Sabert Corporation

“Thank you for all your help. You pulled it off for us.”

- Burton Schaeffer, Director of Construction

The Challenge
In 2010 Sabert contracted for a 325 kW DC system to reduce the power load of its massive Riverside, CA food processing and cold storage plant. The rebate for this renewable energy system was secured. With 30 days left before the rebate deadline, the company found itself with parts and pieces of a solar power system and lost energy generation on from the nonfunctioning system. Sabert’s director of construction, Burt Schaeffer, turned to HelioPower to salvage the pieces of the solar power system in time to save the company’s rebate.

The Solution – Finish Construction to Secure Rebate
The first task was to audit all aspects of the project. This included the inspection and verification of construction to date including all electrical circuitry, inventory on-hand, system components, and the status of engineering and blueprints. HelioPower orchestrated an extension of the rebate with the Riverside Public Utility and then verified the paperwork trail to ensure successful rebate processing.

Third party components were tracked down and a difficult installation was completed, including placement of over 6000 cement ballasts. Utility paperwork processing was completed. HelioPower was able to complete the solar power project within the extended timeframe thus enabling Sabert to successfully claim their rebate.

Power Generation Monitoring
The next step in the process was to empower Sabert with energy generation information. The PV system was put on monitoring software to provide energy data and to enable HelioPower to track the system’s performance.

Asset Management
The last step of the process was to put the Sabert Riverside power plant on an on-going asset management contract. Operations and maintenance to date has included cleaning of the solar panels, as pictured in the “before /after” photo. The dusty inland conditions where the plant is located will necessitate regular panel maintenance to ensure maximum power generation.

About Sabert
Sabert Corporation is a global leader and innovator in the food packaging industry. Since 1984, Sabert has been designing, manufacturing and distributing quality, cost-effective solutions for packaging, displaying, serving and storing fine food. Headquartered in Sayreville, New Jersey, USA, Sabert also has North American facilities in California and Kentucky, as well as manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Europe and Zhongshan, China.