SOLAR POWER
The Solar Project at the Liberty Center Title Office was designed as a pilot program to determine the cost-effectiveness and return on investment of such a project. Supporting the County’s goals to become more knowledgeable in solar generation, this project will also help county commissioners plan for the future. The solar pilot program includes turnkey installation of a 65,000-W (DC) solar array at the Liberty Center Title Office, grid interconnectivity and net metering, and submetering for performance evaluation.
The solar array will provide approximately 60% of all power to the facility. The solar modules and racking systems for this project are produced locally in Ohio. The initial installation supports the County’s sustainability goals and plans for future solar expansion while positively impacting return on investment.
In order to understand how solar power works, it is vitally important to know the difference between kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt-hours (kWh).
The difference between them is simple: kW are a measure of power, and kWh are a measure of energy (power output over time). For example, a space heater might require 1 kW of power to turn on. If it runs for one hour, it will use 1 kWh.
When we apply the same concept to solar, we consider the number of kW a solar panel array can generate under full sun. A 10-kW solar array can generate 10 kWh if it gets full sun for an hour.
