For about 12 hours complete final week, about 11,400 properties and companies within the Fort Kent area have been absolutely powered by photo voltaic vitality.
It occurred over a four-hour interval on Wednesday afternoon and twice extra within the following days.
Versant Power spokeswoman Judy Long stated it is a first for the utility, and it could possibly be one of many first occasions in Maine the place a area has operated for a time frame utilizing solely photo voltaic vitality.
Northern Maine has grow to be a hotbed for photo voltaic growth, Long stated.
“The worth of the land above is engaging,” he stated. “We have areas the place farmland is now not out there, and in order that’s clearly a great place for photo voltaic on the lookout for large open areas of land, land that is inexpensive, land that may not be as tight. what could be accomplished. So we see numerous demand in our Maine Public district for interconnection.
The utility expects there might be extra days sooner or later the place the Fort Kent area is absolutely powered by photo voltaic vitality, particularly when temperatures are delicate and demand for heating or air con is low.
“Spring is very good for photo voltaic manufacturing as we perceive it, as a result of the panels do essentially the most work when it is not too scorching or too, too chilly,” Long stated.
Throughout Versant’s service space, builders made about 1,780 interconnection requests and added 140 megawatts of photo voltaic vitality to the grid. Long stated the utility is working to increase its capability for photo voltaic. In northern Maine alone, there are sufficient excellent interconnection requests the place photo voltaic vitality can present twice the quantity of electrical energy wanted within the area throughout peak demand days, stated Long.
