Reduce the Juice

GPP Project Background:

The GPP began when PURE offered CDDHS an exciting proposal. Through the generosity of one of their members, Matthew Fairlie, they would donate a renewable energy system (solar panels, battery storage, wind turbine) to the school. It was hoped that by helping the school design and install a renewable energy system the students (and through them the community of Shelburne) would learn about using renewable resources to generate electricity and would encourage energy conservation.

The Beginning:

Doug Morell, the principal of CDDHS, supported the project and the UGDSB approved the concept pending an engineering design review. Jeff Wellman, Assistant Head of the Science Department, volunteered to be the lead CDDHS teacher for the Project. Randy Dryburgh, recently retired from teaching at CDDHS, agreed to work with Jeff Wellman and Matt Fairlie to coordinate the Project.

The Construction:

Throughout the 2004/2005 school year, under the technical supervision of David Lutka, a Master Electrician who volunteered his time to the project, students and teachers from Physics classes, Electrical classes and Construction classes worked on the installation of the renewable energy system. Initially they worked on the photo voltaic components. They built and installed protective catwalks on the school roof and supports for the solar panels, wired and setup the solar panels and hooked up the battery storage systems.

Phase I:

On November 23, 2004, the school celebrated the completion of Phase I, the Photo Voltaic Panel Installation, of the Green Power Project. The event was run by students from the CDDHS Environment Club and included congratulations from the Upper Grand School Board, the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, the Ontario Minister of the environment and the Ontario Minister of Energy.

Phase II:
The second phase of the installation was much more difficult largely because it presented a number of engineering challenges associated with placing a wind turbine on the school roof. The GPP Project Engineer, Peter Saegert, had to design an installation that was unique. Mr. Saegert’s challenges included the following:

1. No penetration of the school roof was allowed, and thus guy support wires were out. So the pole supporting the turbine would have to be attached to the second floor school wall.

2. However, since the walls were constructed of brick and block with no internal steel framework, he was required to design a “strongback” support system of heavy steel which would be built inside the school envelope, to support the turbine and pole.

3. Lastly, since the turbine would have to be periodically brought down for maintenance, he would have to design a tilt procedure which would allow students, under teacher supervision, to lower the turbine safely.

It was a tough challenge, but Mr. Saegert developed a design which handled all of these requirements and pleased the School Board. Building and installing the strongback support system was another matter however. Because of a very tight timeline, it was accomplished during a blinding snowstorm which closed a number of roads into Shelburne.

Once the pole support was in place, over the next few weeks, the student/teacher volunteers, supervised by David Lutka, were able to raise the turbine, install the inverter to change the DC power produced to AC, add disconnects and monitoring devices and link the Green Power infrastructure to the school electrical system. To complete the system, Hydro One workers installed a Smart Meter in the school.

The only final requirement was the Electrical Safety Authority stamp of approval. It was expensive because it was the first of its kind, but all of the components and their installation passed inspection … except for one. The turbine, which was one of the components donated to the school failed. A new Whisper wind generator was quickly purchased and installed just in time for a final inspection the morning of the public event to announce the school renewable energy system. The system passed inspection and has been delivering power to CDDHS ever since.

On Earth Day (April 22nd, 2005), CDDHS unveiled the first solar and wind powered school based renewable energy system in Ontario at a public event moderated and organized by students from the school Environment Club. Donna Cansfield, Parliamentary Assistant to Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, was a featured speaker at the event. In attendance as well were project supporters, including representatives from the Upper Grand District School Board, the Fairfield Group, EcoAction, Hydro One, Canadian Hydro Developers and Fines Home Hardware. Students provided tours of renewable system to members of the public for the first time.

The Future of the System:

As the students and teachers become familiar with the various components of the Green Power Project they will be incorporated into the school science, technology and other programs where appropriate. Future student projects could include designing and installing a solar tracker to increase the efficiency of the solar panels, solar water heaters, and an additional wind turbine. Much later, students could develop a hydrogen energy conversion system incorporating electrolysis production and fuel cell power systems.

As well as offering a valuable learning experience it is hoped the Shelburne Green Power Project will stimulate interest and develop expertise to support “home based” and “community based” energy producing systems and energy conservation technologies particularly appropriate to rural communities.