Polar Racking’s PRU Ground Mounting System selected by BMR Energy as the best solution to withstand high wind loads
Polar Racking has been selected by BMR Energy as its foundation and mechanical installer to re-build the 6.4 megawatt Donoe Solar Farm in St. Thomas, USVI. Polar Racking’s scope includes the supply and installation of foundations and racking as well as foundation engineering, QA/QC, and on-site, and construction management services.
The U.S Virgin Islands utility-scale ground mount solar farm was originally built in 2014 and was one of several projects heavily damaged by Hurricane Irma and the subsequent Hurricane Maria in 2017. In the aftermath, the solar industry took the opportunity to review the impact of hurricanes and to improve the resiliency of ground-mount solar systems.
In a competitive bidding process, Polar Racking stood out because its PRU fixed-tilt racking system is engineered to handle the challenges posed by heavy loads from wind, high slopes, and a wide range of ground conditions.
David Perri, BMR’s Director of Engineering said, “As a long term owner and operator of its facilities, it was imperative for BMR to learn what contributed to the failures of the previous system and design the new facility with added resilience. Polar and BMR conducted an extensive site investigation and component testing program to support the design of the racking structures and foundations. BMR is confident that the new racking and module attachment system will withstand future weather events.”
Vishal Lala, Managing Director of Polar Racking, said, “We are very excited to work with a great company like BMR Energy and supply our product and services for the Donoe Solar Farm. As the solar industry learns from extreme weather events, it is important to design products that offer superior performance in locations with heavy environmental load conditions as seen in the Caribbean, Canada, and throughout the United States. Polar Racking is the right choice for long term project owners.”
Listen to our webinar on Ground Mount Solar for the Caribbean from March 18, 2021.
The site will start construction in Q2 2021 and is expected to be placed in service before the end of the year. Polar, accompanied by PRI Engineering, a geotechnical engineering consulting firm, visited the Island in October 2020 to conduct a detailed geotechnical investigation and foundation testing plan. Polar’s scope of work is expected to take three months to complete.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Janet Janzen at (416) 860-6722 x. 131 or email media@polarracking.com.
Project Details
Product Supply: Polar Racking PRU – Fixed Ground Mount & Driven round piles
Services: Construction Management, Foundation Design, Foundation Installation, Racking Assembly, Module Placement, Vegetation Control, Earthworks
Location: St. Thomas, USVI
Customer: BMR Energy (Virgin Group Company)
Size: 6.4 MW
Number of modules: 14,000
About Polar Racking
Polar Racking is a North American leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of PV mounting systems in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. The company has a diversified portfolio of rooftop, ground mount, and carport products for the residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets. With over 360 MW of PV mounting systems installed in North America and a pipeline of ~1,000 MW, Polar Racking is focused on developing innovative racking solutions that enable our clients to build and own systems at the lowest installed cost per kWh.
