North American Höganäs 

ARM completed a large-scale solar and battery storage feasibility study for North American Höganäs, Inc. (NAH) This comprehensive feasibility and engineering study evaluated the complex load profile of the NAH’s powdered steel production and ancillary facilities in Stony Creek, Saint Mary’s, and Johnstown, PA. The facility’s use of a large electric arc furnace results in significant load variability, which made a battery storage system economically viable. In the end, ARM’s recommendations included a 20MW single axis tracker system using bifacial panels on an adjacent piece of farmland and smaller solar carport systems located on the property, which combined offset 27% of NAH’s annual electrical load and resulted in a net reduction in energy costs.

• Reviewing the electrical profile and electricity pricing of the three facilities
• Completing a desktop analysis of the proposed sites using the site plans provided by NAH, boundary surveys, electrical schematics, and meter connection information to determine the feasibility of a solar and battery storage at each location
• Performing environmental, geotechnical, and permitting due diligence on the proposed development parcel for the 20 MWac system
• Modelling the financial benefits of including a 10MW or 30MWh battery storage system, which could participate in the PJM ancillary markets and provide additional revenue streams through economic and emergency demand response, frequency regulation and grid synchronization, while enabling better energy management with an electric arc furnace
• Coordinating with Penn State University to include a solar ecology research grant as part of the project
• Bidding out the proposed solar and storage project on behalf of NAH to multiple third-party solar and storage industry leaders to secure competitive power purchase agreements