Kinney Construction Services, Inc. and Kyocera Solar, Inc. announced the completion of a major solar electric system at Sedona Red Rock High School in Sedona, Ariz., which will be unveiled this afternoon during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District campus at 3:30 p.m. The installation utilizes 3,838 of Kyocera’s KD210 high-efficiency multicrystalline solar panels.
The 806-kilowatt photovoltaic system is part of the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District Alternative Energy Project, an effort to significantly reduce utility expenses while simultaneously preserving the environment by installing photovoltaic systems, a solar hot water heater system, and geothermal technologies.
“Kinney Construction Services is proud to have designed and built this solar electricity generation system at Sedona Red Rock High School,” said Tim Kinney, president and CEO of Kinney Construction Services (KCS). “The students, the school district and the community have been extremely supportive of this project, and we’re glad to help the school district lower its utility expense while proactively protecting the beautiful natural environment in Sedona.”
The photovoltaic system will produce about 1.45 million kilowatt hours of electricity from the sun each year – enough to power about 126 typical homes. Using solar power instead of conventional power reduces carbon dioxide emissions; this 806-kilowatt system reduces annual greenhouse gas emissions at a rate equivalent to taking 199 fossil-fuel burning passenger cars off the road.
“KCS recommended Kyocera solar panels for this important project with confidence because they are proven to be efficient, reliable and cost-effective,” Tim explained. “Kyocera has been in the solar energy field for more than 35 years and the company stands behind its warranty, which helps to ensure that the school district will continue producing clean, renewable energy with these modules for decades to come.”
KCS is already designing and building additional photovoltaic systems for the school district using Kyocera solar modules, including a 42-kilowatt system on the district office and a 60-kilowatt system at West Sedona School.
“Kyocera is excited to be a part of this significant and educational installation in Sedona by supporting the award-winning design-build firm of Kinney Construction Services,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc. “Educating our youth about the benefits of renewable energy is the first step toward a more environmentally conscious future.”
An educational PV monitoring system is included with the system to show students exactly how much power is being produced in real time. The entire alternative energy project is scheduled for completion by June 2011.
“The educational component for the students is going to be really intriguing,” explained Mike Thomas, KCS Project Manager. “Students will be able to compare different types of photovoltaic systems, including thin-film and multicrystalline technologies, and see the difference in electricity production of fixed versus tracking solar arrays.”