Research Infrastructure: Installation of solar infrastructure to enhance research capacity and resilience to disturbance at El Verde Field Station

研究基础设施：安装太阳能基础设施，以增强 El Verde 野外站的研究能力和抗干扰能力

• 批准号: 2305814
• 负责人: Christopher Nytch
• 金额: $ 92.09万
• 依托单位: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-15 至 2025-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2305814&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Research; Infrastructure; Installation; solar; infrastructure

The goal of this project is to enhance research and education capacity at El Verde Field Station (EVFS) via installation of a solar system and batteries for self-sufficient energy generation. EVFS is located in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. It is administered by the University of Puerto Rico and is one the principal sites of the Luquillo Long-term Ecological Research Program. The station is an essential resource for scientists, staff, and students from Puerto Rico and the United States who rely on EVFS for safe, hospitable, and affordable lodging, direct access to remote field sites, and the use of specialized equipment to accomplish their research and education objectives. It serves as a hands-on training center for students at the K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels, contributing to a globally competitive and diverse STEM workforce. EVFS has been without reliable electricity since Hurricanes Irma and Maria knocked out the electric grid in September 2017, functioning since then in a reduced capacity on generator power. Installing a solar system and batteries will result in site-based power generation and storage to meet the electricity needs of EVFS’ facilities. This will ensure the continuation of critical research and education projects and enable new lines of scientific inquiry in the field of tropical forest ecology. The solar infrastructure will also make for a more self-sustaining station that is resilient to future power outages and demonstrate how sustainable electricity generation can support and advance publicly funded ecological science.The project involves installation of a 73.35 kW DC / 56.887 kW AC solar system and 224 kWhr of battery storage at EVFS that will provide up to 73% of annual electricity needs including all essential office, laboratory, and dormitory equipment. It will be integrated with the existing electric infrastructure so that there is redundancy in electricity generation and the station is buffered from large-scale disturbances such as hurricanes. The panels will be mounted on the roofs of several existing structures at the station, which will require installation of a standing seam roof and repair of an interior ceiling in one building. Batteries, inverters, and associated hardware will be located in a new storage room built for this purpose. Funding will cover costs for a shade study and integrated electrical assessment, engineering designs for the roof and storage room, environmental assessment, clearing and grubbing, construction of the roof and storage room, installation of the solar system, purchase of energy efficient appliances, and purchase of a digital display for communication with visitors about project and real-time energy generation. The completed solar system will be maintained by UPR staff and will support and enhance ecological research and education in Puerto Rico for current and future generations. This award by the Division of Biological Infrastructure is jointly supported by the Division of Environmental Biology LTER program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目的目标是通过安装太阳能系统和电池来增强 El Verde 野外站 (EVFS) 的研究和教育能力，EVFS 位于波多黎各的卢科伊洛实验森林 (Luquillo Experimental Forest)。该站由波多黎各大学建造，是卢基约长期生态研究计划的主要站点之一，对于来自波多黎各和美国的科学家、工作人员和学生来说，他们是一个重要的资源，他们依靠 EVFS 获得安全、友好的服务。 ，而且价格实惠它是 K-12、本科生、研究生和博士后级别学生的实践培训中心。自 2017 年 9 月飓风“艾尔玛”和“玛丽亚”摧毁电网以来，EVFS 一直缺乏可靠的电力，自此以来，安装太阳能系统和电池的能力将下降。现场发电存储以满足 EVFS 设施的电力需求，这将确保关键研究和教育项目的继续进行，并实现热带森林生态领域新的科学探究。能够应对未来的停电，并展示可持续发电如何支持和推进公共资助的生态科学。该项目涉及安装 73.35 kW DC / 56.887 kW AC 太阳能系统和 224 kWhr 电池存储EVFS 的电站将提供高达 73% 的年度电力需求，包括所有必要的办公室、实验室和宿舍设备。它将与现有的电力基础设施集成，从而实现发电冗余，并缓冲大规模电站的影响。这些面板将安装在车站几个现有建筑物的屋顶上，这将需要安装直立接缝屋顶并修复一栋建筑物的内部天花板。在一个为此目的建造的新储藏室的费用将用于遮荫研究和综合电气评估、屋顶和储藏室的工程设计、环境评估、清理和挖掘、屋顶和储藏室的建造、太阳能系统的安装。 、购买节能电器，以及购买数字显示器，以便与游客就项目和实时能源发电进行交流。完整的太阳能系统将由 UPR 工作人员维护，并将支持和加强波多黎各当前的生态研究和教育。此奖由生物科授予。基础设施由环境生物学部 LTER 计划联合支持。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。