SMA America Selected for Largest Commercial Solar Installation in Georgia

ROCKLIN, Calif., Jan 26, 2010—United Renewable Energy, LLC (URE) has commissioned the largest commercial solar installation in the state of Georgia at the USFloors building in Dalton. Based on its quality and efficiency, an SMA Sunny Central 250U inverter was chosen to convert the solar energy collected by almost 700 solar modules into grid-compatible electricity.

The 144.48 kilowatt solar array was designed by URE, the leading integrator of photovoltaic solar electric power systems in Georgia, and one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the country.  

The system will offset more than 100 percent of the building’s current electrical needs, reduce operating costs and provide clean power for many years. It will also contribute towards the site’s LEED certification, something USFloors is currently pursuing.

“USFloors' devotion to sustainability is well-known and commendable,” said Dave Wojciechowski, director of sales at SMA America. “We are proud to support USFloors' environmental mission and are pleased to have worked with an experienced integrator such as URE to bring this project to life.”  

The rooftop installation covers approximately 14,500 square feet and will generate enough electricity annually to power the equivalent of 20 cars or 14 homes. With additional roof space available and ample inverter capacity, the system was also designed to allow for easy future expansion.

“We chose the Sunny Central inverter because of SMA’s long track record of customer support, as well as the product’s world-class efficiency and reliability,” said William Silva, President of URE.

The Sunny Central 250U acts as the heart of any large-scale commercial PV system, turning the raw electricity from the solar cells into usable, grid-quality power. Not only is its CEC-weighted efficiency rated at 97 percent, but its peak efficiency reaches an incredible 97.5 percent. That translates into greater savings and accelerated payback for the businesses that use it.

USFloors was able to take advantage of generous federal and state credits and incentives, as well as receive a premium from North Georgia EMC for the electricity produced by the solar power system.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than 680 million Euros in 2008 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany and represented by foreign subsidiaries in twelve countries on four continents. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary employees). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.
    
About USFloors
USFloors' commitment is to provide consumers and specifiers with beautiful and durable floors at a good value, while minimizing our impact on the environment and enhancing and improving it whenever possible. As part of our Eco-Mission, USFloors is committed to sourcing and utilizing sustainable resources for its flooring products whenever possible; specifying raw materials and processes that meet stringent U.S. and European environmental standards, NEVER sourcing from clear cut or unmanaged forests. We are actively reducing our environmental and energy footprint, creating better indoor air quality and promoting Green Building through renewable energy and LEED initiatives.

About United Renewable Energy, LLC
Alpharetta, Georgia based United Renewable Energy, LLC (URE) delivers practical, economical, renewable energy solutions to businesses and homes throughout the East Coast. URE is the leading integrator of photovoltaic solar electric power systems in the state of Georgia, and one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the country.  

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