RI Offshore Wind Stakeholders Final Report

In the summer of 2007, Rhode Island Governor Carcieri invited representatives from Rhode Island communities, the state’s environmental community, maritime businesses and industry, and governmental officials to participate in discussions regarding the development of a wind farm in Rhode Island area waters. A study commissioned by Rhode Island in 2006 and completed in winter of 2007 had determined that 15% or more of Rhode Island’s electricity requirement could be supplied by offshore wind farms and, further, that 10 specific areas were suitable for consideration as wind farm locations. The Stakeholder Process was a series of four meetings in August, September, and October 2007. Meeting attendees included stakeholders (defined as town and city representatives, environmental organizations, local economic development organizations, and commercial fishing interests) as well as other participants (including state government agencies, U.S. Coast Guard, area university representatives, National Grid, consultants to the RI Office of Energy Resources, and others) who contributed technical information to the process.

Stakeholders identified a set of issues that they felt could, would, or should affect the siting of offshore wind farms in Rhode Island area waters. The Office of Energy Resources’ consultants then provided stakeholders with additional information to help focus and clarify the issues raised and determine, where possible, which issues were most relevant to which sites.

The Stakeholder process was successful in identifying issues that appeared to be particular to some sites and not others. There was agreement that the formal environmental impact analysis and permitting processes that will come next, if Rhode Island elects to further pursue the wind option, can be used to compare and contrast the relative merits of the alternative sites.

Overall, participants in the Stakeholder process expressed their support for the concept of using wind energy to satisfy some portion of Rhode Island’s future electricity needs, their approval that the Governor and Office of Energy Resources are investigating this potential opportunity for Rhode Islanders, and their desire to continue participating in future discussions and decision making on this topic.

• View Entire Rhode Island Offshore Wind Stakeholders Final Report

RI Renewable Energy Fund

The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (“Fund”) is dedicated to increasing the role of renewable energy in Rhode Island’s electricity supply. Renewable energy technologies harness the energy in sunlight, the wind, biomass (growing plant matter and organic wastes) flowing water, waves, tides, or the heat of the earth, to make electricity in a cleaner and more sustainable manner than sources we have traditionally relied on in the past. More recently, the Comprehensive Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Affordability Act of 2006 (R.I. Gen. Laws 39-2-1.2) included a provision that the Renewable Energy Fund be self-sustaining, and as a result, OER has re-directed its efforts to supporting initiatives that can provide a return investment to the Fund. Low-interest loans and re-payable grants are some of the mechanisms in place to help spur renewable energy development in the state.

• Renewable energy fund grant application

Some major Fund activities include:

Portsmouth Abbey Wind Turbine

In 2004, Rhode Island’s first utility-scale wind turbine was built at the Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and is located on 500 acres overlooking Narragansett Bay. The 660 kilowatt wind turbine was the largest single investment made by the Fund, and is producing 1.25 million kilowatts of electricity per year. The turbine is serving 40 percent of the annual electricity demand of the school, one of the area’s largest consumers of energy. Most importantly, this project has helped to dispel misconceptions about large scale wind. Now operational for one year, the turbine has become a beacon of renewable energy for the state. Neighbors who had expressed reservations about its size and noise are now pleased with the final result.

Brother Joseph Byron and Andrew Dzykewicz

News stories:

• Rhode Island warms to wind power
• Abbey's power from heavenly source

Other Wind Activity…

Meteorological towers have been placed at a number of different locations around the state, providing valuable information about Rhode Island’s wind resources. In addition, these towers have provided background for a number of feasibility studies, also financed through the Renewable Energy Fund.

RI Wind Alliance

All interested parties are invited to join one of the working groups established by the Rhode Island Wind Alliance (RIWA). These working groups are an important part of the grass-roots effort to promote wind power in our State.

