Since the installation is located just 40 feet from world-class surf spot Steamer Lane, resisting the corrosive effect of ocean air required aluminum rigid conduit, stainless steel hardware, and anodized roof mounts.
Case Study - Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse in Santa Cruz, CA
Ron Jones for | Quick Mount PV
Company Names: Quick Mount PV, Sandbar Solar & Electric
Website address: quickmountpv.com • sandbarsc.com
Project location: Santa Cruz, CA
Project budget: Sandbar Solar & Electric contributed approximately $10,000 in labor and equipment; Quick Mount PV donated the roof mounts; SolarWorld provided eight modules at a discount.
List of Products used: Quick Mount PV QBase Universal Tile Mounts, SolarWorld 255 WDC monocrystalline modules, SMA 2000HFUS inverters, and SMA web-based monitoring
This was a 2.04 kW installation on the historic Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse in Santa Cruz, completed in February, 2013. The lighthouse was built in 1967 in honor of 18 year-old Mark Abbott, who died in 1965 while bodysurfing in nearby waters. In 1986 it became the home of the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.
The lighthouse nearly closed down in 2009 due to budget cuts, but was saved with community donations of $20,000 annually spearheaded by the Santa Cruz Surfing Club and Preservation Society. In 2012, local solar installer Sandbar Solar & Electric, owned by Scott Laskey, offered to install solar on the lighthouse roof. Sandbar contributed the design and installation, plus the racking, inverter and monitoring. Quick Mount PV donated the mounts, and SolarWorld offered discounted modules. The installation was completed in February, 2013, and has contributed to preserving the lighthouse/museum by cutting its electricity bill by 80 percent.
"The Surf Museum and The Preservation Society are cultural identities for Santa Cruz,” said Scott Laskey, owner of Sandbar Solar & Electric. “When I heard about a financial struggle to maintain these Icons of our community, I thought this was something we could offer in support."
Since the installation is located just 40 feet from world-class surf spot Steamer Lane, resisting the corrosive effect of ocean air required aluminum rigid conduit, stainless steel hardware, and anodized roof mounts. As Quick Mount PV’s Sr. Director of Sales Mark Ammerman says, “The museum’s cliff side location creates a twofold threat to the solar array’s foundation through increased moisture and corrosive salt in the air. Our bronze-anodized QBase Universal Tile Mounts provide superior waterproofing in these harsh conditions.”
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
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