Solar for Ceramics, Pottery and Clay Product Makers in New Jersey
Ceramics and clay plants run pug mills, ball mills, dryers and kilns, and LandAir designs solar for the roofs and yards that sit above those firing and forming lines.
LandAir supports commercial solar planning, engineering and project coordination for New Jersey properties. The review starts with the building, its electric accounts and the owner's goals.
Review your actual bills, property constraints and design assumptions.
Review the property
Review electric use
Define the project
Solar for ceramics manufacturers and clay product plants
A ceramics plant moves clay through a series of electric steps. Ball mills grind materials into slip, spray dryers make press powder, pug mills and extruders form bodies, and presses, jiggers and casting benches shape the ware. Dryers remove water, glaze booths coat the surface, and kilns fire everything. Electric shuttle and tunnel kilns draw large loads for long cycles, and small studios fire electric kilns that behave like big, scheduled loads. Gas kilns still need blowers, controls and exhaust fans. Because firing and forming run in daylight in many plants, a solar array has plenty of demand to serve. Buildings are often masonry or steel sheds with flat or low slope roofs, and brick and tile plants add open yards for stacking. New Jersey commercial electricity costs run high, so owning your array makes sense.
Identify which process equipment uses electricity and which uses gas or other fuels. Solar PV offsets electricity; it does not directly replace fuel-fired process heat. Confirm the actual equipment and energy sources before projecting savings.
- Site-specific energy cost modeling
- Review of ownership and operating costs
- Project eligibility review
- Property and tenant planning
Planning around kiln schedules, dust and kiln exhaust
Our engineers begin with the firing schedule. Electric kilns can often start cycles at times that line up with sunshine, and we review that with your production team without disturbing product quality. On the roof, we map kiln exhaust stacks, hot air outlets, makeup air units and dust collection discharge, since heat and fine clay dust sit near the roof edge. Older masonry and brick buildings get a careful structural review, including roof deck and parapets. Federal tax benefits depend on the system owner, project timing and applicable requirements. Have your tax advisor confirm eligibility and the benefit your organization can use. Studios in small industrial units need landlord coordination on roof access. We prepare the township permit package and manage utility interconnection. A commercial solar assessment begins the process, and the commercial solar cost guide covers pricing.
Related: Building Materials, Stone and Glass Producers and Commercial solar cost guide. See every business type we cover on our industries page.
- Electric bill review and usage pattern check
- Roof and site constraint review including access and safety
- Preliminary layout and sizing assumptions you can validate
- Early notes on permitting and interconnection requirements
- Clear next steps for design, pricing, and timelines
Review project economics and eligibility
Compare installed cost, financing, expected production, utility charges and ongoing operating obligations for the specific property. A production estimate is separate from a savings estimate; demand and fixed charges may remain.
Federal tax treatment and New Jersey production incentives have separate eligibility, ownership, registration and timing rules. Confirm the applicable requirements with the program administrator and your tax advisor before including benefits in a budget. See the New Jersey commercial solar incentives guide and cost and ROI guide.
Confirm each assumption before including it in a project budget.
Project cost
Review the complete scope, exclusions and financing terms.
Tax treatment
Eligibility and the benefit your organization can use require tax-advisor review.
Program eligibility
Confirm current program rules, registration and project requirements.
Production and usage
Model expected output separately from savings using the actual utility tariff.
Plan the project sequence
Share bill and site details
Develop the design and approvals plan
Agree construction and handover
What's Included for Ceramics, Pottery and Clay Product Makers
Electric kiln cycles
Shuttle, tunnel and studio kilns pull heavy current through long firing cycles. When production allows, firing that overlaps with midday means more of the array's energy goes straight into the kiln.
Ball mills and spray dryers
Ball mills turn for long stretches and spray dryers run fans and pumps. These motors give the array steady demand during working hours, and our engineers confirm the shape of that load from your bill.
Pug mills, presses and jiggers
Forming equipment uses motors and hydraulics across the shift. Together with the dryers behind them, it adds the kind of daytime load that makes solar a good partner for the plant.
Kiln exhaust and roof heat
Kiln stacks and exhaust vents warm the air above the building. We locate array rows and electrical gear away from hot discharge points and coordinate with your facility's safety requirements.
Brick and tile yards
Plants that stack brick or tile have large yards. Potential New Jersey production incentives depend on the current program, project category, registration and eligibility. Confirm the applicable terms before modeling revenue.
Studio and small shop options
Pottery studios and small tile makers often lease flex space. Potential New Jersey production incentives depend on the current program, project category, registration and eligibility. Confirm the applicable terms before modeling revenue.
Property considerations
Roof and structure
Operating patterns
Maintenance
Meters and ownership
Approvals and access
Critical operations
New Jersey project support
LandAir supports commercial solar project planning across New Jersey from Cherry Hill.
Discuss your commercial solar project
Share the property address, electric usage and the decision you need to make. Review feasible options and the next steps with LandAir.
Frequently asked questions
Can solar run an electric kiln?
An array supplies electricity to your building, and an electric kiln draws from that same supply. Solar covers part of the kiln's energy during daylight, and your utility meter covers the rest. Our engineers check your firing schedule against array output.
Does solar replace my gas kiln?
No. Solar offsets electricity, and gas kilns burn fuel for heat. Blowers, controls, mills, electric dryers, lighting and compressors are electrical loads to evaluate. Model expected production and the actual tariff before estimating any bill reduction. Our engineers read your bill to see how much electricity the rest of the plant uses.
Will clay dust affect the panels?
Fine dust settles near a clay plant, so we keep arrays clear of dust discharge, choose tilt for rain rinse and plan service access. Review the proposed equipment warranties, maintenance requirements and replacement allowances over the ownership period.
What incentives apply to a ceramics plant?
Federal tax benefits and New Jersey production incentives are conditional. Review the owner, project timing, program registration and current requirements with your tax advisor before including them in the financial model. Your accountant confirms the state treatment of depreciation.
