Johnson & Johnson
The Challenge
Committed to environmental stewardship for several decades, Johnson & Johnson has a company credo: “We must maintain in good order the property we are privileged to use, protecting the environment and natural resources.” With a 2.2 megawatt co-generation system already in place, J&J PRD wanted to further their commitment to the environment by increasing their use of renewable-energy systems.
Living up to their credo, the 122,000 square-feet Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, L.L.C. (J&J PRD) facility in San Diego, California, has a history of achievement in energy and carbon dioxide reduction. The facility achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and ISO-1400 certifications, and won several awards for their energy and environmental performance.
SPG Solar stepped in to help them achieve their next goal.
The Solution
SPG Solar proposed a 243 kilowatt (kW), roof-mounted DC solar PV system that would offset 10 percent of the annual electricity consumption at J&J PRD—in addition to the 90 percent offset by their existing co-generation system. This helps to completely offset the building’s net annual energy consumption and makes the facility carbon neutral.
SPG Solar designed and built the system using a non-penetrating roof mounting system that not only created an aesthetically pleasing design, but also satisfied the strict City of San Diego building height requirements. Oriented to face south in order to maximize sunlight collection all year, the 1,216 Kyocera 200 watt solar modules are tilted to allow ventilation by the cooling winds from the adjacent valley and lessen excess heat that can cause electrical resistance in solar panels, reducing their efficiency.
To help cover the cost of the project, J&J PRD was eligible for performance-based incentive funding from the California Solar Initiative Program. Funding will be paid out over the first five years of system operation from the California Center for Sustainable Energy. The project marks a significant milestone for the California Solar
Initiative Program, with J&D PRD as the first recipient of this type of incentive fund.
The Benefits
The system is expected to generate annual energy savings of approximately $50,000, depending on how quickly electricity rates increase. By producing this much power, J&J PRD offsets a portion of the facility’s net annual electricity bill, and helps protect itself from future energy price hikes. With a panel degradation warranty for 20 years, in addition to the 40+ year expected lifespan, the system will continue to provide energy long after it pays for itself.
The Green Line
The 243 kW DC solar PV system at J&J PRD offsets 473,994 pounds of carbon dioxide that would have been emitted into the atmosphere annually by a fossil fuel power plant. At peak performance, the J&J PRD solar energy system generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of 80 homes. This is equivalent to removing 47 passenger cars from the road, or preventing 500 barrels of oil from being burned each year. It would require 179 acres of forest to store this much CO2 from the atmosphere.
