Janssen(NJ) has state's largest rooftop solar energy system

Hopewell Valley News ^ | April 24, 2003 | John Tredrea , Staff Writer

[PeaceBeWithYou]

	The largest solar energy rooftop system in New Jersey was dedicated at Janssen Pharmaceutica April 15.

Company's system is comprised of 2,856 electric tiles that cover 40,000 square feet of the roof of the firm's main building, located in the Titusville section of Hopewell Township.

   The largest solar energy rooftop system in New Jersey was dedicated at Janssen Pharmaceutica April 15, with state Bureau of Public Utilities (BPU) President Jeanne Fox, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell, Hopewell Township Mayor Fran Bartlett and other officials on hand for the ceremonies.
   Janssen's system is comprised of 2,856 electric tiles that cover 40,000 square feet of the roof of the firm's main building, located in the Titusville section of the township. If laid end-to-end, the tiles would stretch 2.5 miles.
   "Janssen and Johnson & Johnson's decision to house New Jersey's largest solar electric rooftop system sends a strong and clear message to the state, business community, environmentalists and consumers about their commitment to promoting renewable energy," Ms. Fox said during the dedication ceremony. "Renewable energy technologies, like solar and wind power, are vital components of the future of energy in New Jersey, which is why they are a priority for the governor and the BPU."
   As Ms. Fox noted, the Janssen rooftop system, which will use solar power to generate enough electricity for the daily needs of 600 homes, is the largest facility of its kind in New Jersey, and one of the largest in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Janssen is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Inc.
   Janssen estimates that, during the next 25 years, the system will prevent the emission of 4,940 tons of carbon dioxide, plus thousands of pounds of nitrogen oxide, that the use of fossil fuels would have produced. Not putting that amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is the equivalent of removing 1,000 cars from New Jersey's roadways, Janssen says. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide contribute to smog, acid rain and global warming, scientists say.
   Diane Parks, Janssen's vice president of administration and community affairs, said: "We have a responsibility to the communities in which we live and work. Our solar electric system is one way to ensure that we do our share to protect the environment."
   Solar electricity, or photovoltaics (PV), is a form of technology first used to power satellites in space. PV systems use silicon to convert sunlight into electricity. Transformers and other equipment convert the electricity generated by the PV rooftop system into electricity that can be used inside buildings.
   One of the main advantages of the solar PV system is that it operates at its peak capacity when demands on the utility grid and electrical costs are highest – that is, during daylight hours.
   The Janssen solar energy project was partially funded by New Jersey's Clean Energy Program, which contributed $1.5 million to the $3 million project. Janssen estimates the PV system will reduce by six percent energy consumption and operating costs at the pharmaceutical firm's Hopewell Township facility.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Amazing.

Lots of spin in this one, but I think the theme is soak the taxpayer. They even dedicated it on April 15th!

[John Jamieson]

Exactly right! 6% for 3 mill, only half from the unwilling. What a deal.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

If this catches on NJ will surpass CA into bankruptcy, if they haven't already. 3M or even 1.5M for 500KW is NUTS.

[Number_Cruncher]

the Janssen rooftop system, which will use solar power to generate enough electricity for the daily needs of 600 homes

This can't be right. That would be 67 sq ft per home. They must mean 60 homes. If a home owner did this, it would cost at least $50,000.

[Dutch Boy]

I wonder if this might put another nail in the coffin of current solor technology. If something that big can't product enough to run the entire plant is it worth it? Alternate sources of engery is a cool concept but when you factor in the cost and materials to produce it I am reminded of Rube Goldberg. If something could be developed cheap and efficient it might have a chance. Otherwise it's another neat idea that goes no where.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Dec31,1999]

The most efficient uses of solar energy are: 1. South facing windows, and 2. Hot water heaters on the rooftops.

The project described in the article seems to be an enormous waste of money!

[tricky_k_1972]

I think that if this system is like most it is only 10 to 15% efficient. Berkley Cal (Uhg!) is working on a new type of crystal doping system that could bring the efficiency up past 60%. The new system is based on the work done by a Japanese scientist who made the blue diode possible.

In order to get the full spectrum of light you had to dope crystals with other compounds, this makes them unstable. The new process has promise to make it easier and cheaper to manufacture.

I am in no way an environmentalist, but I have great respect for our scientist working on technology to help the environment. I don't like using tax dollars to fund individuals buying this stuff, but I do like it when they use their own money.

It is the rich who drive technological development and make it available cheaply for the rest of us. When the refrigerator was invented it was very expensive and only a few could afford them, but that drove the technology further and made it eventually available to everyone.

I believe some government funding is appropriate in the scientific development of such programs, not for individual purchase mind you, just for development. I don't think the progress we made so far in solar cells ( a Nasa development) would have come this far without government sponsorship, there simply was not a need. Space agencies that originally developed it could get along quite well with what they had (other than weight considerations), and the U.S. energy needs have got along quite well with other (although somewhat more polluting) technologies.

