Renewable Energy World Review’s Renu’s New Belgium Project

Renewable Energy World Review’s Renu’s New Belgium Project

New Belgium Brewing has installed a 446 kW solar PV system at its Asheville, North Carolina facility.

Installed by Renu Energy Solutions, the rooftop solar system features 1,063 modules capable of generating an estimated 620,000 kWh of electricity annually, about 10% of the onsite energy needs for New Belgium’s brewery, water treatment plant, and tasting room.

To continue reading, visit Renewable Energy World’s page that covers our New Belgium project.

New Belgium Brewing adds solar to North Carolina facility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Metering Vs Time Of Use

Net Metering Vs Time Of Use

Net metering and Time of Use (TOU) are two different billing mechanisms used by utilities to compensate homeowners who generate their own electricity using solar panels.

Net metering allows homeowners to send excess electricity generated by their solar panels back to the grid, and receive credits on their utility bill for the electricity they’ve contributed. Essentially, the homeowner is only paying for net electricity used (i.e., the difference between the electricity generated and consumed).

Time of Use billing, on the other hand, is based on the time of day and the season when electricity is used. Electricity rates are higher during peak hours when demand is high and lower during off-peak hours when demand is low. With TOU billing, homeowners who generate their own electricity can choose to use it during peak hours when electricity rates are high, and sell excess electricity back to the grid during off-peak hours.

In summary, net metering is a simple way to compensate homeowners for the excess electricity they generate, while Time of Use billing allows homeowners to potentially save money by consuming or selling electricity during times when rates are favorable.In North Carolina and South Carolina, both net metering and Time of Use (TOU) billing are available options for homeowners who generate their own electricity using solar panels.

North Carolina has implemented net metering policies that allow homeowners to receive credits on their utility bill for the excess electricity generated by their solar panels and sent back to the grid. The credits are based on the retail rate for electricity and are applied to the homeowner’s next bill.

South Carolina also has net metering policies in place, with some utilities offering TOU billing as an alternative option. With TOU billing in South Carolina, homeowners can potentially save money by consuming or selling electricity during times when rates are lower.

It’s important to note that the specific policies and regulations regarding net metering and TOU billing in North Carolina and South Carolina can vary by utility, so it’s recommended to check with your local utility for more information

Press Release – New Belgium Brewing Continues Major North Carolina Investments with Solar Installation at Asheville Brewery

Press Release – New Belgium Brewing Continues Major North Carolina Investments with Solar Installation at Asheville Brewery

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New Belgium Brewing Continues Major North Carolina Investments with Solar Installation at Asheville Brewery

The installation, completed by local solar company, Renu Energy Solutions, highlights the economic impact of clean  energy on local communities 

(Asheville, North Carolina – May 18th, 2022) – New Belgium Brewing today announced the completion of a large  solar installation at its Asheville, N.C., brewery – the latest in a long string of investments that began in 2014 when  the company completed construction on the 18.2-acre LEED Gold Certified brewery complex. The new 446 KW  Solar PV system, installed by Renu Energy Solutions, includes 1,063 modules spanning the facility’s 114,000 square foot roof, producing an estimated 620,000 kWh of electricity annually. 

The solar installation builds on other major investments at New Belgium’s Asheville brewery in the past two years – including a new canning line added in 2020, ten additional tanks to expand barrelage capacity installed just this  spring, and a beer garden expansion project debuting this summer – all which have enabled the creation of 50 new  jobs at New Belgium Asheville in the past two years alone. In addition, New Belgium has donated more than $1.4  million to 200 nonprofits across North Carolina since 2005 through the company’s longstanding commitment to give away $1 per barrel of beer sold

“As we celebrate 10 years since announcing our move to Asheville with a brewery designed for rooftop solar,  we’re thrilled to make good on our commitment to add more renewable energy to the grid,” said Jay Richardson,  General Manager of New Belgium Brewing Asheville. “We’re inspired by so many North Carolina businesses that  have and will continue to make climate investments in our community, and we hope our own contributions to  climate action and resilience will help ensure Asheville remains a great place to live, work, visit, and drink world class, locally brewed beer for decades to come.” 

“The climate crisis is already harming our coworkers, our communities, and our customers here in Asheville and  across the country – not to mention threatening the future of beer itself,” said Katie Wallace, Director of  Environmental and Social Impact at New Belgium Brewing. “Renewable energy is an economic driver for  businesses like New Belgium and our outstanding local partners at Renu, and for residents in need of good-paying  jobs and clean air and water.” 

The new solar installation in Asheville more than doubles the solar power that New Belgium previously provided across both breweries, building on the company’s first rooftop solar initiative at its original Fort Collins brewery  back in 2010. Over 25 years, the renewable energy now being produced in Asheville will offset roughly 11,100 tons  of carbon dioxide, equivalent to eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 2,200 passenger cars  annually – or the CO2 emissions produced by around 1.1 million gallons of gasoline – according to the EPA’s  Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies calculator. 

Climate change is a clear and catastrophic threat to the economy, our health, our communities, and the planet. Its  impacts are already widely experienced across business and society, and the science is clear that these impacts will  worsen in the coming decades. No industry is untouched by these impacts, but beer is especially at odds with this  new world. Traditional ingredients like barley would be far more expensive as growing regions shrink due to  increased temperatures. Extreme weather events and constant drought would cause the loss of entire crop years,  making perishable ingredients like hops and malt rare, at best.  

New Belgium embarked on its climate action journey three decades ago, as part of the company’s founding  principles established in 1991. Most recently, New Belgium’s flagship Fat Tire became America’s first certified  carbon neutral beer in 2020, and the company simultaneously committed to make the entire business carbon neutral by 2030. The company has published the entirety of its carbon neutral blueprint for businesses on  drinksustainably.com, a website dedicated to helping others join New Belgium on the road to carbon neutrality.  Building on a longstanding philanthropy and advocacy program. New Belgium first embarked on solar in 2010 with  a 200kW rooftop array on top of its Fort Collins brewery and later added a 96kW solar array in 2015. In 2014, they opened their LEED-certified brewery in Asheville. Solar panels were installed atop the liquid center when the  brewery was constructed, with plans to later add an additional array atop the brewhouse and production facility.  

Asheville’s recent solar installation was completed by Renu Energy Solutions. Headquartered in Charlotte, North  Carolina, Renu is the leading solar and energy storage installer in the Carolinas. The array at New Belgium  comprises of 420W solar panels and is Renu’s largest brewery install to date. Renu is also working on a solar  installation at New Belgium’s east coast distribution center in Enka, NC. Once complete, the 503.2kW PV array will consist of 1,184 panels. 

“We are honored to serve as New Belgium Brewing’s installation partner for their spectacular solar project in  Asheville, NC,” said Jay Radcliffe, CEO of Renu Energy Solutions. “With our shared commitment to the Asheville  community, our partnership with New Belgium showcases building renewable energy directly within a community,  placing clean energy production closest to where energy is consumed.”  

To learn more about New Belgium’s climate history and current initiatives, or to download the carbon neutral  toolkit, visit https://www.drinksustainably.com/.  

  

About New Belgium Brewing 

New Belgium was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colo., by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who built her company the  only way a social worker would: People first. From the beginning, New Belgium established norms that were and  still are rare in the business world: fully paid healthcare premiums for all coworkers, paying a living wage, open book management, renewable energy sourcing, a free onsite medical clinic staffed by a doctor trained in trans  medicine, and much more – practices that, all together, represent a unique ‘human-powered’ business model that  has expanded over the years, especially in advocating for human-powered business practices among larger  companies. New Belgium is a certified B Corp with a 2030 Net Zero goal, maintains TRUE Zero Waste certification and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The company expanded to Asheville, N.C., in 2016; Denver,  Colo., in 2018, and San Francisco in 2021, and is currently the fastest-growing craft brewer in America. The  company is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger  IPA (America’s #1 IPA brand), Dominga Mimosa Sour, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; as well as an award-winning  wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about the full product lineup and  New Belgium’s Human Powered Business model, visit NewBelgium.com. 

About Renu Energy Solutions  

Renu Energy Solutions, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the leading solar and energy storage installer in the  Carolinas. Recognized by Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, Renu provides  high-quality residential, commercial, and non-profit renewable energy solutions throughout the Southeast United  States. With over 4,100 solar energy installations and 250 5-star reviews, Renu is the premium solar and energy  storage firm empowering a more sustainable community. To learn more, visit  

https://renuenergysolutions.com/ 

Most Expensive Running Appliances Ranked

Most Expensive Running Appliances Ranked

Most Expensive Running Appliances Ranked 

High Energy Bills

Within the past year, energy bills have skyrocketed to a record high, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. Each appliance in a home contributes to the monthly bill as energy is pulled from the grid to supply each appliance. Without a PV solar system producing energy for the home, appliances rely solely on the utility grid for power. Here are some of the most expensive running appliances ranked lowest to highest.

5. Refrigerator + Freezer – $5.10 per month (24/7) 

4. Washing Machine – $5.40 per month (family of 4)

3. Tumble Dryer – $7.20 per month (family of 4)

2. Electric Heater – $9.00 per month (2 hours/day)

1. Air Conditioner – $73.80 per month (2 hours/day)

Cutting Down Costs

When each appliance requires a certain amount of energy to run, a customer’s energy bill adds up quickly. Customers in the south pay an average of $885.60 a year on their air conditioning unit alone. Sure there are other ways to cut down on an energy bill like using appliances at off peak times or using cold water for laundry, but installing a PV solar system with energy storage is the best step a customer takes to conserve energy and take control of rising energy costs.

Take Control

Producing energy with solar rather than relying on the utility grid cuts costs for each appliance.If a customer has goals of cutting down their electricity bill, a solar energy consultant will help design a system that produces enough energy to offset the amount of energy pulled from the grid. The only fee this kind of customer expects is the meter connection fee. With PV and energy storage, customers control where their energy gets used. For example, customers can store energy being sent to a washer that isn’t in use. Stored energy can be saved to use in emergencies or send back to the utility company for credits.

Learn More

One thing all homeowners have in common is their need for powered appliances. Rising costs make monthly bills more daunting, but a PV solar system with energy storage relieves the stress of paying high energy bills. To learn more about installing a PV solar system with energy storage, click the link here!

Which Solar Battery is Best for Your Home?

Which Solar Battery is Best for Your Home?

Choosing a Solar Battery for Your Home

Many solar owners have opted to install a solar battery with their system to provide their home with a source of energy storage and backup power for when you need it most. With so many great options available, you may be asking yourself, “What solar battery is best for my home?” Before making a choice, you should know a little bit about each type of solar battery and how it would benefit your home and meet your individual energy needs. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the most common types of solar batteries and how they work, giving you some insight as to which one would be best for your home!

What is a Solar Battery?

A solar battery is a device that stores excess energy produced by solar panels, allowing you to use it after sundown, during power outages and rolling blackouts, and other scenarios in which you need energy to power your home. For those whose homes are tied to the grid, a solar battery’s stored energy is the difference between losing power altogether or being able to keep the lights on, even when the rest of your neighborhood is in the dark. If your home isn’t tied to the grid at all, you need a solar battery to store energy because you won’t be able to pull from the grid when you need it. There are several types and sizes of solar batteries, and the larger capacity your battery has, the more energy it is capable of storing. 

What are the Types of Solar Batteries?

Most of the options on the market today fall under four main types: lithium ion batteries, flow batteries, lead acid batteries, and nickel cadmium batteries.  

  • Lithium Ion Batteries

    These solar batteries have become increasingly popular in the last few years because of their long lifespans and the fact that they require little to no maintenance. They’re capable of storing more energy in smaller spaces than lead acid batteries can. A famous example of a lithium ion battery is the Tesla Powerwall, of which Renu is a proud installer!
  • Flow Batteries

    Flow batteries contain a liquid within that powers them and tend to be rather large, so they’re not ideal for residential installations. For commercial solar projects that have more space and require more energy, these are a great option. 
  • Lead Acid Batteries

    Lead acid batteries were invented in 1860, making them easy to dispose of if needed. They’re also probably the cheapest option when it comes to energy storage, but require regular maintenance and have a relatively short lifespan (between 5 and 10 years, depending on how well they’re cared for).
  • Nickel Cadmium Batteries

    These types of batteries are very durable and capable of operating at extreme temperatures, but cadmium is a very toxic chemical and they’re hard to dispose of properly. These are not used for residential purposes. 

The Best Solar Battery for Your Home

With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which solar battery best fits your home and its energy needs. We’ll walk you through some of the most popular batteries on the market:

  • Tesla Powerwall

    The Tesla Powerwall, sized for day-to-day use, can store up to 13.5 kWh of solar energy produced by your solar panels. The Powerwall is capable of detecting outages before they affect your home, disconnecting from the grid and restoring power to your home before you even know it! With two Tesla Powerwalls, you’re able to power your home with your own stored energy for 7+ days. Renu Energy Solutions has been a certified Tesla installer since 2016, so if you’re interested in this solar battery, contact us today!
  • Generac PWRcell

    The Generac PWRcell is another excellent option for residential energy storage. It’s capable of storing up to 10 kWh of power making it a great alternative for those whose homes don’t require as much energy as the Tesla Powerwall would provide. This solar battery is covered by a warranty of 10 years and will continue to power your home in the event of a grid outage! For more information on the Generac PWRcell, contact Renu today for an energy storage consultation. 
  • Enphase Encharge

    The Enphase Encharge line has several solar batteries to choose from, with the Encharge 3 providing 3.36 kWh of stored energy and the Enphase 10 providing 10.08 kWh. This battery is great for powering your home day-to-day and storing excess energy in the event of a blackout or grid outage. Plus, it comes with a 10 year or 4,000 cycles warranty!

Energy Storage with Renu Energy Solutions

Because of the convenience, peace of mind, and reliability that a solar battery provides, many solar customers choose one to accompany their solar panel system. With the ability to continue to power your home even when the grid is down, solar batteries offer energy independence to homeowners across the county. If you’re interested in installing a solar battery backup system to pair with your solar system, contact us today for a free consultation! We’d be happy to help you on your journey to energy independence.