ERS and Steinway & Sons Install the World’s Largest Commercial Rooftop Solar-Powered Dual-Purpose Heating & Cooling System
May 19, 2009
ERS is currently working with Steinway & Sons to install the largest solar-sourced industrial heating/cooling system in the world at the renowned piano maker’s 11-acre manufacturing complex in Long Island City, NY. ERS conceived the design and approached Steinway with the project.
The system works by collecting the sun’s rays with 38 rooftop solar concentrating troughs that reflect and focus the energy onto receiver tubes through which a thermal fluid circulates. Once the liquid reaches 340°F, the system pumps it to a high performance 100-ton double-effect absorption chiller that uses the superheated water to develop a chilled water supply through a highly specialized process. The chilled water will be used to provide cool air and dehumidification to help maintain the consistent environment required for Steinway’s piano manufacturing.
Another unique facet of this solar-powered system is that when cooling/dehumidification is not needed, the solar hot water can be converted to steam for process or space heating purposes in the factory. “You don’t see many renewable projects targeted at the industrial sector,” says Mark D’Antonio, Vice President of ERS. “However this type of system makes great sense when you can utilize the solar energy year-round. Steinway has seasonal loads for both heating and cooling/dehumidification, and they always have process loads. Anytime the sun shines, they can put the energy to good use.”
Since this sustainable project is being installed in New York City, not typically considered a premier solar location, innovative features have been used to optimize the system. The collectors automatically track the sun across the sky, ensuring a maximum amount of sunlight collection. And for those cloudy days when there is very little direct sunlight, the dual-fuel chiller can use natural gas power instead of solar to operate. “Although one might not consider New York City to be the sunshine capital of the US,” D’Antonio says, “there are adequate solar resources for this type of system. Couple this with high regional energy costs, available funding sources, and tax benefits, and this system becomes a good business proposition.”
The project is being partially funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and federal tax benefits, which, combined with Steinway’s cost share, result in a simple payback of less than 5 years. ERS and NYSERDA will study the performance of this innovative system in order to advance and promote the technology with hopes that it will be suitable for wide adoption and implementation at other commercial and industrial facilities.
