O&G powers quarry with solar energy

The solar array is made of 3,762 panels and sits on five acres. Photo: O&G Industries

The aggregate industry just got a little greener.

Connecticut-based O&G Industries recently went live with a 1.3-megawatt solar array at its quarry in Southbury, Connecticut.

The 3,762-panel array is coupled with a 280-kW energy storage system that is designed to help augment supply during peak demand cycles. This can be useful during early-morning hours when startup of quarry and asphalt plant operations peaks demand but the sun isn’t strong enough to generate at full capacity.

The solar array sits on five acres and will produce the energy equivalent necessary to power 150 homes.

The project is one of three solar projects that O&G developed. The quarry’s solar installation is the first of its kind in the state, according to the company. Solar arrays were also been installed on the rooftops of the company’s fleet maintenance facility in Torrington and mason supply showroom in Bridgeport.

The company made sustainability a priority last year, taking on several other energy-saving initiatives. In places such as New Milford and Stamford, the company is upgrading burner controls, adding variable frequency fan drives, eliminating air leaks and installing insulation on tanks and piping at the company’s asphalt plants. When the upgrades are completed, the plants are expected to achieve much greater energy efficiency.

O&G completed the project in collaboration with Eversource, Solect Energy and EnelX.

According to O&G, it is Connecticut’s largest privately-held construction company and one of the U.S. top 400 construction firms. It specializes in heavy civil construction services, building construction services, construction materials manufacturing and distributing, and mason products.