• Click Here to Join the Rhode Island Wind Alliance
  

You may just sign-up to receive a monthly or bimonthly update, or you may sign up to help with one or more of the following: A. Coordination among towns, B. Selecting sites to install wind-turbines, C. Estimating costs, D. Calculating income, E. Figuring out how to finance, F. Working on community outreach, G. Informing through the media, H. Helping shape legislation or any number of specific task forces listed under each one of the Action Groups. You do not have to be a Rhode Island resident to register or sign up to help with a Task Force.

RI Wind Mapper

The Wind Mapper features average wind speed data from AWS Truewind, as well as areas constrained by bedrock, slope, hydric soils or seasonal high water tables (RIGIS data). The Wind Mapper is intended as a general resource for those interested in exploring the possibility of wind power in their community and is NOT a substitute for site-level evaluation.

• Visit RI Wind Mapper.

RI Wind Conference

In April, 2007 the Office of Energy Resources, in cooperation with the University of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, and the Washington County Regional Planning Office hosted a very successful wind conference at the University of Rhode Island called “From Local to Global: the Rhode Island Model for Harnessing Wind Power Worldwide.

• Learn about the conference and view its proceedings

Oceanlinx Wave Project

Since 2003, the RI Renewable Energy Fund has been working with an Australian company, Oceanlinx (formerly Energetech) on demonstrating an ocean wave energy project off the coast of Pt. Judith, and more recently, Block Island. Ocean wave energy is a large world wide energy resource. The World Energy Council has estimated that the technical potential of ocean wave energy is more than 2 Terrawatts (1 TW = million megawatts) or about two-thirds the current world wide energy demand. Ocean wave devices, when commercialized, will contribute to national and local energy security and increase supply diversity. Direct environmental benefit is through the displacement of fossil fuel based energy. Much of the labor and materials for construction and installation will be spent in the proximity of the deployed ocean wave devices.

Project Overview

The Oceanlinx project will be a moored system at Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, seaward of the East Arm of the Breakwater. The Project will have a maximum power capacity of 750 kilowatts and a preliminary analysis indicates an annual average of 225 kilowatts.

The system employs the concept of the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) which consists of a partially submerged, hollow structure, which is open at the bottom to allow water to flow in and out. Due to the effect of the ocean waves, the rising and falling motion in the chamber caused the trapped air to flow to and from the atmosphere via a turbine.

The Oceanlinx OWC includes two innovative devices: a parabolic wall to capture more energy in the OWC, and a bi-directional variable pitch turbine, resulting in greater efficiency.

Visit the Oceanlinx Web site at www.oceanlinx.com for more information.

Tidal In-Stream Energy Conversion

The Office of Energy Resources funded a feasibility study for tidal power in the town of Warren, RI. The project would capture the energy in an estuary with a current of approximately five knots. Based on the information in the study, the project area appears to be suitable for development of a TISEC array that could create the model for community-based energy and distributed generation. The project area has the requisite minimum power density, bathymetry, minimal user conflicts, and proximity to both load and interconnection.

Hydropower Support

In May, 2006 the Office of Energy Resources approved a low-interest loan for the Harris Mill project, a mill conversion project to apartments and condominiums, and will include the installation of an energy-efficient turbine and cogeneration plant that will produce more than 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity. Located in Coventry, RI, the $1.5 million project is financed equally from a $500,000 low-interest loan from the Office of Energy Resources’ Renewable Energy Fund, private equity, and a bank loan. The Fund will also receive an additional two cents per kWh from the sale of REC’s created by the project. The Pawtuxet River Authority will also receive two cents per kWh paid from the REC’s.

Several other hydropower feasibility studies have been funded including the Holliston Sand project in North Smithfield, RI (1 MW), and the Hope Mill project in Scituate, RI (1 MW).

