The Storm
Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage across the Southeast in 2024. At Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) — the regional water resource recovery utility serving Greenville County — the damage included the 1-megawatt solar photovoltaic array on the utility’s own campus.
Branham Group was selected as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractor for the emergency repair and upgrade of that system.
Scope of Work
Protective devices
Removal and replacement of approximately 42 circuit breakers and 12 fuses across four 480V Eaton panelboards and disconnects.
Inverters
Replacement of approximately 38 Fronius Symo 24kW/20kW inverters, per the original plans and specifications.
Fire-damaged racking
Repair of fire-damaged equipment racks, including hanging and conduit/wire connections for the new inverters.
Monitoring and communications
Replacement of all Fronius network components, the weather station, and the eGauge data logger.
Modules and DC connections
Replacement of approximately 42 PV modules and all field-crimped DC connections.
Integrity testing
Insulation integrity testing across all 275 DC and 42 AC circuits — 317 in total.
Grounding
Grounding remediation to ensure system compliance and safe operation.
Commissioning
Reprogramming and calibration of all power generation and communication systems.
Built for Reimbursement
Work was performed to FEMA-approved specifications to support disaster reimbursement, with full documentation, before-and-after verification photography, and coordination with ReWa’s Resiliency Program Coordinator throughout.
On a disaster recovery project, how the work is evidenced matters as much as how it is built. A repair that cannot be documented to the standard is a repair the owner may not be able to claim.
A Distributed Energy Resource
The restored system now operates as a distributed energy resource — generating clean, renewable power directly at ReWa’s facility and feeding surplus energy back to the surrounding distributed grid.
Rather than relying solely on centralized generation and long-distance transmission, the array produces electricity where it is consumed.
What That Delivers
Grid resilience
On-site generation supports the local distribution grid and reduces strain during peak demand periods, contributing to a more stable and flexible regional grid.
Energy cost savings
Power generated on site offsets ReWa's utility costs, with excess production credited back through the local power grid.
Reduced transmission losses
Generating electricity at the point of use avoids the line losses associated with transporting power over long distances.
Lower emissions
Clean solar generation displaces fossil-fuel-based grid electricity, supporting regional sustainability and decarbonization goals.
Energy independence
On-site generation gives ReWa greater visibility and control over its energy profile — an increasingly important capability for critical water infrastructure.
Turning the challenges of a major storm event into an opportunity for a stronger, more reliable distributed energy asset.
Contact Information
Branham Group, Inc.
11 E Wall Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: 843.823.6078 | Fax: 843.604.9098