College Adds to Solar System with Combined Solar and Storage

Santa Rose Junior College selected SunPower to deploy a fully integrated solar and storage project to add to its existing 77-kilowatt system that has been operating since 2007 atop the Frank P. Doyle Library.

By Anca Gagiuc

SunPower Helix Carport System

SunPower Helix Carport System

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) selected SunPower to set up its newest fully integrated solar and storage project. The 100-acre campus will feature the SunPower® Helixâ„¢ Carport system and SunPower’s Garage Top Carport system, which totals about 2.5 megawatts, coupled with a 1.3-megawatt (2-megawatt-hour) energy storage system from Stem Inc. In addition, the 40-acre Pentaluma campus will install a 1.3-megawatt Helix Carport system.

Increasing solar capacity

Measure H bond funds were used to finance the college’s new solar and energy systems, which will be owned by Santa Rosa Junior College. Upon completion in 2018, the project will add to a 77-kilowatt SunPower system that has been operating atop the Frank P. Doyle Library since 2007. SunPower is responsible for the design, engineering and procurement of materials for the solar and storage project, and will operate and maintain the solar system. The storage system will be operated through Stem’s software.

The Helix Carport system is built with SunPower’s solar panels that maximize energy production, operate with a simplified electrical and cable management system to secure and conceal wires, as well as monitor software that sends real-time insights.

“As a large community college that believes strongly in sustainability, SRJC wants to maximize the value of our solar energy system with energy storage,” Dr. Frank Chong, superintendent & president at SRJC, said in a prepared statement. “This will cut our energy costs even further to improve our economics, benefit our students, and use taxpayer dollars as wisely as possible.”

“With SunPower headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s rewarding to see local colleges install solar to save on energy costs, while demonstrating the importance of sustainability to students in our communities,” added Nam Nguyen, SunPower executive vice president. “We look forward to helping Santa Rosa Junior College maximize the value of its solar and storage investment with SunPower’s comprehensive, cost-effective energy solutions.”

Image courtesy of SunPower

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