Green Campus
Renewable Strategies on the Gilman Ordway Campus
The Woodwell Building has a 26.4kWp (kilowatts peak) rooftop photovoltaic power system which annually provides ~30,000 kWh of electrical power. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, the 88 ASE-300-DGF50 modules are manufactured by Massachusetts-based ASE Americas. Each module has an area of 26 square feet and a rated power of 300 Watts.
In 2009, the Center installed a 100kW wind turbine to provide additional renewably generated power for the campus.
The Northwind 100 was chosen based on the following factors:
- Modern design: The wind turbine is a direct drive (having no gearbox), permanent magnet generator, with a robust design heritage from tested Arctic installations.
- Quiet operation: The wind turbine under consideration is the quietest one available in its size-class. A comprehensive sound analysis was undertaken by a third party with confirmation by Center scientists.
- Appropriate size for our electrical requirements: The turbine we anticipate purchasing and deploying will initially provide surplus generation which will serve as a modest revenue source to defray deployment costs, and later be available to serve additional requirements as staff and facilities expand.
- Carbon cycle benefits: Perhaps more important than the monetary benefits accruing to the Center through the deployment of the wind turbine are the pollution and carbon dioxide reductions that will be attributable to project.
The wind turbine is mounted atop a 120’ monopole tower.
