Ground- and roof-mounted grid-tied photovoltaic generating system installed across the Claim University campus. The array comprises 12,480 monocrystalline modules feeding eight central inverters that tie into the campus 13.2kV distribution loop through a dedicated medium-voltage switchgear lineup. Generation offsets approximately 38% of campus demand with net metering to Eversource. The system is monitored 24/7 through a SCADA platform with remote disconnect capability.
Modules carry a 25-year linear performance warranty and 12-year product warranty (Qcells). Central inverters (SMA Sunny Central) are covered by a 10-year extended warranty with a 20-year service agreement. The medium-voltage step-up transformers carry a 5-year manufacturer warranty. All workmanship is warranted for 10 years by Greenskies.
Roof-mounted ballasted array sits on the field house TPO membrane, installed 2022. Membrane is in good condition with no observed ponding or penetrations beyond the array attachments. Walk pads are present between rows.
| Solar Energy System Site Security Controls | Response |
|---|---|
| Security system | Yes |
| Security guards | No |
| Surveillance cameras | Yes |
| Fencing | Yes |
| Solar Operations and Maintenance Controls | Response |
|---|---|
| Supervisory controls & data acquisitions | Yes |
| Vegetation management plan in place | Yes |
| Infrared inspections are performed | No |
Primary fire exposure is electrical: DC arc faults at module connectors and combiner boxes, and AC faults at the inverter and MV switchgear. Arc-fault detection and rapid shutdown are integrated at the string level per NEC 690.12. The MV switchgear room is protected by a clean-agent suppression system and is separated from occupied space by 2-hour rated construction. Vegetation under the ground array is maintained low to limit ground-fuel loading.
A written emergency response plan specific to the PV system is maintained and shared with the Hartford Fire Department. It documents array disconnect/rapid-shutdown locations, MV isolation procedures, and a site plan with labeled access roads. Annual tabletop drills are conducted with campus security and the local fire marshal.
Hartford is exposed to nor'easters, occasional hurricane remnants, and seasonal hail. Modules are rated for 25mm hail at 23 m/s and a 2,400 Pa wind load. The ground array sits above the FEMA 500-year flood elevation; the roof array drains freely. Freeze/thaw cycling is monitored for ballast block movement during annual inspections.
Preventive maintenance is performed quarterly: visual module inspection, torque checks on a sampled basis, inverter filter service, combiner-box thermography, and vegetation control. Annual electrical testing includes IV-curve tracing of sampled strings and MV switchgear maintenance. SCADA alarms generate same-day dispatch for inverter trips or production anomalies.
A bonded spare-parts cache is maintained on site in a locked conex: 120 replacement modules (~1% of installed), two spare string combiners, fuses, and connector kits. Spare central-inverter power blocks are held at the O&M provider's regional depot with a contractual 48-hour delivery SLA.
No major renovation since the system became operational in 2022. A firmware upgrade to the inverter fleet and addition of two SCADA-integrated weather stations were completed in 2024.
| Grade | Score | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Average (lower) | Average (lower) | Undesirable - Above Average |
Obtain and retain on file a stamped structural engineering analysis confirming the field house roof can support the additional dead load of the ballasted PV array under applicable snow and wind loading. No PE letter was available at the time of survey. Verification protects against structural overload during a heavy-snow event and supports the property values placed on the schedule.
Establish a documented annual infrared inspection of modules, combiner boxes, inverters, and the MV switchgear. Thermography is the most reliable means of detecting developing hot spots, loose connections, and failing components before they become arc-fault or fire sources. The current program performs combiner-box thermography only on a sampled basis.
Document a written post-severe-weather inspection protocol, including drone or walk-down module survey and IV-curve sampling after any hail event exceeding the module rating. Hartford's hail exposure and the large module count warrant a defined, repeatable post-event procedure to identify micro-cracking and back-sheet damage that degrade output and create fire risk over time.
Recommendations above are tracked to closure with the account contact. Important items are targeted for completion prior to the renewal effective date; advisory items are reviewed at the next scheduled survey. The account has historically been responsive to risk control guidance, and management has acknowledged the open items at the closing conference.
| Contents Type | Limits/Values ($) | PML % | PML Amount ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PV Modules & Racking | 5,200,000 | 35% | 1,820,000 |
| Inverters & MV Switchgear | 2,400,000 | 80% | 1,920,000 |
| Balance of System / Wiring | 900,000 | 40% | 360,000 |
Medium-voltage switchgear lineup, adjacent four-unit central inverter bank, and the roof-mounted array on the field house.
An arc-fault originating in the MV switchgear propagates to the adjacent central inverter bank before clean-agent suppression and rapid shutdown isolate the fault. Damage is bounded by 2-hour rated separation and the segmented DC architecture, limiting the loss to roughly half of generating capacity plus the switchgear lineup. The dominant driver of total loss is the lead time to replace medium-voltage equipment and a central inverter power block, which extends the business-income (lost generation / replacement-power) period.