October 2015
Alexis-Ann Acohido
Record-breaking Rooftop Solar Panel
System Installed at Gemini North
Gemini Observatory leads the way in the use of renewable energy
sources on Maunakea, as evidenced by the latest installation of PV
solar panels on the rooftop of Gemini North. This move toward a
more eco-efficient operation shows Gemini’s commitment to the
positive stewardship of our planet.
Figure 1.
The PV panels were
transported to the roof
by crane.
The Gemini Engineering group has
finished the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roof of the
Gemini North telescope. Maui Pacific
Solar installed the panels and it took
about six weeks to complete.
“The PV panels [on Maunakea] are the
second highest in the world (the highest are in Tibet) by about 200 feet [~61
meters]”, says Maui Pacific Solar Founder and President Mike Carroll. “However, [Gemini’s] is the highest rooftop
mounted PV system in the world that
is connected to the utility.”
The solar panels will (conservatively) generate about 10% of the power required to operate the Maunakea facility, and will be
roughly 70% more energy productive than the panels planned for installation on the roof of
the observatory’s base facility in Hilo. PV systems operating on Maunakea are more efficient
than at sea level for three important reasons: first, Maunakea receives on average 6.4 peak
January 2016
2015 Year in Review
GeminiFocus