January 2004
Canada's first student-designed solar array now live at Waterloo
In what is the first student-designed solar array on a university campus in Canada, solar energy is now being harnessed through a 36-panel array of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to produce clean, free electricity at the University of Waterloo's Federation Hall.
The solar array, capable of generating electricity for 30 to 50 years or more, was unveiled on January 22.
The event, which attracted as many as 80 enthusiastic supporters, including the Mayor of Waterloo Herb Epp, was a celebration for the Solar Technology Education Project (STEP), a student-led volunteer team at the University.
The array uses cutting-edge technology called "grid-tieing." The electricity produced is fed into Federation Hall's electrical panel. Surplus power is directed to the university's utility grid and used elsewhere on campus.
In addition to electricity production, the array will prevent more than 1,200 kg of carbon dioxide a year from polluting the air by avoiding the burning of fossil fuels.
"We aimed to highlight the role of renewable energies and energy efficiency as powerful solutions to climate change," says Jeff DeLoyde, S.T.E.P. director and fourth-year environmental engineering student.
The S.T.E.P. project started in January 2002 and has since involved more than 75 volunteers and raised more than $40,000 from 22 sponsors including UW groups and businesses.
"A project of this magnitude cannot be done without the support of many people," DeLoyde tells ORION, noting that that at least 150 people assisted with the project in some way, including volunteers, professors, UW staff, contractors, media, and others.
"Everyone was pleased with the final product and we're already talking about other solar projects on campus. Renewable energy projects on campus have gained momentum and many are eager for the start of STEP phase 2," he said.
This could include the largest PV array on a university in Canada (50 kW), a solar hot water system for UW's Physical Activity Centre PAC), and a solar sculpture, involving a globe where the oceans are made up of PV, which moves when the sun is out.
The team has also been approached to work on a new engineering building, and exploring the possibility of including PV, solar hot water, green roofs, passive solar technology, as well as a solar tracking system.
"STEP will continue with the education component using the Fed Hall solar array. We will do seminars, workshops, and visiting local elementary schools to do presentations. We also plan to incorporate the array performance in an online, real-time monitoring system."
DeLoyde anticipates the team will seek to collaborate with new partners for large-scale projects. The team also plans to approach the federal and provincial governments for support for future projects. "We will continue to approach local and regional business sponsors to expand our sphere of impact," he said.
The project is only one piece of the solar boom that is taking place in Waterloo Region in which Waterloo will be the site of Canada's first solar neighbourhood.
ARISE Technologies Corp. of Kitchener is working with Cook Homes to build new houses in the Eastbridge area with integrated PV systems. The City of Waterloo recently installed a solar array at city hall as a solar energy pilot project. Spheral Solar of Cambridge is developing a new solar cell that will use less silicon, thereby bringing the cost down to competitive levels.
All of these initiatives complement the region's Clean Air Plan, which aims in part to improve poor air quality by pursuing initiatives such as public transit and renewable energy projects.
For more information on the STEP project, visit the team's web site, at http://www.STEP.uwaterloo.ca. A photo gallery of the January 22 event can be viewed at this link: http://www.graphics.uwaterloo.ca/content/photo/web_gallery.html.
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