Solar Bus Shelter in Corona, California

August 9th, 2010 by Zachary Shahan

Combining two technologies that can help us to address global warming, air pollution, and water pollution, the City of Corona recently took an innovative step forward by installing solar panels on a bus shelter.

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Renewable Energy World reports:

The new bus shelter was designed and installed by Solade Concepts based in Corona, CA. The solar structure consists of products and solutions proposed by Go Green Solar, based in Los Angeles, CA, which include six SANYO HIT-210NKHA6 210-watt HIT Power® solar panels with six Enphase Energy M210-84-240-S12 micro inverters and a LED lighting solution in an on-grid solar system.

There are other solar-powered bus stations out there, but what is really unique about this one is that it is on-grid not off-grid. In other words, this bus station is acting as a mini (yes, very mini) power station.

With bus stops every 650 to 950 feet in many cities, however, this can add up to a decent amount of power.

“The solar panels on top of Corona’s bus shelter are grid-connected which means the energy is contributed to the grid when the power is needed the most, during peak hours.” said Andrew Ferrick, President of Solade Concepts, a manufacturer of solar structures. “The meter will spin backwards during daylight hours, offsetting the City of Corona’s electric bill for its traffic signals and streetlights.”

“The grid-tie solar bus shelter is a perfect example of micro-generation. The solar technology available today combined with structures which exist in our environment have the potential to be mini distributed solar power plants with the combined potential to contribute megawatts of power back to our grid.” said Deep Patel, Founder & CEO of GoGreenSolar.com, a supplier of green energy products.

Patel was the one responsible for choosing the solar equipment that was used in the Corona Solar Bus Shelter. In order to get the most output out of such a limited amount of space, he chose SANYO HIT Power® solar panels, which reportedly generate the most watts per installed square foot of anything on the market, and GoGreenSolar’s very own Enphase Energy Micro Inverters.

The solar bus shelter in Corona is expected to generate 1,748 kilowatt-hours annualy.

Photo via RenewableEnergyWorld.com

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Tags: bus, bus shelter, bus shelters, buses

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

http://www.rungreenpower.com yoni levy

Ian, can you give me site that I can read nore about what you say?

Thanks,

Yoni.
http://www.calsolareng.com California Solar Engineering

This is wonderful! I was just at a bus stop thinking that there’s no reason public places like this shouldnt have small scale solar. The start up costs would be low and pay back quick.
Doug

If the entire purpose of installing solar panels was their cost savings, you point would be brilliant.

However, all city projects are not entirely about their fiscal impact (e.g. parks, trees, statues, and fountains).

Corona now has tangible, visible proof that they care about the environment of their residents. Assuming there are a significant number of people in Corona that care about energy independence, global warming, and vote…the finance director’s job will be just fine.
Ian

Total (admittedly retail) cost of parts alone – no fitting

6 * $799 + 6*$220 for the panels and inverters.

= $6114

Generating 1748 Kwh per year at average residential cost of say 12c (http://www.eia.doe.gov/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html)

Yearly energy cost replaced is $209.76 giving a payback period of 29 years!

I’m all in favour of new Solar/Wind and Ocean generation – but really – 29 years.

Of course with commercial pricing, bulk discounts etc the costs will be lower than this, but then you have to add in installation costs ($1000 per shelter perhaps, materials and labour?) so I don’t see the costs dropping by 50% – which would still be 15 year payback period.

No finance director could justify this – and keep his job. I wonder when the Mayor of Corona is up for re-election.
- http://www.offtheroofsolar.com Andrew Ferrick
  
  They do not have to, Advertisement companies will be paying for them. They will recupe their investment on the advertisement. The solar is given to the city. Advertisement gets help from Rebates and tax credits. in which bus shelters they install now get nothing. See this is the problem I have a manufacture of this product. You think one dimensional. Capitalize on existing systems and inprove. That way everybody wins.There are already bus shelters with advertisement on them, and cities are only getting revenue from the as space and now they can geet much more. As for the mayor of Corona, she is someone who sees the future and embrasses it and all she had to do is add a few words to their RFP for bus shelters (Grid Tied Solar Bus Shelter).