Sustainable Power
Solar Energy Demonstrates Power and Savings for Louisiana Cat
In order to grow their customer base, Louisiana Cat’s energy and transportation division needed an energy solution that would position them as product experts while offering the best service to their consumers. They chose a hybrid energy solution that generates solar power, which could be easily demonstrated to potential customers. This would also deliver vital power to its New Iberia facility, operating within a hurricane susceptible area near the Gulf of Mexico.
The solar installation includes 1,550 Cat® PVT115 photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of the facility, powering five 30 kW SMA string inverters. The team also incorporated a Cat 400 kW gas generator set and an automatic transfer switch (ATS) for standby power. Connected to the local grid, the system enables Louisiana Cat to sell power back to the local utility.
The photovoltaic array at the New Iberia facility can produce a maximum output of 150 kW on a clear day. Within the first two months, Louisiana Cat saved $7,254 in utility costs and produced over 75 megawatt hours of energy.
According to Mike Jennings, general manager of Louisiana Cat, that translates into a net carbon reduction of 57 tons. “You can see the benefit from green technology almost immediately,” said Jennings. “We are more or less walking the talk by installing and operating our own microgrid.”