Solar Array
Solar power is one of the many sustainable energy technologies being investigated for use in distributed generation across Ontario. Solar panels convert light into electrical energy without any moving parts, noise, or pollution, and without the need for frequent maintenance.
A 20 kilowatt solar array was placed on an adjacent building, Goodwin Hall, in June of 2002. It was constructed as a learning, teaching, and research tool for Applied Science students, and it generates enough power to run five family homes. The array feeds its power into Walter Light Hall, Goodwin Hall, and the Integrated Learning Centre (Beamish Munro Hall).
Green Manufacturing
Everything has an environmental impact, even creating green power...
Electrical Setup
How a solar array generates power, plus graphs of its electrical output
Efficiency, Heat Loss
Solar panels are only 10% efficient -- where does the other 90% of solar energy end up? As heat!
News
Reduced lighting
The IL Centre turned off the majority of the hallway and overhead lighting, to help reduce power loads. Ontario Hydro requested that everybody turn off their lights, and reduce air-conditioning and mechanical loads, as the grid approached peak capacity.
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Solar array is offline
The solar array is offline while Queen's completes the Ontario Power Authority's standard offer contract, in co-operation with Utilities Kingston. Once signed, we will get $0.42 per kWh for putting our solar energy onto the power grid.
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