Syscom Tech is one of America’s leading contract manufacturers for integrated custom electronics. In 2011, they made efforts to alleviate high electricity costs and carbon emissions by installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at their headquarters in Moorestown, New Jersey. In order to accommodate the solar energy project, a new roof needed to be installed first.

The solar energy project was developed utilizing two government renewable energy programs, the Federal 1603 Grant, and New Jersey State’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program. Under the 1603 Renewable Energy program, the Federal Government pays a solar energy producer up to 30% of their total investment in the form of a grant or tax deduction. Through the state SREC program, a solar energy producer is awarded one SREC for every megawatt-hour of electricity generated. SRECs can then be sold for 15 years at a profit to electricity suppliers looking to satisfy state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements.

During the project feasibility study, AGT discovered that the pre-existing roof was deteriorating, and needed to be replaced prior to installing the solar array. To accomplish this, AGT leveraged their commercial roofing heritage and relationships to procure and install a new energy efficient thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roof system with a 20 year manufacturer’s warranty.

AGT completed the re-roof and solar installation in less than three months while satisfying budget requirements. The solar array can produce up to 187.9 megawatt hours of electricity, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 14 tons annually; resulting in more than $400,000 over 25 years and 2,805 SCRECs over 15 years.