CEO Zack Hobbs founded Carolina Solar Services in 2014, with a focus on electrical and vegetation maintenance services for North Carolina solar power assets. The company’s home base is in Durham, North Carolina and CSS has been active in North Carolina ever since its founding.
North Carolina was an early leader in utility scale solar projects. In 2007, North Carolina passed a renewable energy portfolio standard (REPS), and the state had a renewable energy tax credit which drove down production costs. The declining cost of solar panels also helped accelerate the North Carolina market. Favorable state standards saw many entrepreneurial energy companies take advantage of the market conditions.
In 2014 when CSS began operations, North Carolina had the second nation’s highest solar capacity in the country. A lot has happened since 2014. In October 2022, North Carolina passed HB 951; one of the law’s centerpieces is a 70 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 primarily achieved through the retirement of uneconomic coal plants. This carbon mandate in fact is the first one in the Southeast. North Carolina now ranks fourth for total solar energy capacity and according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) almost 2,400 MW of solar are expected within the next five years.
Many of North Carolina’s early utility scale solar projects are nearing the end of their useful life in part because North Carolina was one of the early leaders in utility scale solar deployment. Carolina Solar Services, though, can keep those assets going with our field maintenance team.
CSS is working on repowering projects for aging assets across the state. Whether repowering a single inverter or a full site, CSS has the expertise to guide a client through equipment selection, engineering, and installation. Federal tax credits are available to help fund repowering on aging assets and are ideal for clients undertaking larger repowering plans or adding energy storage systems.
Our field maintenance team also provides regular operational inspections, electrical maintenance, electrical repairs, transformer testing, and substation preventive maintenance. The CSS field maintenance team maintains the skills and qualifications to quickly remedy any maintenance issue, including a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners PV Installation Professional and a North Carolina Electrical Contractor License.
CSS has the capacity, talent, and experience to keep solar assets operating even as they age.
The importance of preventative operating and maintenance for solar assets cannot be overstated and ensures that several things are addressed:
1) Energy Production is Maximized: Regular maintenance maximizes energy output, which saves money
2) Downtime is Avoided: A well-maintained system is less likely to have downtime and failures, saving money and preventing disruptions
3) Safety is Assured: Regular maintenance of a system ensures it is operating safely and within electrical system standards
4) Long-Term Savings are Realized: Regular maintenance extends the life of a clean energy asset and reduces the probability of expensive repairs
For more information about our field maintenance team and how we can help you keep your clean energy asset performing effectively even as it ages – both in North Carolina or elsewhere – please reach out to us at BD@carolinasolar.services.