the System?
The 14 high-efficiency 260W PV panels were manufactured by Suniva and installed by a Richmond based branch of Abakus Solar. The installation used 14 Enphase microinverters, allowing the customer and Secure Futures, LLC to monitor each panel’s energy output individually. FaithWorks Solar, LLC is responsible for maintenance and operations.
When Were the Panels Installed?
The 14 panels were installed in four days – from Thursday, December 13th through Monday, December 17th. The quick installation allowed SFLLC to reduce the ultimate cost for FCCUCC.
How Big is the Project?
The FCCUCC project uses 14 panels, each using a separate microinverter, to produce as much as 3.64 kW during peak conditions.
Read what the UCC National Office is saying about the system!
A dedication ceremony was held in March 2013 at the First Congregational Church in Chesterfield in honor of the solar power system and “Mission 4/1 Earth” – a UCC national campaign to accomplish over 1 million hours of engaged earth care, 100,000 trees planted, and write 100,000 advocacy letters regarding environmental concerns.
Click here for a downloadable version of this case study (PDF)