Rhode Island Solar on Schools Initiative

The Solar on Schools Initiative provides each of the participating school systems with a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, as well as web-based data display on the PV system performance. The data collection and display system allows teachers and students to access system performance data and use it in science or other curricula. Through the web-based system, participating schools and other education-oriented institutions can compare the operating results of their PV systems to that of other schools in the Program. Each of the participating schools receives:

A 2000-watt solar photovoltaic installation, including data acquisition and performance tracking system, and
A Heliotronics Data Monitoring System and energy curricula, including teacher training, mentoring, course materials and internet access to the PV system output data of the schools and institutions participating in the Program.

The major portion of the funding for the cost of the PV system and the educational support will come from the Renewable Energy Fund and the Office of Energy Resources. Participating schools must provide a nominal amount toward the cost of the program. Each school must identify a team of teachers from who have a strong interest in making the educational aspects of the Program a success. An additional requirement is that the PV panels themselves be sited in a location with a high degree of visibility for the community.

The following Rhode Island Schools have received PV systems under the Solar on Schools program:

• Veterans Memorial High School, Warwick
• Ponaganset High School, North Scituate
• Park View Middle School, Cranston
• Wickford Middle School, North Kingstown
• Burrillville High School, Harrisville
• Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield
• Scituate High School, Scituate
• Block Island School (did not receive Fund dollars)
• Roger Williams Zoo, Providence
• Audubon Society of RI, Bristol
• University of Rhode Island, Alton Jones Campus, West Greenwich
• Roger Williams University, Bristol
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bristol
• St. Philomena School, Portsmouth
• Middletown Public Schools, Middletown
• Met School, Providence
• North Smithfield Jr. Sr. High School, North Smithfield
• Coventry High School, Coventry
• South Kingstown High School, South Kingstown
• Ponaganset Middle School

• View the data from any of the Solar on Schools installations

Basic Solar Information

Solar cells (also called photovoltaics) absorb sunlight and convert it directly to electricity. Solar cells are very thin (about 1/100th of an inch thick). Most are rectangular or circular wafers made of silicon (sand), but some consist of a thin film that is mounted on glass or thin metal.

When sunlight hits the cell, electrons are released. The electrons then flow onto wires, forming direct current (DC), which is the same kind of current that flows from a battery. A number of cells (usually 20 or more) or a film can be mounted within a frame under a transparent glass or plastic covering to form a module. Modules can be connected to other modules to form an array. Solar modules can be free-standing units, but there are also building-integrated solar products, such as solar roof shingles.

The Two Types of Photovoltaic Systems

There are two types of photovoltaic systems: (1) stand-alone systems and (2) systems that are connected to the electric power lines of the utility grid. Stand-alone, or independent, systems are especially well matched to settings far from electric power lines. They also work well with portable road signs and other devices that are used in locations where it would be costly or inconvenient to connect them to the utility grid.

Homeowners with stand-alone systems are completely independent of the utility gird, relying on their own power systems to meet all their electricity needs. They connect their solar cells to batteries that store electricity for use when the sun is not shining. In some physically isolated settings, it can cost a homeowner $10,000 or more to connect to the utility grid, so a solar electricity system can be quite cost effective.

Most people in the Northeast who purchase a solar system will want to choose a utility-connected one. In these cases, the electricity from the system supplements what is available to the building from the electric utility. When the solar cells do not provide sufficient electricity for the building's users, extra electricity is supplied by the utility and the building¹s electric meter runs forward to record that extra electricity used. But at times when the solar cells produce more than enough electricity for the building¹s users, the additional power is fed back into the utility grid and the building¹s electric meter runs backwards, recording the "sale" of the electricity to the utility. This arrangement, in which the electric meter runs both forward and backward, is called net metering. In the Northeast, net metering is supported by legislation in all New England states, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Stand Alone Photovoltaic System

The Two Types of Photovoltaic Systems

There are two types of photovoltaic systems: (1) stand-alone systems and (2) systems that are connected to the electric power lines of the utility grid. Stand-alone, or independent, systems are especially well matched to settings far from electric power lines. They also work well with portable road signs and other devices that are used in locations where it would be costly or inconvenient to connect them to the utility grid.