I think that once the technology becomes both efficient and cheap it will win out. Nobody will want to use a polluting energy source when a cheaper, more efficient, and cleaner source is available.

[upcountryhorseman]

The only time these alternative energy companies
were able to make it was when there were government
subsidies. I can tell you from personal experience,
that a solar panel based power system is hugely
expensive and it takes many more years than advertised
to break even when compared to public utility costs.
It only makes sense at the residential level!

[tricky_k_1972]

I understand your feelings. It is currently an expensive system that takes years to break even (if ever, these things do break), but the Berkley folks are working to change that.

I, again, do not think that individual purchase should be subsidized by tax dollars. I do think that research that has the potential to develop this, and other energy sources, into a cheap, clean, and viable alternative is worthwhile.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

More information from the installer-PowerLight

New Jersey's Largest Solar Energy Rooftop System Dedicated at Janssen Pharmaceutica, a Johnson & Johnson Company

500 Kilowatt Solar Electric System Furnished by PowerLight Corporation
April 15, 2003

Titusville, N.J.-- New Jersey’s largest solar energy rooftop system was dedicated today at Janssen Pharmaceutica. Each day, this system will generate enough energy to power more than 600 homes thereby reducing the energy drawn from the state’s power grid by six percent each month. In addition, it is noiseless and will not produce any greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. This 500 kilowatt solar electric system was furnished by PowerLight Corporation of Northern California.

“Janssen and Johnson & Johnson’s decision to house New Jersey’s largest solar electric rooftop system sends a strong and clear message to the state, business community, environmentalists and consumers about their commitment to promoting renewable energy,” said Jeanne M. Fox, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. “Renewable energy technologies, like solar and wind power, are vital components of the future of energy in New Jersey which is why they are a priority for the Governor and the BPU.”

The system was dedicated at a special ceremony with Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ); Jeanne Fox, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Bradley Campbell, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection; Francesca Bartlett, mayor of Hopewell Township, and other local and state officials.

Solar electricity, or photovoltaics (PV), is a proven, reliable technology that was first used to power satellites in space. Photovoltaic systems use silicon technology to convert sunlight into energy. Inverters and transformers convert the electricity generated by the PV rooftop system into electricity that can be used within the building. The system can generate power on cloudy days as well.

One of the chief advantages of solar PV is that it operates at its peak capacity when demands on the utility grid and electricity costs are highest.

“We have a responsibility to the communities in which we live and work,” said Diane Parks, Janssen’s vice president of administration and community affairs. “Our solar electric system is one way to ensure that we do our share to protect the environment.”

Janssen’s on-site solar electric system, comprising 2,856 solar electric tiles, covers 40,000 square feet of the Titusville facility’s roof. If laid end-to-end, the tiles would stretch 2.5 miles. The system operates within Janssen’s existing electrical network.

Over the 25-year operating life of the system, solar generated electricity will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by an estimated 4,940 tons — the equivalent of removing almost 1,000 cars from New Jersey’s roadways.

About Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P. Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P., a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the world’s most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care products. Janssen Pharmaceutica has a long track record in developing and marketing treatments for central nervous system disorders, pain, fungal infections and gastrointestinal conditions. It is based in Titusville, N.J. More information on the company can be found at www.us.janssen.com.

About PowerLight Corporation PowerLight (www.powerlight.com) is the leading manufacturer of commercial-scale solar electric products and services. Founded in 1991, PowerLight's systems solutions deliver reliable, affordable clean power for commercial and government customers worldwide. Inc. Magazine has ranked the PowerLight Corporation among the top 500 fastest growing privately held companies in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Today, PowerLight has worldwide offices and a full line of commercial solar electric products.

There seems to be a conflict between this and the article from Hopewell Valley News. This PowerLight press release states that the installation reduced the State's power load by 6%, while the HVN claims it reduced Jennsen's power load by 6%.

Both cannot be true, and given that this is a 500KW installation the latter (HVN) must be correct.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Your right 600 houses is a stretch idividually, but if you intertie those 600 houses then it would be work unless everyone turned every electrical device in the 600 houses on at the same time.

They used 175 watt panels in a frameless mounting scheme....they mount the panel to interlocking adhesive R-10 insulation tile, which is adhered to a membrane coating applied to the roof.

Photowatt's 175 watt panel is approx. 49" x 42" which is about 4' x 3.5' or 14 square feet...in 67 square feet you could almost fit 5 such panels which would give you 875 watts max. That's roughly 7 amps@120V, tied in to the grid you in effect store any surplus you generate for use later, like a giant community battery.

[Dec31,1999]

Solar hot water systems are available now. Fossil fuels should not be used to heat hot water in Arizona and southern California, for example.

Success with already existing technology requires some amount of political will. The only technical problem with these solar systems is that they must be coordinated with back-up systems which use traditional means of heating water, especially in colder climates.

[biblewonk]

Wind power is so much better than solar power.