Solar Canopy Can Provide Grid Autonomy

NRG Solar Canopy

NRG Energy Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary NRG Solar, now offers a fully customizable, freestanding NRG Solar Canopy. The introduction marks a major step forward in expanding the viability of solar installations beyond large rooftop structures. The canopy can provide supplemental power on and/or off the grid (dependent on configuration) to help manage energy costs along with usable shade and shelter.

Using a modular kit produced by Sunora Energy Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Solar LLC, the modular design reduces cost and time of installation are reduced without sacrificing customization to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

The NRG Solar Canopy can be incorporated into large-scale commercial use as part of a comprehensive rooftop, ground mount, or solar parking solution that could also be included in a power purchase agreement (PPA) from NRG Solar. The canopy is optimal for universities, hospitals, gas stations, banks, stadiums, bus stops and remote locations such as islands, parks and farms, and dependent on installation size, can power a variety of appliances, from laptops to ATMs. It will come in four models that will generate from 2.44 kW to 7.32 kW of power depending on the geographic location:

Solar Canopy Mini: dimensions are 15 by 14 feet; 2,440W
Solar Canopy Model 1: dimensions are 7.5 by 27 feet; 2,440W
Solar Canopy Model 2: dimensions are 15 by 27 feet; 4,880W
Solar Canopy Model 3: dimensions are 22.5 by 27 feet; 7,320W

The Solar Canopy offers grid autonomy through its optional bi-modal and off-grid capabilities, allowing unused solar energy to be stored to an optional battery backup housed within the canopy, instead of being sent to the public grid.

These optional battery “banks” come in strings of eight. Each string provides the equivalent to approximately 1.5 days of reliable power depending on power usage. For customers who already have diesel, propane or natural gas-powered back-up generators, these batteries offer further assurance as Solar Canopy has zero dependency on fuel.