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电池以实现能源自给自足，从而提高埃尔维德野外站的研究和教育能力。EVFS位于波多黎各的卢基略实验森林。它由波多黎各大学管理，是卢基略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，该站是一个必不可少的资源，他们依靠EVFS提供安全，热情好客和负担得起的住宿，直接进入偏远的现场，并使用专门的设备来完成他们的研究和教育目标。它是K-12，本科，研究生和博士后学生的实践培训中心，为全球竞争力和多元化的STEM劳动力做出贡献。自2017年9月飓风Irma和Maria摧毁电网以来，EVFS一直没有可靠的电力供应，此后发电机的发电能力下降。安装太阳能系统和电池将导致基于站点的发电和存储，以满足EVFS设施的电力需求。这将确保继续进行重要的研究和教育项目，并在热带森林生态学领域开展新的科学探索。太阳能基础设施也将有助于建立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促进公共资助的生态科学。该项目涉及在EVFS安装73.35 kW DC / 56.887 kW AC太阳能系统和224 kWhr电池存储，每年的电力需求，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，并且该电站可以免受飓风等大规模干扰。这些面板将安装在车站现有几个结构的屋顶上，这将需要在一个建筑物中安装一个直立接缝屋顶和修理一个内部天花板。电池、逆变器和相关硬件将位于为此目的而建造的新储藏室中。资金将用于阴影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，屋顶和储藏室的建造，太阳能系统的安装，购买节能电器，以及购买数字显示器与游客交流项目和实时能源发电。完成后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对今世后代的生态研究和教育。 该奖项由生物基础设施部颁发，并得到环境生物学部LTER计划的共同支持。该奖项反映了NSF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.