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

该项目的目标是通过安装太阳能系统和用于自给自足发电的电池来加强埃尔维德实地站(EVF)的研究和教育能力。EVFS位于波多黎各的卢基洛实验森林。它由波多黎各大学管理，是卢基洛长期生态研究计划的主要地点之一。该空间站是来自波多黎各和美国的科学家、工作人员和学生的重要资源，他们依靠EVF提供安全、好客和负担得起的住宿，直接进入偏远的野外地点，并使用专门的设备来完成他们的研究和教育目标。它为K-12、本科生、研究生和博士后水平的学生提供实践培训中心，为具有全球竞争力和多样化的STEM劳动力做出贡献。自2017年9月飓风伊尔玛和玛丽亚摧毁电网以来，EVF一直没有可靠的电力，自那以来一直在减少发电机发电能力的情况下运行。安装太阳能系统和电池将导致基于现场的发电和存储，以满足EVF设施的电力需求。这将确保关键的研究和教育项目的继续，并使热带森林生态领域的科学研究有新的思路。太阳能基础设施还将使发电站更加自给自足，对未来的停电具有弹性，并展示可持续发电如何支持和促进公共资助的生态科学。该项目涉及在EVFS安装73.35kW DC/56.887 kW交流太阳能系统和224kWr电池存储，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相结合，以便在发电方面有冗余，并使发电站免受飓风等大规模干扰的影响。这些电池板将安装在空间站几个现有结构的屋顶上，这将需要在一座建筑中安装直立接缝屋顶和维修内部天花板。电池、逆变器和相关硬件将放置在为此目的建造的新储藏室中。资金将用于遮阳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、建造屋顶和储藏室、安装太阳能系统、购买节能电器，以及购买数字显示器，以便与参观者就项目和实时能源产生进行交流。已建成的太阳系将由普遍定期审议工作人员负责维护，并将支持和加强波多黎各今世后代的生态研究和教育。生物基础设施部的这一奖项由环境生物学LTER计划部门共同支持。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.