Solar Panels & Tesla Powerwall Batteries To Power Vermont Park
Originally published on Solar Love.
Vermont’s first “ePark” will be created with a combination of solar power and Tesla Powerwall batteries. Pika Energy has been chosen by Green Mountain Power to plan and design Emerald Lake State Park so it will be powered by sunlight, with the Tesla batteries providing backup electricity.
“We’re excited to provide a smart, clean power solution to the Emerald Lake State Park. GMP’s ePark program is a perfect example of the many benefits of renewable energy systems over energy derived from fossil fuel sources,” said Ben Polito, President and Co-Founder of Pika Energy.
In case you’re wondering where Emerald State Park is located, it is in southwestern Vermont not far from the border with New York. The park covers 908 acres and has a 28-acre lake.
The solar and battery system will solve a problem at the park: falling trees damage power lines, which are difficult to replace or repair. Installing the new system will save about 20% by reducing or avoiding such costs. Additionally, another $8,000 on maintenance costs could be prevented each year.
Green Mountain Power ordered about 500 Tesla Powerwalls to be installed in various parts of Vermont. There are two versions of the Powerwall: one is 7 kWh and the other is 10 kWh. The smaller one is for daily application and the larger for backup electricity.
Another advantage of creating an “e-park” is that it will serve sort of as a demonstration project in that many visitors will learn about the technology when they visit. Since families tend to gather at parks for summer outings, camping and reunions, children will learn too and they are the next generation of stewards.
School field tips might also be held at the park, so more children may become aware through these events. Vermont is already known for its environmental awareness and having many residents who respect and care for the natural world.
Image Credit: stateparksreview.com
Reprinted with permission.
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This would be a good chance to add EV chargers. As far as I can tell from the VT website they don’t have any now.
So here is another example where even small distances favor off grid pv and battery. The cost of grid lines is quite startling, and there are issues with crossing property and the sight of power poles etc. etc. One can see all kinds of applications for independent solar systems.
Some solar site suggest that if you’re going to have to pay for running line 1/4 mile or further you should check the cost of going off grid. About 12 years ago the cost of running lines here was $16/foot. $21,120 for a quarter mile.
With dropping solar and storage prices the distance has likely decreased.
Yes, that sounds right. Even on one’s own land if the utilities are messing with it, it can be too expensive to run 100 yards of electric line. We have 8 “tiny houses” on our property. Only one (mine) has power to it from our own microgrid. The others are provided light by led rechargeable lanterns with tiny solar panels. So even there the economics of copper wires lose out.
“So here is another example where even small distances favor off grid pv and battery.”
The cold weather use of the park probably doesn’t resemble residential. Offgrid summer cabin use is a lot easier than a four season residence.
$21k would go a long way toward a nice off the grid package. If one lived in a place with good solar insolation and not long periods of cloudy weather it would be worth doing the math.
I can only see Australia leading the way in battery storage and off grid innovation.
We will see around 50% of Australians by 2025 with full independents from the grid, far as the out look can see the poles and wire are redundant. Australians are paying far too much for renewable on the grid which has driven the remarkable change in world in off grid life up take.
Does Pika Energy comes with a Pikachu logo? lol