Captain Planet would be proud of the moves Madison College continues to make.
Madison College is a Dane County Climate Champion thanks to its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and advancing climate action initiatives, and now it is a college with a solar plus energy storage system.
Housed at the Truax campus, the system combines geothermal heating and cooling, solar energy and battery storage into one system. The college touted its reliability and reduction in environmental effects, as well as lower operating costs.
Plus, students will be able to use the system for hands-on learning.
“At our campuses, students gain hands-on experience with innovative technologies that prepare them for clean energy careers,” Jennifer Berne, president of Madison College, said in a statement. “At the same time, we are advancing sustainable, reliable energy solutions for our region. It is particularly meaningful to celebrate this new solar investment during Earth Week.”
Students in the renewable energy certificate, electrical apprenticeship, electrical technical diploma, construction technical diploma, industrial maintenance associate’s degree electromechanical technology AS and architecture AS programs can use the system for hands-on learning.
The 180 kWdc ground-mounted solar array’s double-side panels will boost energy production by up to 20%. Everything is designed for high efficiency and operation during cold Wisconsin winters.
And the entire system should last for over 30 years with an estimated payback in 8-10 years.
“This solar plus storage installation provides infrastructure for training students for skilled technical careers in the energy workforce,” Madison College instructor Ken Walz said in a statement. “Most importantly, the energy sector provides jobs that cannot be exported, are not easily replaced by automation and pay family-supporting wages. Our graduates can feel proud knowing their work benefits both the planet and their communities.”
The $665,000 solar plus energy storage project was supported in part by a $435,000 award from the Wisconsin Energy Innovation Grant Program.
Madison College has been on a path to provide solar energy to all of its campus buildings since 2017 and currently operates nine solar PV systems totaling over 3MW of combined capacity, contributing roughly $400,000 worth of electricity annually for campus operations.
