Solar projects in parks can be a great way for the general public to get familiar with the technology while at the same time reducing energy costs for the city.
With the help of a CERTs Seed Grant, Duluth did site assessments of several locations: the Duluth Rose Garden, Sister City Park above Duluth’s Lakewalk, the Lakeview Chalet on Seven Bridges Road (where the solar PV installation would serve the Amity/Lester Ski Trail lighting) and the music stage at Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park.
DyAnn Andybur, the Energy Coordinator for the City of Duluth during the grant period, noted the next steps:
- Site visits were scheduled and Minnesota Power’s renewable energy team members were notified so that they could attend the site visit to answer questions, ask questions and gather information in the event that the City would submit interconnection agreements for any of the sites.
- The team gathered to identify the most viable site for the panels and the site assessor evaluated site exposure and took solar readings using a solar tracking and positioning instrument.
- The assessor looked at the electrical panel to determine if the system had the appropriate voltage and could carry the load.
- The team discussed the distances from the meter and the type of structure that would be used at each location to support the PV panel system.
The site assessments revealed interesting results. All locations had southwest facing sites that were suitable for solar PV panels, but others issues arose.
- The Rose Garden site had limitations because the panel system would be shading flower beds and they would be unable to bring a cement truck in to install footings for a pole.
- The Lakeview Chalet looked to be a good site for a 10kW system, however a roof evaluation revealed it would not be ideal for solar construction. Pole-mounted systems in the adjacent field are a possibility for the future.
- The Bayfront Music Stage was dropped as a site because of difficulties expected to install a system there and difficult operating and maintenance issues.
And so the winner is… Sister City Park! The site is within 10 feet of a city electrical panel and meter and can be accessed by equipment to install footings for a 20 to 30 foot pole structure to support up to twelve solar panels. Here’s hoping for a solar install at Sister City Park in 2016!
Project Snapshot:
- Location: Duluth, MN
- Activity: Research
- Technology: Solar PV Study
- NE CERT Grant: $3,000
- People Involved & Reached: 2,126
Want to learn how your community can get a CERTs Seed Grant to advance your work? Applications for the next round of grants are available and due October 26th. To get started, visit the Seed Grant page and see other awarded projects from past years.
