Overview: Offsetting 100% of Electrical Usage
FTI recently installed a 2.16-megawatt rooftop solar energy system atop its newly constructed Excellerate® building, the manufacturing brand of FTI, in Olathe, Kansas. With 4,320 solar panels and 30 roof-mounted inverters, this project is one of the largest of its kind in northeast Kansas. The primary objective is to offset 100% of the facility’s electrical usage by generating all required kilowatt-hours onsite. With this project, FTI aims to demonstrate to other industrial facilities that it’s possible to embrace renewable energy without compromising performance.
Challenges: Weather & Rooftop Safety
Weather in Olathe caused schedule setbacks, with snow delaying installation. There were also delays due to long-lead gear items, which required FTI to temporarily pull crew offsite. Additionally, working on a rooftop presents significant safety risks.
Solutions: Safety Planning & UL3741 Compliance
Safety is always a top priority and when working on a rooftop this meant creating a thorough safety plan to outline how to access the roof and what fall protection was in place.
One of the key innovations of the project was the utilization of UL3741 compliance. FTI eliminated the use of rapid shutdown devices by instead working with our Engineer, Procure, Construct team to design the solar system itself without the need for additional electronics. This helped to reduce material and labor costs while enhancing system reliability.
