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自给自足能源发电的电池，提高El Verde野外站（EVFS）的研究和教育能力。EVFS位于波多黎各的Luquillo实验森林。它由波多黎各大学管理，是Luquillo长期生态研究计划的主要地点之一。对于来自波多黎各和美国的科学家、工作人员和学生来说，EVFS是一个重要的资源，他们依靠EVFS获得安全、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、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“厄玛”和“玛丽亚”摧毁电网以来，EVFS一直没有可靠的电力供应，从那时起，发电机的发电能力就下降了。安装太阳能系统和电池将实现现场发电和储能，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，并使热带森林生态领域的科学研究有了新的途径。太阳能基础设施也将成为一个更加自我维持的电站，能够适应未来的停电，并展示可持续发电如何支持和推进公共资助的生态科学。该项目包括在EVFS安装一个73.35千瓦的直流/ 56.887千瓦的交流太阳能系统和224千瓦时的电池存储系统，将提供高达73%的年电力需求，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，这样发电就有了冗余，车站也可以缓冲飓风等大规模干扰的影响。这些面板将安装在车站几个现有结构的屋顶上，这将需要在一个建筑物中安装站立式接缝屋顶和修复内部天花板。电池，逆变器和相关硬件将位于为此目的而建的新储藏室。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、清理和清理、屋顶和储藏室的建设、太阳能系统的安装、购买节能电器、购买数字显示器，以便与参观者交流项目和实时发电。已建成的太阳能系统将由普遍定期审议工作人员维护，并将支持和加强波多黎各为今世后代进行的生态研究和教育。该奖项由生物基础设施部颁发，并得到环境生物学部LTER项目的联合支持。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.