Assessing and Enabling Solar Site
Energy Monitoring and Visualization

Lane Steel, a small family-owned flat-rolled steel distributor, and service center operating a 375,000-square-foot facility, wanted to enhance the data resolution of its energy operations. The OEM installer of a rooftop-mounted 273 kW solar site was unable to provide performance monitoring, which limited the ability of Lane Steel’s operations team to evaluate the solar site’s impact on its utility bills and energy savings. Lane Steel required a rapid assessment and off-the-shelf solutions for ongoing system performance monitoring.

Challenge

Lacking clear historical data on the solar site’s performance, Lane Steel needed to address several challenges:

1. Perform an end-to-end health-assessment of the site hardware and software
2. Troubleshoot or replace any faulty equipment
3. Install a cost-efficient, energy monitoring package

Solution

The team’s first step was to physically evaluate the site hardware and its performance. The evaluation uncovered a non-functioning inverter preventing the conversation of the solar panel’s voltage from DC into usable AC. 

Next, the team fixed the inverter and implemented an off-the-shelf NextEra 360 energy monitoring package that established real time data tracking of total solar generation, inverter generation, building load and total energy consumption. A display was added to the building lobby enabling the organization to visualize system performance and highlight to customers Lane Steel’s focus on environmental sustainability.

Implementation Timeline

Within 1 month