Rocky Hill School Receives Grants for Solar Panels

With the help of Newport-based NPTRE® (Newport Renewables), Rocky Hill School has obtained two state grants to fund the installation of an educational solar array atop its Alan F. Flynn Jr. Academic Center.  Grants were obtained from Commerce Rhode Island’s Renewable Energy Fund, and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) 2014 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for RI Schools program.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) array, composed of 120 solar panels, is expected to produce 41,000 kWh annually. The clean power generated from the solar array will provide 20% of the upper school building’s electricity for the next 25+ years. The project will include an educational component, which will utilize a third party educator to teach the students about energy, renewable energy sources, and the technology being installed at the school.

NPTRE® will lead the introduction of this curriculum through in-school workshops for teachers and students.  The project will include a system monitoring interface that will allow the solar array’s data to be accessed in school, and publicly, allowing other schools to participate in a statewide analysis of solar production.

“Obtaining 100% of the funding for this project would not be possible without the two great state grant opportunities available through the OER and Commerce RI,” said Stuart Flanagan ’05, principal of NPTRE® and a 2005 graduate of Rocky Hill School. “RHS has worked very hard towards improving energy efficiency at the school and will continue to reduce its environmental impact through the implementation of this project. We look forward to the continued benefits the system will offer the students and the school’s budget.”

Over the system’s lifetime, the school’s solar array will generate over 1 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 725 tons. The project is slated to be constructed in July, with the educational component beginning during the 2014-15 school year.

Peter Branch, Head of Rocky Hill School, stated “ Of course the energy and cost savings are a big win for us, but we are especially thrilled with the educational tie-ins.  Our students will have access to real-time output data from the solar array, which will blend well with our hands-on, experiential learning program.”

About NPTRE®

NPTRE® is a commercial and utility scale, renewable energy project consulting and development firm, focused on commercial, industrial, municipal, institutional and private equity clients who are seeking to make investments in renewable energy. Based in Newport, RI, NPTRE® provides project development, construction management and asset management services to its clients across the country.  For more information, visit www.nptre.com.