SOLAR AT ST AL'S

 Why solar?

Although Houghton gets lots of snow there is still a lot of sun. Solar arrays are more efficient in cool temperatures and the shading due to snow can be reduced by having the panels tilted enough that the snow slides off. With solar tecnology today, the panels are better at absorbing indirect light such as on those cloudy Keweenaw days when it is still bright out. Furthermore, electricity rates are continuing to increase. In 2022 the average electricity cost in Houghton is double the average US or Michigan rates. 

Why St. Al’s?

Installing a solar panel array at St. Al’s (and St. Anne’s) was a sound financial investment and a way to live environmentally sustainable. Putting solar panels on churches is not a new idea either, the Vatican has the highest per capita solar power of any state! The roof at St. Al’s is a great angle, faces the correct direction, and has minimal shading. 


St Al’s Solar Array:

20 panels totalling 8.1 kW DC
SunnyBoy 7.7 kW inverter
Installed on the main church roof at 54 degrees

St Anne’s Array:

- 21 panels totalling 8.5 kW DC
- SunnyBoy 7.0 kW inverter
- Installed 2 rows of 7 on the shed roof 



What we have achieved so far (Dec to end of September)

- 8,200 kWh produced and $1,350 saved in under 10 months of being in operation
- 18% ROI and the system will pay itself back in 5-6 years
 

The installation team:

Fr Ben (project manager) - He was pivotal in making all the pieces come together and to make the project happen. “” Quote here

Madi McFall (mechanical engineering student) - She crunched the numbers, designed the system, and led installation. “” Quote here something explaining how the project came about

Carl Keranen (electrician) - He made sure everything was to code and ran the electrical connections into the meter.

MTU students (installers) - Many students got involved in this project to help get the panels, inverters,  and the hardware from the boxes onto the roof. 

Some Stats:

18% ROI and the system will pay itself back in 5-6 years

In 2022 the US average electricity cost was 13.72 ¢/kWh and Michigan’s average was similar at 12.38 ¢/kWh. However, due to population density and politics the average cost of electricity in Houghton is almost doubled at 24.23 ¢/kWh. 

0.1652 $/kWh - calculated 2022




"It was so exciting to bring the project to life. Fr Ben and I worked together to decide what was feasible and when it finally all came together " - Madi McFall