Vinton-Shellsburg High School Solar Field

Back to projects

The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District was interested in incorporating solar energy technology as a way to lower its utility bills. As the district’s middle and high school buildings are connected to the Vinton Municipal Electric Utility, coordination with the utility was critical to the success of the project. Modeling was done to prove to the school board that a solar array would work and be worth the investment of funds.
 
The high school building, the district’s largest consumer of energy, was chosen for the solar array. A white rubber membrane was installed on the roof to fully take advantage of using bifacial photovoltaic panels – so-called because the top and bottom of the solar panels convert sunlight to electricity, so that the light reflection off the ground can also supplement the overall electrical production. The parameters of the project were established in collaboration wiht the Utility in order to work seamlessly with the municipal grid. 
 
Installation began in the fall of 2023 and was completed in the spring of 2024. The solar array produces an average of 500 kilowatts of electricity at any given time, exceeding even what the modeling forecasted. With the school saving around $5,000 a month in utility costs, the district will be able to hire more teachers and cover other necessary costs. And with a warranty of 20+ years on both the roof and solar panels, the school district will be reaping the monetary benefits for decades. In addition to the electric bill reduction, the school qualifies for the Inflation Reduction Act financial benefit program.