A rooftop solar+storage system has been added to the Capitola Branch Library, nearly five years after it was first renovated.
The solar project was managed by Santa Cruz county, while engineering company OurEnergy, in partnership with Allterra Solar, provided construction, design, and quality assurance services. The library is Capitola’s first energy-neutral building.
While installing solar panels was always part of the new library’s plan, budget constraints forced the project to be put on hold. Volunteer group Friends of the Capitola Library raised the half a million dollars needed to install the solar panels and battery energy storage system (BESS).
According to MSN, the solar array covers the majority of the building’s roof and includes around 126 panels, providing 73 kilowatts of energy. The accompanying BESS will store excess energy produced during the day, with the capability of providing up to 15 hours of energy.
“I’m thrilled to see them going up,” said Tiffany Wise-West, sustainability and climate action manager for the city of Santa Cruz. “As a sustainability professional, I’m glad to see them making the investment. And I hope to see more as a resident.”
Because the library is a public building that may be used in the event of a power outage, it will remain connected to the grid to ensure it has continued access to power.
California’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045 is supported by initiatives like the solar installation at the Capitola Branch Library. City Manager Jamie Goldstein said more of the city’s public buildings will eventually be converted to solar, depending on funding availability.
The city of Capitola, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, the Friends of the Capitola Library, and other partners hosted a ribbon-cutting to unveil the project on January 24.
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