Isaac Dickson Elementary School Solar System Exceeds One Gigawatt…and Counting!
The solar system at IDES is a 300 kilowatt (Kw) photovoltaic array on several roofs utilizing 750 Hanwha 400w solar panels and 2 SolarEdge inverters: a 100K and a 33.3K. This solar electric system began producing electric power in June 2021.
In October 2023, the system surpassed 1 gigawatt of power produced, or over 1 billion watts!
The solar array is a net-metered system, resulting in the school’s electric bill being lowered by more than $30,000 per year with a 30-year savings of more than $1.3 million, according to Sundance Power Systems. Through an agreement with Buncombe County, the money saved on Isaac Dickson’s electric bills is scheduled to go back into the school’s operating budget.
“The Isaac Dickson project is an expression of the dedication and commitment of this community for taking action against climate change and to leverage this technology to benefit our school system for years to come,” Sundance Power Systems President Dave Hollister said. “With the leadership of the Green Built Alliance and its Appalachian Offsets program, teachers and concerned citizens were able to raise the money for the project. This is community solar at its best.”
