Eneractive Solutions, an independent full-service energy consulting, engineering, and project development company, has completed the installation of a 112 kW solar photovoltaic system on a floating racking system atop the reservoir at New Jersey American Water's Canoe Brook Water Treatment Facility located in Milburn, N.J.
According to the company, this initiative is anticipated to generate 136 MWh of energy per year to help the plant treat and pump close to 40 million gallons of water per day to 78,000 homes within the municipalities in Essex, Union, Morris and Somerset counties.
The project was initiated at the end of 2009, when Eneractive was contracted by New Jersey American Water to conduct solar PV surveys on 16 of its water treatment locations.
Limited floating solar photovoltaic systems have been installed in warm-weather climates. These systems, however, have previously not been able to survive freeze/thaw weather cycles, Eneractive says. The company included a specialized docking system, manufactured by Poralu Marine, that contain floats filled with polystyrene, allowing them to withstand severe weather conditions. Even in the case of an unlikely puncture or failure, they will still float and can easily be maintained, the company says.
Over the next year, New Jersey American Water and Eneractive will evaluate the performance of the array and the extent of maintenance required, and then determine how they can expand the potential for this type of energy system.