Homeowners with stand-alone systems are completely independent of the utility gird, relying on their own power systems to meet all their electricity needs. They connect their solar cells to batteries that store electricity for use when the sun is not shining. In some physically isolated settings, it can cost a homeowner $10,000 or more to connect to the utility grid, so a solar electricity system can be quite cost effective.

Most people in the Northeast who purchase a solar system will want to choose a utility-connected one. In these cases, the electricity from the system supplements what is available to the building from the electric utility. When the solar cells do not provide sufficient electricity for the building's users, extra electricity is supplied by the utility and the building¹s electric meter runs forward to record that extra electricity used. But at times when the solar cells produce more than enough electricity for the building¹s users, the additional power is fed back into the utility grid and the building¹s electric meter runs backwards, recording the "sale" of the electricity to the utility. This arrangement, in which the electric meter runs both forward and backward, is called net metering. In the Northeast, net metering is supported by legislation in all New England states, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Stand Alone Photovoltaic System

Utility-Intertied Photovoltaic System

Fixed versus Tracking Systems

Photovoltaic systems, whether grid-connected or grid-independent, can also be configured to be either fixed or tracking systems. Fixed systems are mounted at a set angle in such a way that the angle cannot be adjusted. The fixed angle is selected based on geographic location. In the Northeast, the optimal angle for a fixed system is typically the location's latitude or latitude minus 15 degrees.

Tracking systems come in either single-axis or two-axis designs. Single-axis trackers move throughout the day, following the path of the sun across the horizon. Two-axis tracking systems not only follow the path of the sun throughout the day, but they also adjust their horizontal angle throughout the year in response to the position of the sun in the sky as it changes from season to season. Although tracking systems generally produce more energy, they are more expensive and require more maintenance than fixed angle systems.

