One of the largest remote hybrid solar energy systems in Washington State has been completed for the Mt. Rainier National Park, White River facility.
KINGSTON, New York, US, 2002-01-21 [SolarAccess.com] SunWize Technologies Inc says the 15.5 kW system provides power for employee housing, water pumping, a ranger station, an entrance station and tourist restrooms. The White River facility is used seasonally from April to October, with 250,000 visitors a year. The solar hybrid system replaces a generator-only system, and the solar PV will provide 85 percent of the electricity demand, reducing generator run-time from 3,500 to 150 hours per season. The previous engine generator system ran 24 hours a day, exposing the housing units to excessive noise. The system design is based on a load of 59 kWh/day. It consists of 15.5 kW of Siemens solar modules, covering 90 linear feet of the roof of the new garage building. It also includes a 20 kW, 208 VAC 3 phase inverter, an industrial flooded battery bank, and an on-demand propane generator. The inverter includes an integral real-time data acquisition system and remote control capability that allows SunWize technical staff to monitor and control key system operating parameters from their headquarters in Kingston, New York.
