Staples Center/Nokia Theatre

When Solar Power, Inc. and management at the Staples Center/NOKIA Theatre decided to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to reduce energy consumption and costs at the venues, they looked to Cupertino Electric's knowledge and expertise as the design/build contractor on the project. Most importantly, the center and Theatre needed a contractor who could successfully and safely engineer the grid-interactive systems to tie in to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). With more than 60 years of proven electrical contracting experience coupled with its solar power capabilities, Cupertino Electric was chosen by Solar Power, Inc. to provide a turn-key, grid-tied system to both Staples Center and NOKIA Theatre.

The project, located in Los Angeles, Calif., involved the new construction of a roof-mounted PV system. The project featured the build-out of a 512 kW solar PV system spanning across two separate sites. First of which was the Staples Center which housed more than 1,700- 200 watt modules feeding into an AE 333 Bipolar inverter; and the second at the Nokia Theatre, housing over 800- 200 watt modules and using two (2) Solectria inverters. Both systems are “grid-tied” as to sell any unused power back to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADDWP). Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI) served as the electrical engineer of record for this design/build, turn-key project.

Combined system details:

• Staples site: 1,700 200-Watt modules feeding into a 333 kilowatt (kW) bipolar inverter
• Combined system details: Nokia site: 800+ 200-Watt modules using two 82 kW inverters Power-generating capacity: 15,140,225 kWh of electricity over 20 years