News

SunWize Installs National Park Service PV System

August 21, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

SunWize Technologies Inc. (Kingston, NY) announced that it recently installed a 64.6kW grid-tied SunWize® PowerPort system at the maintenance facilities for Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, CA, part of the National Park Service. The system is estimated to produce 125,000kWh annually, providing energy for approximately 53% of the electrical loads at the site. The site includes facility buildings, offices, a museum and a visitor center.

The PowerPort photovoltaic (PV) array is located on the roof deck of a canopy structure. The 6,800ft² structure holds the solar-electric system and provides shade for the maintenance yard, a parking area, and small office and storage buildings. Due to the shade provided by the structure, recorded asphalt temperatures dropped from 150°F in direct sun to 90°F under the PowerPort, reducing the air conditioning loads in the offices. The low tilt angle of the deck and PV array reduces wind loading and maximizes power output to coincide with peak electrical load periods. The project includes a web-based data collection system to monitor daily power production.