Solar Array at South Cary Water Reclamation Facility

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South Cary Solar Array

Expansive solar farm with numerous panels surrounded by dense forest, under a cloudy sky. The setting conveys a sense of sustainability and innovation.

The South Cary Water Reclamation Solar Array was placed in service in December 2012 and has a capacity to generate 2,150 MWh of electricity annually. This system consists of nearly 6,000 solar panels that generate enough energy to offset roughly 1,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The power generated is returned to the distribution grid as a renewable energy source.

During the initial phase, Cary leased approximately eight acres to FLS Energy with no upfront costs or maintenance costs during the life of the lease. Cary purchased the system in 2022, further advancing renewal energy initiatives.

Background

Beginning in 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS), which mandates that electric utilities meet 12.5 percent of their electricity needs from renewable sources. This act has furthered the development of private infrastructure to generate renewable energy for sale to Utilities.

Following this legislative action, Cary investigated installing renewable energy generation equipment, specifically a photovoltaic system. The South Cary Water Reclamation Facility (SCWRF) was selected based on available space, suitability for efficient solar energy collection with no impact on operations, and future expansion plans.

FLS Energy was selected as its solar energy partner. FLS Energy had considerable local experience developing solar projects in North Carolina, including installations at SAS and numerous rooftop projects in the Triangle area. In 2016, FLS Energy was purchased by Cypress Creek Renewables, which subsequently took over the operation of the solar installation at the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility. Cypress Creek Renewables is one of the nation's leading developers of solar projects.

In 2022, Cary became the proud owner of the 2.15-megawatt solar facility at SCWRF through an asset purchase agreement with Cypress Creek Renewables. The acquisition aligns with Cary's commitment to advancing renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.

Energy Production

The table below shows the kWh produced by month.

	2026	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
January	66,800	128,300	134,700	104,000	130,700	113,900	127,500
February	52,600	134,700	173,300	120,200	159,100	120,500	128,100
March	112,000	216,000	213,700	173,700	203,200	188,100	169,500
April	209,000	238,000	195,700	182,000	268,700	255,600	228,100
May		222,000	164,989	177,100	257,200	230,200	223,100
June		248,000	258,899	149,700	255,500	225,600	225,700
July		242,000	234,000	230,100	204,600	242,000	258,000
August		203,000	184,000	225,800	169,900	206,400	211,600
September		186,000	121,000	182,300	129,100	198,600	179,000
October		172,000	137,000	181,600	166,500	171,800	173,000
November		147,000	88,400	136,760	123,400	163,600	132,400
December		68,000	79,000	115,145	90,700	114,300	114,900