“All of the Above” Tops Agenda at TEXAS RENEWABLES 2013

In the Lone Star State the need for a full constellation of energy choices was the top topic as NARENCO President Dennis Richter traveled to Texas in November to attend TEXAS RENEWABLES 2013.  Water, food and forestry were among the many energy-related issues addressed at the conference, which explored how new technology and policy are driving big change in the renewables sector. Managing the intermittency of renewables with promising storage and grid advancements, noted Richter, will help solar meet the growing demand for “all of the above” development strategies. For more about the conference proceedings, visit here.

First Year Anniversary of NARENCO Canopy Installation Finds Transit Station Running Clean with Rooftop Solar

With experts from NARENCO on the job, a partnership including UNC-Charlotte and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) powered up a massive 1000-panel installation in November of 2012. One year later the 250 KW system successfully helps CATS provide five percent of electricity demand at its South Tryon Bus Maintenance Station. When NARENCO put the rooftop array in place, it relied on a design developed by a team of senior engineering students from UNC-Charlotte. So innovative was their work that CATS won a $1.0 million federal grant to launch the project. Review first-year results of solar energy output and related fossil-fuel offsets for the CATS project at this real-time dashboard.

It's A Winner: NARENCO Sponsors Top Pick as UrbanEden Takes First in Solar Decathlon "People's Choice" Competition

An innovative solar house two years in the making at UNC-Charlotte has won the 2013 “People’s Choice” award in the prestigious Solar Decathlon, a collegiate competition sponsored each year by the U.S. Department of Energy.  NARENCO President Dennis Richter served on the community steering committee for the project, known as UrbanEden. In providing technical and financial support to the student team, Richter was among the community leaders helping raise awareness of the team's work and funding needs.  Richter recently discussed UrbanEden and why it was important for NARENCO to be involved on WFAE’s Charlotte Talks.  To listen in, visit here.

NARENCO Backs November Flagship Conference as Silver Sponsor for 2013 Making Energy Work

North Carolina’s premier gathering of sustainable energy experts, 2013 Making Energy Work,  wrapped up on November 6 with fresh perspective on the latest developments affecting the future of the state's solar power sector.  Among the many issues addressed was the status of a new "template" to more predictably guide the launch of solar installations, and potential new markets opening for solar arrays to offset electricity demand from such major energy users as data centers and manufacturing facilities. As a Silver Sponsor, NARENCO was among the top-tier companies helping the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association bring together key policy, technical and finance leaders for this important two-day conference in Raleigh, NC. 

NARENCO President Dennis Richter Serves on Panel of Experts Discussing Solar Ordinances in NC

Pros and cons of a new model ordinance designed to more consistently guide permitting for solar projects was the topic as NARENCO President Dennis Richter provided essential industry perspective at a public forum held October 18 in Charlotte. For more about Richter’s views on how a model ordinance might impact North Carolina’s solar energy future, see coverage by the Charlotte Business Journal here.

NARENCO Debuts as #67 on Solar Power World's 2013 Top 250 Solar Contractors

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/top-250-solar-contractors/

NARENCO Leaps Into Developing Larger Solar Projects

NARENCO featured in Charlotte Business Journal article on Friday, September 20, 2013 ...

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2013/09/narenco-leaps-into-developing-larger.html

NARENCO Begins Construction of 6.4 MW DC Solar Farm in Warsaw, North Carolina

National Renewable Energy Corporation (NARENCO), a North Carolina based solar engineering, procurement and construction contractor, has begun construction of one of our state’s newest solar farms. On approximately 30 acres of land traditionally used for agricultural purposes, NARENCO is introducing a new kind of farming to the Warsaw community. 

NARENCO will be constructing the 6.4 MW DC solar photovoltaic energy systems over the next three months. NARENCO, along with local and regional subcontractors, will construct solar systems with minimal environmental impact that will generate clean energy for many years to come. The approximately 9,300 MWh per year of electricity to be generated by the systems will be sold to Duke Progress Energy to power hundreds of local homes and businesses. The systems are expected to be supplying power by December 31st of this year. 

Currently NARENCO has contracts to design and construct more than 32 MW of additional solar farms in eastern North Carolina by the first quarter of 2014. NARENCO’s commitment to renewable energy solutions is helping to keep our state at the forefront of this important industry.

NARENCO Completes Construction of 4.4 MW Solar Farm in Mount Airy, North Carolina

November 15, 2012

National Renewable Energy Corporation (NARENCO), a Charlotte based engineering, procurement and construction contractor, recently completed construction of the 4.4 MW Ararat Rock Solar Farm in Mount Airy, North Carolina.  O2 Energies, the developer and owner of the new Ararat Rock Solar Farm, chose NARENCO to construct the system on the 25 acre site.  "NARENCO is honored to have been selected to work with O2 Energies on the Ararat Rock Solar Farm.  We have designed and built the project to take advantage of the natural contours of the site, creating a stunning project for O2 Energies, Mt. Airy and Surry County", said Dennis Richter, president of NARENCO.

The approximately 6,288 MWh per year of electricity generated by the array is being sold to Duke Energy to power hundreds of local homes and businesses.  The new array is located next to the Ararat Rock Products quarry which has been in operation more than 60 years.  Due to proximity, much of the power produced by the array will be consumed by the rock quarry during operating hours.  Local sheep are maintaining the grass inside the fenced area while family farmers will work the land around the perimeter of the solar farm.

The Ararat Rock Solar Farm was built with more than 18,000 REC modules which are manufactured with US produced silicon.  In addition, Advanced Energy (AE) supplied the inverters that were manufactured in Colorado.  Surrey Bank & Trust, a local institution, provided debt financing and insurance, making it one of the first local banks to participate in financing a large solar farm in their own community.  O2 Energies worked with Surry Community College to provide workforce training for contractors and NARENCO utilized local labor and vendors during the 16 weeks of construction of the Ararat Rock Solar Farm.