Commercial 3 phase solar system metering

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cruzJD

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I was doing some work for a client and was asked about putting a service and a solar system on a storage building at a large family bakery. The building was built with the intent of putting a solar system on it when it was built late last year but there money ran short. The building is 60 by 120 with a 20? over hang that they park there trucks under. Some time next week I?m going to sit down with the owner to get all the information. I have not sat down with a calculator yet and I?m not planning on it till I sit down and get more info off the owner.

He thinks he wants a 400 amp 4 wire 208 service for the building. The building is currently being fed off a 150 amp breaker from the bakery.

I have never seen a grid tie system of this size but how would POCO want to meter something like this?
I have seen 480 / 600 amp 3 phase meter cans before and I?m guessing that this is what they would use or would they want to use 2 meters.
 
I'm not sure what POCO is, but here goes: I've installed a number of 3-phase 208 commercial PV systems, and in my experience, your metering situation will depend on the utility, and the regulatory oversight for PV in your area. You can definitely get a single meter that will handle a 3-phase 208V service, with onsite cogeneration, if that's what you're asking. Some jurisdictions will want more than one meter (to monitor your system for purposes of calculating a subsidy, for example).
 
POCO Specific

POCO Specific

Spot on! The metering requirements will depend on the POCO. If the existing service is large enough and the POCO offers net metering, they may allow the PV to be fed from the existing main panel. If the PV is larger than the existing service, they may require a whole new service. Luckily with PV the interconnectin requirements are relatively simple. The application forms are long and complex though!
 
The building is still being temporally feed off the bakery so the service can be planned with the PV system.

You?ll right about the paperwork being a pita.


POCO = POwer COmpany I hope if not I?ve been lost for the last few months reading this forum.

Thanks for the info.
 
Commercial 3 phase solar system metering

You really need to understand the policy of your local POCO, there are major differences.

Major cost increases when you have PV systems requiring an AC ampacity over 200 amps. If the utility is to pay a production based rebate, they will supply the basic KWH meter, but the installer has to supply the meter base. Gets expensive if CT based meters will be used. Several Arizona utilities will allow multiple solar KWH meters on residential systems, allowing two breakers to feed the popular 400A SES's that are set up as 200/200A internally when the PV array will be more than about 8 KW.
 
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