Sun Power for Schools
Kealakehe High School
The newly constructed Kealakehe High School became the first Big Island school to receive a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system. The PV system was installed on July 30, 1998, on the roof of the main Administration Building.
System Details:
- One kilowatt (kW) rated peak
- 15 2x4 foot panels, weighing 24 pounds each (Manufacturer: Solarex, Type: SP-70)
- DC and AC disconnection switches
- One kW Trace 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 Kealakehe 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. Kealakehe is the first Big Island high school to receive a solar electric system.
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 Kealakehe High School has a photovoltaic (PV) array consisting of 15 Siemens panels that provide a total of 1,050 peak watts. The PV array feeds electricity to a 4,000 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.
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 CD's, resource speakers, and information on classroom projects. For more information call Hawaiian Electric's educational services at 969-0137.
