The Bourns Hall solar panel system, initially installed during renovations in 2016, has come back to life due to the efforts of Facilities Services and collaborations with the Bourns College of Engineering and Stronghold Engineering.

Since becoming operational in September 2024, the solar panel system has produced nearly 120,000 kilowatt-hours, resulting in approximately $15,000 in deferred energy costs against a project expenditure of $14,000. This impressive return on investment was achieved in under a year, with the solar panels supplying around 3-5% of Bourns Hall's energy consumption.

Integral to the project’s revival was the concept of asset tagging. Initially brought up during discussions on facilities management in 2021, asset tagging highlighted the solar panel system's significance as university property and prompted further investigation.

The journey began when Sean Meyers, a Facilities Services electrician, noticed error messages on the solar inverters during routine maintenance. This prompted Chad Sisco, the director of Energy & Engineering, to reach out to BCOE for information.

Sisco’s inquiries led to discussions revealing that the solar panel system was installed while Bourns Hall B underwent laboratory renovations nearly a decade ago. However, the project was left unfinished due to the challenges associated with integrating a battery storage system, particularly concerning fire and life safety compliance.

In light of these findings, Chad Sisco and Alejandro Gonzalez, associate energy engineer, took the reins of the project. “This was a culmination of factors that pushed us to take action,” Sisco mentioned, emphasizing how asset tracking was at the forefront of their minds. They collaborated with Stronghold Engineering, known for their successful installations at other campus sites.

Together, they retro-commissioned the existing inverters and added a new Data Acquisition System to monitor real-time performance. Key modifications included enhancing roof safety connections and ensuring proper maintenance, such as washing the panels to maximize efficiency.

As the tenth solar panel system on campus, the Bourns Hall installation demonstrates solar energy continues to find its footing in university operations. Currently, the total solar produced by UCR is 9 megawatts. The next solar energy project will be the Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Facility, furthering UCR’s commitment to sustainability.