Glossary of Solar Terms

• Active Solar Water Heater. A device using solar energy to heat water and requiring external power such as electricity to run a pump to circulate the water.
• Alternating Current (AC). Electric current in which the flow of electrons reverses at regular and recurring intervals. In the U.S. the alternating frequency is 60 cycles per second. Most household appliances use AC.
• Ampere (Amp). A standard unit for measuring electric current.
• Array. A small group of solar thermal collectors or photovoltaic modules placed together.
• Atrium. A closed interior court with a glazed roof to which other rooms in a building open. Often it is used to collect passive solar heat and distribute light.
• Batch Water Heater. A passive solar water heater in which water is heated and stored for later use in a tank.
• Berm. A mound of earth either abutting a building wall to help stabilize inside building temperature or positioned to deflect wind from the building.
• British Thermal Unit (BTU). A unit of heat equal to the amount needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
• Building Integrated Photovoltaics. Solar products, such as solar roof shingles and opaque glass photovoltaic facades, that become part of a building's structure. When these products replace conventional building materials, it reduces the net cost of incorporating solar electricity into a building.
• Clerestory. Windows placed high in the wall near eaves or vertically on the roof for light, heat, and ventilation.
• Direct Current (DC). Electric current which flows in one direction.
• Direct Gain System. Passive solar heating system in which sun directly penetrates and warms a building's interior. A building with south-facing windows and thermal mass to absorb the solar gain.
• Domestic Hot Water (DHW). A water heating system used to supply household hot water needs for bathing, washing clothes, etc.
• Double-Glazing. Two panes of glass or other transparent or translucent material mounted parallel to each other within a frame, enclosing a dead air space to create an insulating barrier to heat flow.
• Electric Current. The "volume" of electron flow in an electric circuit. Measured in Amperes.
• Energy Storage. The ability to hold energy for later retrieval. In solar devices this is typically either heat storage in thermal mass or electric storage in batteries.
• Evaporative Cooling. A means of temperature reduction which operates on the principle that water absorbs latent heat from the surrounding air when it evaporates thus cooling the air. Works well in dry climates.
• Flat Plate Collector. A solar collector in which the absorber is a flat or nearly flat surface. Typically, it is comprised of an insulated box or enclosure, one or more layers of glazing, and an absorber. Pipes or ducts deliver the heat transfer fluid to and from the collector to the storage and distribution components of the system.
• Glazing. A covering of transparent or translucent materials, usually glass or plastic, used for admitting light.
• Heat Exchanger. A device used to transfer heat from a fluid flowing on one side of a barrier to a fluid or fluids flowing on the other side without bringing the two fluids into direct contact. Many solar heating systems use heat exchangers.
• Heating Load. The rate of heat gain required to maintain indoor comfort; measured in BTU's per hour.
• Heat Pump. An electrical device that transfers heat from one medium, the heat source, to another, the heat sink, thereby cooling the first and warming the second.
• Indirect Gain System. Passive solar heating system in which the sun directly warms a heat storage medium in an area of the building, and heat is then distributed from the medium to the rest of the building by natural convection, conduction or radiation. (see Trombe Wall.)
• Insulation. A material with a high resistance to heat flow. Many kinds of insulation are available.
• Inverter. A device which converts direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC).
• Kilowatt. A unit of electrical power equal to one thousand watts. Symbolized kW and equal to 3,413 BTU/hour or about 1 1/3 Horsepower. Ten 100-watt lightbulbs burn at a rate of one kilowatt of power and use one kilowatt-hour of electricity in an hour.
• Kilowatt Hour (kWh). A unit measuring how many kilowatts are utilized in an hour.
• Module. A number of photovoltaic cells (usually 20 or more) or a film can be mounted within a frame under a transparent glass or plastic covering to form a module.
• Net Metering. An agreement with the local utility which allows customers to reduce their electric bill by "selling" surplus electricity generated by small scale renewable energy systems. The electric meter runs backwards or slower as the homeowner feeds extra electricity back to the utility thus crediting them for power supplied to the utility grid.
• Orientation. The direction that a building or solar collector faces.
• Panel. (1) A single solar collector; or (2) A photovoltaic module.
• Passive Solar Water Heater. A solar water heater which operates exclusively on the energy of the sun, without the aid of any supplemental energy to run pumps, fans or other devices. The two most common types are batch solar water heaters and thermosiphon water heaters.
• Payback Period. In economic analysis, the amount of time it takes for a solar system or component to pay for itself in fuel savings.
• Photovoltaic Cell. A device capable of converting sunlight directly to direct current electricity. Photovoltaic, or solar, cells are very thin (about 1/100th of an inch thick). Most are rectangular or circular wafers made of silicon (sand), but some consist of a thin film that is mounted on glass or thin metal. They are the building block of modules and arrays.
• Photovoltaic Effect. The process by which sunlight generates electricity in a photovoltaic cell. The cell has several layers. The back of the cell is commonly made of crystalline silicon, doped with a chemical that creates positively charged spaces or "holes" in the crystalline structure. The front of the cell is doped with a chemical that creates an abundance of negatively charged electrons. When sunlight passes through the front layer, the added energy knocks "loose" some of the electrons, which jump to the positively charged "holes". The movement of electrons is the flow of electricity and this can be channeled away through thin wires embedded in the cell to a load to do work.
• Photovoltaic System. A complete set of components for converting sunlight to electricity, storing that electricity, and delivering it to its end use.
• Power. The conversion of energy over time, usually to work. Commonly expressed in units of energy per unit of time, e.g., BTU/hour, Watts, Horsepower.
• Retrofitting. The application of a solar heating or cooling system to an existing building.
• R-Value. A unit for measuring the insulating value of a substance, or its resistance to heat flow.
• Skylight. A window placed in the roof of a building, typically mounted horizontally or near to horizontal.
• Solar. Of, derived from, or relating to the sun especially as affecting the earth. Utilizing the sun's rays.
• Solar Access. The ability of sunlight to reach a solar collector unimpeded by trees, fences, buildings, or other obstructions.
• Solar Cell. See Photovoltaic Cell.
• Solar Collection. The absorption of sunlight with the intent of applying the energy thus generated to a certain task.
• Solar Cooling. Cooling that is either powered mechanically by solar energy or accomplished through passive design elements that keep a building cooler than it would otherwise be.
• Solar Easement. An agreement between property owners whereby one grants the other the use of his/her solar right or access to sunlight.
• Solar Energy Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. Each day, the sun sends 400 million times the amount of energy to earth than all humans use. Viewed in this context, it becomes apparent that with ingenuity and effort, we can provide all of our energy needs in a gentle, environmentally sound way by using a small fraction of what the sun has to offer.
• Solar Hot Water. Water heated by the sun.
• Solar House. A residence whose primary heating source is the sun.
• Solar Oven. An insulated enclosure with a glazed surface that reaches 300 to 400 degrees F. in full sun and is used for cooking.
• Space Heating. Heating of an interior space.
• Storage Capacity. In a solar system, the amount of energy that the storage device can hold under normal operating conditions.
• Sunspace. A living space enclosed by glazing. A solarium or greenhouse designed more for people than for plants.
• Thermal Mass. Materials such as concrete, brick, adobe, stone, and water which can readily absorb, store, and release a lot of heat through temperature change.
• Thermal Storage. The absorption and subsequent release of heat.
• Thermal Storage Wall. A wall made of massive materials that can absorb, store, transmit, and release large amounts of heat and is covered on the exterior with a glazing. Typically made of brick, cement filled concrete or cinder block, adobe, cement, or containers full of water.
• Thermosiphon Air Panel (TAP). A hot air collector typically mounted vertically on the wall of a frame construction or other low mass structure to provide daytime space heating. Heat is delivered in this system by natural convection.
• Tracker. A device upon which a solar collector/module is mounted and which moves throughout the day to keep the collectors pointed directly at the sun.
• Trombe Wall. One kind of thermal storage wall named after its French inventor, Felix Trombe. It is comprised of a masonry wall covered on the outside with glazing. Sunlight passing through the glazing generates heat which conducts through the wall. Warm air between the glazing and the Trombe wall surface can also be channeled by natural convection into the building interior or to the outside, depending on the building's heating or cooling needs.
• Volt (v). A standard unit of electrical potential.
• Watt. The unit of work in an electric circuit. It equals the flow of one Ampere at a pressure of one volt. One watt equals 1/746 horsepower.

