Students See Farm's Solar Array During Area Field Trip

Published 10.05.2016

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Renewable energy technologies students on a Tuesday field trip are (from left) Colten R. Temple, Catawissa; Andrew C. Schroker, Blooming Glen; Nicholas A. Daniels, Levittown; Carson J. Klikus, Beach Lake; Chet A. Schwoyer Jr., Williamsport; Matthew M. Bernick, of Lewisberry; and Eric M. Wanczak, of Chambersburg.Seven students in Penn College's renewable energy technologies major visited the 36-kilowatt solar array at Albavale Farm in Canton on Tuesday. The photovoltaic system uses 120 solar panels to generate more than half of the farm’s total usage of electricity. The students saw the array mounted on one of the barns, observed solar string combiner boxes, four SMA Sunny Boy utility-tied inverter and the utility metering with associated switch gear for the PV system. The field trip was a lab exercise in Jon W. Hart’s Photovoltaic Systems class. The students enjoyed the trip, and had a sampling of "fresh off the farm” milk and warm cookies.
Photo by Hart, instructor of electrical technologies/occupations