Commercial Solar O&M with Simmons Knife and Continental Energy Solutions; EP137

Welcome to the Clean Power Hour, where we dive into the world of operations and maintenance (O&M) for commercial solar.Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague is joined by Josh Richardson, Head of the O&M at Continental Energy Solutions and Colin Murphy, CEO of Simmons Knife & Saw in the Chicago suburbs. Simmons Knife installed a 437 kW rooftop solar project in 2019 that produces 70% of the facility’s power on their Glendale Heights factory headquarters. Simmons produces saw blades for the food and furniture industries. The project was designed and installed by Continental Energy Solutions (CES), the largest solar installer in Northern Illinois; an IBEW solar contractor and full-service EPC. The project was part of the first wave of FEJA (Future Energy Jobs Act) projects that are helping the state of Illinois achieve their 40% RPS by 2040. As the owner, Simmons Knife, engaged CES to perform regular O&M on the project. We got Colin and Josh together to discuss how the project has performed for the past three years. On this Episode, Josh and Colin join Tim Montague to explore the essential components of an effective solar O&M strategy, from performance monitoring and regular inspections to preventative maintenance and repair. As Colin Murphy points out, when you own a solar array you want someone with real expertise to give it some regular TLC and make sure it’s running smoothly. Unless solar is your core business, you just want that peace of mind that the array is going to keep producing clean electrons day in and day out without any major disruptions. Fortunately, CES uses high quality solar equipment like Trina Solar solar modules, CPS America inverters, and DCE racking. The project has experienced very few hiccups and no major equipment problems. An electrical breaker replacement is about the only thing that has been replaced so far on the five degree tilt system that is a sight to behold from the air. Our guests will share their experiences and insights on what it takes to keep a commercial/industrial solar project running smoothly and the benefits it can bring to your business. Whether you're a property owner, a solar professional, or just curious about the possibilities for clean energy, this episode is a must-watch. So, join us on the Clean Power Hour and discover the secrets to maximizing the potential of your solar project!Key TakeawaysWhat does it take to keep your commercial industrial solar project running smoothly?What Simmons Knife experience is with his solar projectSimmons’ expectations vs. current experience with the projectThe ins and outs of O&M What maintenance of solar projects entails?What to expect with commercial industrial solar projects?Continental Energy SolutionsFollow Continental Energy Solutions on LinkedInConnect with Josh RichardsonConnect with Colin Murphy Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email [email protected] Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected] sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com