Jesuit school Brophy College Preparatory is aiming to cover nearly half of its electricity use with on-site solar systems at the Arizona campus.
Renewable energy and microgrid contractor Ameresco has completed the installation of solar arrays, including 488.43 kW of rooftop solar systems and 422.82kW of carport solar systems, which will provide 911.25kW DC or 736.0kW AC of power for the school.
The project also contributed to the efforts made by Brophy’s Student Climate Coalition, including the achievement of its sustainability benefits, boosting the school’s economic returns and increasing social equity.
Additionally, the project involved an educational component. Ameresco formulated a curriculum and educated three classes of Brophy students on the development, implementation and post-construction process of solar installations.
“I am grateful for the leadership of Brophy’s Student Climate Coalition, as well as SCC moderator, alumnus and faculty member Cooper Davis. As Jesuit-educated young men who understand the call to care for our common home, they spent considerable time researching the benefits and costs of this project and presenting it to the Board of Trustees,” said Brophy President Adria Renke. “I am also grateful for Ameresco’s partnership and willingness to work closely with us, not just to complete the project, but to educate our community on the process and results.”
Ameresco has also worked on projects like campus-wide energy upgrades at the Roxbury Community College in Boston, installation of an 8 MW CHP facility and solar PV systems at the Arizona State University and energy efficiency improvements at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Arizona also has joined the Hydrogen Pilot Project, which will develop a system to use hydrogen from new and existing RNG facilities to deliver a low-carbon fuel source along the I-10 corridor.
