Solar Carport at AACC Right on Target

After seven months in operation, the 3,136 solar panels covering a portion of ’s asphalt parking lot are generating almost exactly the amount of power originally predicted for the system.

Last spring, the college finished installation of a 750,000-kilowatt solar system to reduce the institution’s dependence on fossil fuels. Operating under a $750,000 grant through Project Sunburst, the college signed a 15-year contract with Standard Solar and Washington Gas to purchase the power generated from the solar system for a favorable flat rate for the entire contract period.

Looking much like a series of standard carports on steroids, the two acres of silicon-based elevated solar panels produced 103 percent of the power predicted for the months of June, July and August. The percentage dropped just a bit for the entire seven months that the system has been operational, producing 97 percent of the expected power. The power generated covers about 5 percent of the school’s electrical needs.

Naturally, weather plays a significant role in the efficiency of the panels. Rainy and overcast days reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the panels. Snow cover—not yet a factor for the college’s carports—can also significantly diminish efficiency. The panels must also remain relatively clean for maximum efficacy. Surprisingly, though, there’s only about a 10 percent swing in efficiency between summer and winter.

Over the 15 years of the college’s solar carport contract, the panels will slowly age and ultimately result in a 5 percent drop in capacity. Other than this small amount of degradation, however, the panels should continue to generate power for the school for many years to come—even beyond the 15 years.

In part, AACC took on the project, says Maury Chaput, executive director of administrative services, because we were, “walking the walk and talking the talk of being a more environmentally sound institution.”

Students and faculty alike have praised the endeavor. Chaput says that many have remarked on how pleased they are to have the college making the effort to become greener. He adds that the project is multi-faceted and provides the college with a useful teaching tool since classes can access solar data from the system through the Internet, in addition to energy co-generation and a means to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

“And the students like it because of the shade,” Chaput said. Last summer, when the sun beat down on the black asphalt parking lots, the roughly 400 parking spaces shaded by the carports were the first ones filled as students arrived for their classes. These shady spaces became an added benefit, since the parking lot panels were not the school’s primary choice. Administrators first considered placing the panel on building rooftops, but the college didn’t have adequate roof coverage to accommodate the number of panels required.

College administrators have no immediate plans to expand the number of solar carports, but their “eyes and ears are open to possible funds for expansion.” Future greens projects, however, must prove cost-effective above all else, since AACC’s first priority is its students, advises Chaput.

The college also kept the student’s parking needs in mind as construction took place. Only 75 parking spaces at a time were taken out of operation, since most students drive to school and parking remains at a premium on the campus.

After the first seven months, the project is working as anticipated. In large part that’s because the college framed a detailed and workable plan before construction began. To other organizations considering similar projects, Chaput recommends, “Doing your homework up front and having all your ducks lined up before installing your first panel.”