Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Systems - for Wisconsin's Schools
PV on Schools
Including PV Systems at School Buildings
Building-integrated PV (BIPV)
Retrofitted PV Systems
Why PV?
Example - The Waunakee Community High School's PV System
PV System Incentives
Several incentives are available to school-based PV systems. Receiving
these benefits is critical for the economic viability of a PV system.
There are two dominant reasons why PV systems (and other renewable energy
technologies) are supported by incentives. First, they are to encourage
consumers to purchase PV systems. The second is to "level the playing
field" between PV systems and fossil fuel energy systems, which have
many governmental tax supports, and serious environmental
impacts that are not included in their market price.
PV system incentives and grants for school PV systems include:
- Focus On Energy:
- Federal Tax Incentives (for schools that pay taxes):
- State of Wisconsin Incentives:
- Other Incentives:
These incentives rapidly improve the economics of PV systems. Read more about grants and incentives for PV Systems.
Example - The Waunakee Community
High School's PV System
In the fall of 1999 eight new photovoltaic (PV) modules were doing their
magic atop the Waunakee Community High School in Waunakee, Wisconsin.
The system is the result of science teacher Steve Bower's efforts that
include not only finding funding for the system, but getting the system
approved, designed and installed, and integrated into the student's educational
experience.
Photo 10. The Waunakee Community High School's 2.3 kW roof-mounted PV system
Organizations like to support school-situated PV systems. Steve made proposals to several organizations–each provided funding! This includes the Energy Center of Wisconsin's WisconSUN program, Southern Wisconsin Association of Energy Engineers, Waunakee Area Educational Foundation, Waunakee Utilities, Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, and Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI). All in all he raised $62,000.
Chris La Forge of Great Northern Solar designed and installed the system. The 2.28 kW system is composed of eight ASE Americas panels (285 wp/panel) that sit in ballasted pans, and an Omnion 5 kW series 24000 inverter. The system's installed cost was $9,800/kW. The system produces enough energy to light fourteen 100-watt light bulbs.
The football field sized roof offers room for the system to grow, which is exactly what is planned. For the next several years the school's students will design additions to the system until its capacity reaches about 10 kW.
The school's technology education students will use their CAD/CAM system to design ballasted racks that can be adjusted seasonally to better optimize the module's output. After review by a structural engineer, the school's neighbor, Enders Manufacturing, will manufacture the racks. If the rack design is successful they may have it patented. In 2000 the new racks are likely to support another 2.3 kW of ASE modules. The system will also be integrated into the school's science and business education curriculum.
Waunakee Utilities and WPPI will work with the school to develop their own green power program. Payments by Waunakee community members would be used to fund the system's future expansion and educational activities. Waunakee Utilities and WPPI have also supported the project by making connection to the grid simple and inexpensive.
For further information contact:
Niels Wolter
Director WisconSUN
7507 Hubbard Ave., Suite 200
Middleton WI 53562
Phone (608) 831-1127 ext.308
Wolter@msbnrg.com
www.wisconsun.org
Or Visit
www.solarelectricpower.org/going_solar/schools.cfm
www-solar.mck.ncsu.edu/sgs/sgsindex.htm
Photo creditsPhoto 10 WisconSUN, photographer Niels Wolter
copyright © 2000 WisconSUN
