PV/Meter Connection Location

[SEOBD CBO]

Site setup:
The location for the array installation currently has four large commercial storage buildings. The owner wishes to install two arrays on one of the four building, which currently does not have electric, but feed two adjacent building where the meters are located from AEP.

My question is:
Can the arrays be located on a separate building not associate with the utility metering power source?

My concern is:
The array will not be visible and not serving the building which holds the array?

I get the requirements for placards for location on NW/SE portion of the building, but this is on a completely different structure?

 

[jaggedben]

There is nothing in the NEC that prohibits what the owner wants. Detached buildings receive power supplied from other buildings all the time. What is your specific concern?

 

[SEOBD CBO]

The structure which will support the array will not be served by the array.
The array serves two adjacent buildings.
The structure also does not and will not have electric.
Controls for each array will be over 100' from the array on separate buildings?

 

[jaggedben]

Okay, so there's a bunch of rules that will kick in, as is always the case when buildings are fed from elsewhere. There should be a disconnect where supply conductors enter each building. The building with the array will need a new grounding electrode system. Details will depend on system design, including whether the PV conductors between buidlings are AC or DC. But there's nothing wrong with the overall concept.

 

[pv_n00b]

The structure will have electricity after the array is installed on it. So all the NEC requirements for powering a building from another building with a service entrance will suddenly apply to the formerly unpowered building. This is a two-part project, 1) powering the building, 2) putting a PV array on the building.

 

[GoldDigger]

The structure will have electricity after the array is installed on it. So all the NEC requirements for powering a building from another building with a service entrance will suddenly apply to the formerly unpowered building. This is a two-part project, 1) powering the building, 2) putting a PV array on the building.

The building will only have utility power if the grid interactive inverters are in that building. If the conductors between buildings are DC what you have effectively is a very overbuilt ground mount.
You do have to follow certain rules if the DC enters the building rather than being run directly down the outside to underground.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

 

[pv_n00b]

The building will only have utility power if the grid interactive inverters are in that building. If the conductors between buildings are DC what you have effectively is a very overbuilt ground mount.
You do have to follow certain rules if the DC enters the building rather than being run directly down the outside to underground.

Even if it does not have AC run to it the structure will fall under NEC rules if a PV array is installed on it.

 

[pv_n00b]

My question is:
Can the arrays be located on a separate building not associate with the utility metering power source?

Under the NEC you can install a PV system on a building that does not have the service you are back feeding run to it. You just have to meet all the NEC requirements for disconnect locations, rapid shut down, etc. You may end up with more disconnects than the average system. There may be local requirements that are a problem, consult you AHJ.