This glossary is adapted from materials from the American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
www.ases.org/solar

For Further Information

The US Department of Energy (DOE) conducts extensive research on photovoltaics and carries out programs to advance the implementation of solar electricity. The department's website includes background information (both general and technical) as well as information about the department's research and programs. There is a section on "Learning about PV" for teachers and students. www.eere.energy.gov/pv/

The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Colorado is one of the US DOE's laboratories. It carries out research and development on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Its website includes background information photovoltaics, as well as an excellent online collection of photographs. www.nrel.gov

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico also carry out extensive research on photovoltaics for the US DOE. The Sandia website includes considerable information on PV system design, components, and future directions for PV technology. www.sandia.gov/pv/

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a national membership organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of US citizens and the global environment. The organization publishes the magazine Solar Today. www.ases.org

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a nonprofit organization promoting the use of renewable energy sources and technologies. Its website includes the Schools Going Solar program, with information about the many solar schools across the country, and a database of state-by-state solar incentives. www.irecusa.org

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is the leading regional membership organization promoting renewable energy. Its website includes background information, materials for educators, and the Sustainable Yellow Pages, a database of businesses and organizations that offer solar and other renewable energy products and services in Rhode Island and other northeast states. www.nesea.org

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association of solar energy manufacturers, dealers, distributors, contractors, installers, architects, consultants, and marketers, concerned with expanding the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace. Its website provides the industry perspective. www.seia.org

Other Web sites:

• Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
  
• Florida Solar Energy Center: Teacher Internet links. You can also find curricula and activities.
  
