PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The new array generates enough electricity to meet approximately 20 percent of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s electricity needs.

After Pope Francis invited the Catholic Church to take steps to promote sustainability, the Archdiocese of Baltimore took immediate action by commissioning the construction of a new 5.4 MW solar array at Perryman Station in Harford County, Maryland. Constellation Solar, one of Maryland’s leading electrical utilities, hired Conti to design and construct the new system.

Conti performed engineering and construction services for the ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) system. The team completed the project on a very tight two-month schedule despite having to relocate to a different site early on. The installation was originally planned for a site in Sykesville, Maryland when Perryman was deemed more suitable. This called for extensive re-engineering, including redesign of the electrical package and racking layout to incorporate an additional 33 kV Eaton Switchgear lineup.

The solar PV system was made up of 17,708 panels, 932 pre-wired strings and two inverter skids with three inverters each on 17 acres of land. The project also involved the installation of underground conduits under and around high pressured gas lines and water lines.

Now that Conti has completed the project, the Archdiocese is purchasing the electricity generated by the solar panels from Constellation under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement.