CS Energy has completed the largest solar project in New Jersey. CS Energy designed, procured and installed the power plant, creating a tailored worksite.
The project owner, Ben Moreell solar farm and Department of the Navy (DON), leased approximately 170 acres of underutilized land for the development of a 28.5 MW ground-mount project at Naval Weapons Station Earle (NWS Earle), in Tinton Falls.
At construction height, CS Energy’s team of local workers safely installed a 4,000 solar panels every day.
CS Energy will install a separate meter solar system directly connecting to the NWS Earle utility grid, supplying renewable energy to DON to support operations.
The Ben Moreell solar farm on NWS Earle was built as part of the Navy’s energy resiliency initiative. The solar project will be directly connected to the local utility grid, owned by Vitol Green Holdings, a subsidiary of global energy and commodities group Vitol Holdings.
The clean power plant can be adapted to power the base, which has a combined workforce of more than 1.500 civilian, military, and contractor staff, in the event of an emergency.
“With close to 1 GW of solar capacity installed worldwide, CS Energy is a proven partner for delivering solar power projects that maximize use of the terrain while offering high levels of output. Their attention to safety, efficiency and customer service enabled us to deliver the NWS Earle project in record time.”
R. Andrew de Pass, head of renewables for Vitol.
The NWS Earle plant is one of the company’s largest. In total CS Energy has installed more than 80 MW of solar energy projects on U.S. bases across the globe.
“Having access to reliable, sustainable and renewable sources of energy, like solar power, helps our Navy improve our energy security, operational capability, strategic flexibility and resource availabilities. We are equally pleased this is the largest solar project in the state, to date, and it contributes to New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan.”
Capt. Pierre A. Fuller, commanding officer NWS Earle.
The Ben Morrell initiative is contributing to the 2020 Energy Master Plan for New Jersey, which seeks to generate 100 percent of its electricity from renewable, carbon-neutral sources by 2050. The Energy Master Plan is the first of a series of ambitious steps to ensure the state produces and regulates its energy resources in a manner compatible with economic, climate, and societal demands.
“I’m proud of our team for once again safely complying with heightened military regulations and delivering a turnkey solar project. We are honored to help the US Navy, Vitol, and our home state of New Jersey increase their use of solar power.”
Matthew Skidmore, CEO of CS Energy.
