363 kW Northside Middle School Solar Install in Columbus, Indiana

In early 2020 the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation in Columbus, Indiana approved a bond issue to fund two school solar projects and the upgrade of Northside Middle School’s energy management system. By Fall 2020 these two schools were up and running on solar and setting out to save close to $300,000 a year in utility costs. The Northside Middle School 363 kW solar system is made up of an impressive 1008 Canadian Solar 360 watt panels.  The array is ballast mounted on two levels of the flat roof of the school building with only one penetration required for utility room entrance.  The system will put out approximately 458041 kWh of energy in its first year and will produce approximately 10,569,759 kWh over the 25 year guaranteed life of the system.  Solar panels can put out power for 40 years or more, which means a lot of affordable power for this school for a long time so they can dedicate more of their resources to educating their students.