• Million Solar Roofs Initiative
  
• Natural Resources Canada: Interactive graphics on how renewable energy works
  
• One Sweet Whirled (OSW) International: Information for kids on climate change and global warming
  
• Planet Energy: The Renewable Energy Trail: Renewable energy explainded to kids
  
• PV Power: Information on PV history, technology, industry, applications, and resources
  
• Solar Access: Information on renewable energy technologies
  
• Solar Dome
  
• Solar Works
• Stanford Solar Center: FAQs About the Sun
  
• The University of Hong Kong: Renewable energy information and links for kids and adults
  
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency global warming kid's site
  
• U.S. Naval Observatory: Sun or Moon Altitude-Azimuth Table
  

Teacher Resources

• Solar School Programs
• Lesson Plans
• Resources for the Classroom
• Solar School Programs
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council Schools Going Solar
  
• Montana Schools Using Solar Power
  
• NC Solar On Schools
  
• Solar Electric Power Association - Schools Going Solar
  
• Solar In Schools
  
• Solar Works Solar on School Resources
  
• Watts On Schools Home
  

Lesson Plans:

• Alliance to Save Energy
  
• Arizona Solar Center
  
• California Energy Commission: Energy Quest - Solar Projects
  
• Center for Environmental Education at Antioch New England Graduate School
  
• The Concord Consortium: Center for a Sustainable Future and Cobb County Schools
  
• National Energy Education Development Project
  
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  
• Stanford Solar Center
  
• Solar Works
  
• SunWind
  
• Texas State Energy Conservation Office
  
• U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  
• U.S. Department of Energy: Solar Decathlon
  
• Watts On Schools
  

Resources for the Classroom (parts, kits):

• Creative Energy Technologies: Solar education kits and products
  
• Discover This: Ecological science kits, solar kits, solar robots, fuel cell car kit
  
• Edmund Scientifics: Solar kits, gadgets, and equipment
  
• Efston Science: Solar cells and solar kits
  
• Fuel Cell Store.com: Solar Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Kits
  
• National Fuel Cell Education Program: Solar powered fuel cell kit and curriculum
  
• New England Coalition: Have a renewable energy field trip come to your school
  
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association: Resources for the Junior Solar Sprint program
  
• PicoTurbine: Renewable energy education kits
  
• Pitsco: Solar-powered model car kits, parts, etc.
  
• Science Is: Solar stuff
  
• Silicon Solar: Solar-education kits and parts
  
• Solar World: Solar-powered model car kits, parts, etc.
  
• SolarVerter: Sells components, parts, solar radio, science teacher's kit, solar flashlights
  
• Sundance Solar: Solar education kits and parts
  
• SunWind: Solar-powered kits
  

System Photos

Joanne Spaziano, Park View Middle School

Inverters at Warwick Vets

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Ponaganset High School Fuel Cell Project

Education through demonstration and projects-based learning are key components of Ponaganset High School’s Fuel Cell Education Initiative. The demonstration projects began with the creation of Protium, the world’s first fuel cell-powered band, and led to the creation of a Rhode Island’s first fuel cell vehicle, a two passenger Quadracycle. After completing successful test drives with the fuel cell Quadracycle it was decided to embark on another project, one significantly more ambitious. After considerable brainstorming, Ponaganset High School’s Model T project was born. For this project a full size, street legal replica of a 1923 Ford Model T Roadster was selected for powerplant conversion from a gasoline-chugging Chevrolet 350 cubic inch V8 engine to a zero pollution electric vehicle. The Model T project was planned to develop in two phases, with phase I being the conversion to battery electric power and phase II being the integration of a fuel cell power system. The RI Renewable Energy Fund was able to assist this project, and continues to track its amazing progress.

For more information on the Ponaganset Fuel Cell Project

http://protium.us/about/

http://protium.us/oldprotium/files/fct.doc