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Renewable Energy: Solar Energy:
DNR Solar Program:
Antelope
Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park uses photovoltaic (PV) systems to provide power to a variety of applications where installing utility power lines is not cost-effective.
Garr Ranch
The Garr Ranch PV system provides electricity to the restroom and barn. The barn includes a lean-to which houses historical displays. The ranch is approximately 15 miles from the closest utility line. The cost to run power lines to the ranch would be over $300,000. This site is well suited for solar power because the electric demand is low and the distance to a utility power line is great.
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The 1,500 watt solar array at Garr Ranch. |
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Installation of solar array in March, 2000. |
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Inverter on left. The "power center" on right contains
the charge controller, low-voltage disconnect, and circuit breakers. |
System Specifications
Solar Array Rated Output |
1,500 watts |
Inverter Capacity |
4,000 watts |
Battery Capacity |
795 amp-hours |
DC Nominal Voltage |
48 volts |
AC Nominal Voltage |
120 volts |
Year installed |
2000 |
Cost |
$17,300 (equipment only) |
Annual Savings |
$3,300 (estimate comparing PV system to a generator) |
Garr Ranch Water System
A small, single module PV system from an abandoned payphone was moved to the water tank that supplies the ranch with water. Electricity from the PV system is used to open and close the water tank fill valve.
System Specifications
Solar Array Rated Output |
30 watts |
Inverter Capacity |
No Inverter |
Battery Capacity |
86 amp-hours |
DC Nominal Voltage |
12 volts |
AC Nominal Voltage |
No AC voltage |
Cost |
$0 (reused abandoned equipment) |
Radio Repeater Site
Until recently, the park headquarters did not have e-mail or Internet
access. The options were to run a land line from the visitor center or
transmit the data over radio waves. Installing a land line would be very
expensive and disruptive. Radio transmission needed line-of-sight between
the buildings, and there is a hill between the visitor center and the
headquarters building.
The solution to the problem was to install a radio repeater station on Buffalo Point which has line-of-sight with both buildings. Buffalo Point does not have utility service, so several abandoned PV systems previously used to power payphones were installed to power the radio repeater.
System Specifications
Solar Array Rated Output |
90 watts |
Inverter Capacity |
No inverter |
Battery Capacity |
258 amp-hours |
DC Nominal Voltage |
12 volts |
AC Nominal Voltage |
No AC voltage |
Year installed |
2002 |
Cost |
$0 (reused abandoned equipment) |
Marina Lighting
The marina flashing light, which marks the entrance
to the marina, is solar powered.
System Specifications
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Solar Array Rated Output |
20 watts |
Inverter Capacity |
No inverter |
Battery Capacity |
160 amp-hours |
DC Nominal Voltage |
6 volts |
AC Nominal Voltage |
No AC voltage |