Winter 2012 - SCANA Corporation

Working through tight security, FAA regulations,
hurricane season, a summer of extremely high
temperatures, safety issues, contracts, permits, a newly
opened plant with a new workforce, and a tight time
schedule, SCE&G completed construction on one of the
largest single rooftop solar installations in the United
States. The 2.6-megawatt D.C. rooftop photovoltaic
system uses more than 18,000 thin-film photovoltaic
solar laminates to cover 10 acres on the 14-acre Boeing
Final Assembly building.
“SCE&G, with no previous experience with this
new technology, went from 0 to 200 miles an hour in
10 short months, on the roof of an operating aircraft
assembly plant, with FAA oversight, and was able to set
a new standard for designing in electronic safety control
features not previously installed in North America,”
Landreth said. “Teamwork, openness to new and
evolving technologies and creative problem solving have
made this project a success.” SCE&G will operate the
photovoltaic system for the next 20 years under terms of
the Boeing contract.
“From the SCE&G side of the house, our folks took
this project on in addition to their regular workload,”
Landreth said. SCE&G’s onsite fossil/hydro team
included Jack Robinson, Pat Longshore, Antwon
Cochran and Mike Wolk, who worked side by side with
Boeing and the contractors in solving problems and
documenting the buildout. “Our people have provided
management oversight, as well as the documented
quality control and quality assurance. This has allowed
them to learn a new technology, keep the lessons learned
in-house for future projects and control our costs.”
Under the arrangement with Boeing, SCE&G will
own and maintain the solar generation system and will
supplement the solar-generated energy with power from
its system resources, coupled with green attributes from
its North Charleston biomass generator, to meet all of
Boeing’s energy requirements.
The solar installation on the roof will provide clean,
renewable power for the Boeing site, and all of that
power will stay within the Boeing site.
“This project is a classic example of working with our
customers to supply their energy needs, but with a new
twist,” said SCANA Chairman and CEO Kevin Marsh.
“SCE&G for the first time is supplying a facility with
100 percent green power. I commend Boeing for their
commitment to sustainability and for the opportunity
they presented us to supply this site with renewable
power.”
After a bidding process in the spring, SCE&G
selected Baker Renewable Energy as the engineering
procurement contractor to install the rooftop solar
facility. Baker subcontracted with White Electric, and
together they performed the engineering, procurement
and construction of the solar electric generator.
“Baker actually came on site May 16, which was the
first day that Boeing moved into this building,” Jack
Robinson, SCE&G fossil/hydro project manager, said.
“So the first opportunity to get on the roof was May 16,
and they’ve been actively working since then.”
Three teams worked all summer and into the fall to
complete the project. A roofing team installed sheets
of roofing membrane on top of the existing roof. A
solar team installed the panels and helped with wire
management. And an electrical team connected the
wires that work with the sun to generate power.
In addition to the team on the roof, a support team
handled procurement, coordinated the crane lifts and
directed the moving of all of the materials 120 feet from
the ground to the roof.
Landreth said the contractors delivered a highquality
product. “The craftsmanship is excellent, and
they have worked with us to upgrade the design safety
characteristics and controls,” he said.
A number of college
students worked
through the heat of
the South Carolina
summer on the Boeing
roof to help complete
the PV installation
and electrical wiring
for SCE&G’s solar
project.
18 INSIGHTS • WINTER 2012
WINTER 2012 • INSIGHTS 19