Sun Power for Schools
Hilo High School
The Island of Hawaii received an early Christmas present from Hawaii Electric Light with its 2nd Sun Power for Schools photovoltaic (PV) system installed on the roof of Hilo High School's library building on December 21, 1998.
System Details:
- One kilowatt (kW) rated peak
- Four 4x6 foot panels, weighing 110 pounds each (Manufacturer: ASE, Type: ASE-300-DB/50-2 85)
- DC and AC disconnection switches
- One kW AES inverter to convert DC current to AC
- Data acquisition system (Data collection can be monitored and analyzed by students as part of integrated renewable energy lessons.)
By capturing energy from the sun's light and converting it into electricity, the new solar electric system will save Hilo High School approximately $300 a year on its electric bill. The system was paid for with money collected through the Sun Power for Schools (SPS) program. Under this utility-community partnership program, utility customers and community members can make donations that are then used to buy and install solar electric systems on public high schools.
Hawaiian Electric encourages everyone to get involved in learning more about the advantages of renewable energy sources such as solar. The solar system installed at Hilo High School has a photovoltaic (PV) array consisting of four ASE panels that provide a total of 1,140 peak watts. The PV array feeds electricity to a 1,000 watt inverter that converts the electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The electricity produced can then be used directly by the school's electrical system. This type of solar electric system is inter-tied with the utility's electric grid and is called a 'grid-tied' PV system. These types of solar electric systems are generally cheaper to install than PV systems used in remote off-grid applications because less components are needed. Off-grid solar electric systems require storage such as deep cycle batteries, as well as a charge controller to protect the batteries from overcharging.
Besides providing power to the school, the installed system is equipped with a data logging device that collects information on solar insolation, ambient temperature, system power output, and wind speed. This data will be accessible either directly or via the internet from the SPS web page. The data collected from the Hilo High School system can be compared with other SPS schools across the State.
Under the SPS program, the utilities have worked in concert with the Department of Education to develop supporting curriculum to teach high school students about renewable energy. Kaimuki High School, the first SPS school in the State, has taken the lead in developing a curriculum package that is aligned with the State's Performance Standards. That curriculum package will soon be made available to all the SPS schools across the State.
Hawaiian Electric supports education on solar and renewable energy by making available a variety of educational tools such as the mobile Solar Electric Home, an electric vehicle, a library of videos and CDs, resource speakers, and information on classroom projects. For more information call Hawaiian Electric's educational services at (808) 969-0137.
