Project Profile: Aztec Materials Electric Dredge and Solar Array

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Delaware Valley Concrete, a firm that specializes in producing exceptional-quality concrete and sand products for residential, commercial, and DOT projects. With nine plants located across the region, the firm takes on an impressive initiative to produce the most environmentally friendly concrete they can.

Under the Delaware Valle Concrete umbrella, Aztec Materials, situated on 300 acres of property in Hammonton, NJ is a sand mining operation consisting of a sandpit and, formerly, a diesel crane and dredge. The labor-intensive operation relied heavily on trucks to transport sand across the 300 acre site to screens that filtered our larger pieces.

Aztec Materials enlisted Practical Energy Solutions, SSM’s Energy team, to provide comprehensive energy and sustainability services, listed to the right. The site’s operation now leverages an ecologically sound electric dredge powered by a large solar array.

USDA REAP Energy Efficiency Grant | Our team acquired a $250,000 Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to purchase a new electric pump/dredge, to eliminate diesel fuel use.

USDA REAP Renewable Energy Grant | The second grant our team acquired for the client was in the amount of $327,000 for a solar photovoltaic array to power close to 100% of initial scope and reduce their environmental footprint. Aztec Materials has since expanded their operations, and the solar array covers the majority of the new total electricity demand. This solar array should last 20 to 25 years.

Project Benefits:

  • Increased production by around 500%

  • Reduced energy use and emissions from diesel to electricity

  • Annual savings of $180,000 in energy costs

  • Annual savings of $160,000 selling SREC

With energy cost savings, SREC savings and a 30% federal tax credit, the solar array paid for itself in under 4 years. In addition to satisfying a 10-year loan on the solar array, the client will have saved $1.8 million net. Converting the new dredge from grid electricity to solar electricity reduces its environmental impact to almost zero. Considering the towering electricity costs in southern New Jersey, the solar array provides a strong financial and economic benefit for the company, as well as an environmental benefit for the region.

“The solar array paid for itself in under 4 years. Converting the new dredge to solar electricity reduced its environmental impact to almost zero.”
 

Services Provided:

  • Grant acquisition services

    • Calculations on energy savings, energy use reductions and emissions

  • Engineering analysis

  • Financial services

    • Technical and financial review

    • Cash flow analysis

    • Life cycle analysis

  • Land development plan

  • Erosion and sedimentation control plans

  • Permitting support

  • Utility connection coordination

  • Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

    • Utility contract negotiation

    • Ongoing SREC quarterly applications

  • Inspection coordination

  • Solar array add-ons to monitor output

  • Reporting