Proposal Being Discussed to Install Solar Panels on Parking Garage

A proposal to install solar panels on the south side of the parking garage to generate electricity for powering the new science center is currently under consideration by college officials. If the plan goes through, it will act as a teaching tool for Photovoltaic Installation students, and will also significantly decrease power costs for the college. “We’re talking the equivalent of producing power to supply something in the order of 15 to 20 houses just by putting solar panels on the side of the garage,” said Richard Porter, Building Technologies Department Chair.

Although the proposed plan has not yet been finalized because it is not financially feasible, new funding might still make it happen. Porter said, “I believe there may be some grant coming in for photovoltaics which may actually be the kick start we need for PV on campus to get off the ground.” Porter said that since HVCC generates all of its own power and is entirely unconnected to the National Grid, the college is precluded from many incentives offered by the state, including those offered through the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

This situation, however, may soon change due to the building of the new science center.

“Our power plant is too small to expand to another big building and carry old campus as well, so…we could reinvestigate the proposal to put solar panels on the garage and supply power to the building next door, the new science building, which would enable us to apply for assistance from NYSERDA, which would cut the cost down,” said Porter. If the college receives a grant as well as NYSERDA incentives, solar panels on the parking garage may become a reality in less than a couple of years. According to Porter, there is enough space in each window opening of the parking garage to fit about 90 solar panels, each about 2½ ft. wide. At 230 watts a piece, that would generate approximately 18 kilowatts of energy for each of the five openings.

“We could probably put something close to a hundred kilowatts on the side of the building and…as a ballpark estimate would produce something in the order of 125,000 kilowatt-hours a year of electricity,” Porter said.
According to Porter, if the solar panel project goes through, if may also benefit students in the Photovoltaic Installation program, who would be doing the solar panel installations as a learning tool. “Eighteen kW per section is more commercial than residential, so [students] deal with three phase power, not single phase power, so it’s a benefit for the students; we would have electrical students involved as well, doing the wiring and conduit work, with supervision from physical plant staff,” said Porter.

The college may actually be required to have students be involved just to be eligible for a grant. “Sometimes in some of these grants there is a teaching requirement so we have to see what the exact wording of the grant is,” said Porter. In addition to the project being considered, solar energy is already in some use on campus. Functioning solar panels are being used to light up the campus map located in the drop-off circle near Guenther. According to Porter, there is the possibility that all of the similar maps located around campus will soon be made self-sufficient by adding solar panels, batteries, and LEDs.