Project Description

Dominion Solar for Students

Dominion Energy Solar for Students

Dominion Energy has partnered with The National Energy Development Project (NEED) for over 3 decades to offer energy education curriculum and training to teachers and students.  In 2015, Dominion Energy and NEED partnered to bring Virginia schools, museums and cultural institutions the Dominion Energy Solar for Students program that installed photovoltaic installations and provided hands-on solar kits and teacher workshops for four schools.  Over the last four years, an additional fourteen schools and cultural institutions have received photovoltaic systems, teacher training and solar curriculum.

Dominion Energy Solar for Students Program provides:

  • 1.2 kilowatt photovoltaic system that converts sunlight into electric power, often referred to as “solar on a stick”
  • An online monitoring tool, to provide real-time data on the system’s activity and the amount of electricity generated
  • A online data display to show teachers, students, parents, and school visitors the output of the system
  • Solar Energy training for classroom teachers and school personnel
  • Virginia SOL focused solar curriculum and hands-on kits that will teach students how solar works and how energy, the environment and economics are all part of energy decision making.
  • A Solarbration to cut the ribbon and showcase the school’s new installation to the local community
  • Connections to other Solar for Students program participants to share data, partner on projects and expand learning

Eligibility:

  • K-12 public schools or educational non-profit organizations with STEM (science/technology/engineering/math) programming in the regions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia where Dominion Energy provides electric service.
  • Schools that have full support of school board, superintendent and school administration for both the installation of the photovoltaic system, as well as curriculum and teacher training.
  • Teaching staff who are committed to teaching students about the value of solar energy and exploring energy in class, monitoring the data from the installation, and integrating a deeper understanding of energy into the school.
  • The school site will be surveyed for eligibility including space of installation area, access to full sunlight, access to electrical interconnection in the school building, safety and security.

Solar for Students schools by year

Click the links to view live solar data being collected by the schools solar array.

In 2019, the Dominion Energy Solar for Students program nearly doubled in size with expansion to North Carolina and South Carolina, with installations at the following schools:
Virginia
  • Advanced Career Education Center (ACE) at Highland Springs (Henrico County, VA)
  • Dinwiddie High School (Dinwiddie County, VA)
  • Great Bridge Middle School (Chesapeake City, VA)
  • Louisa Middle School (Louisa County, VA)
  • New Horizons Regional Education Centers (Hampton, VA)
  • Quioccasin Middle School (Henrico County, VA)
  • Riverside High School (Loudoun County, VA)
  • Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Career Tech Academy (Halifax County, VA)
  • Spratley Gifted Center/ Hampton City Schools (Hampton, VA)

North Carolina

  • C.S. Brown High School STEM (Hertford County, NC)

South Carolina

  • Bowen’s Corner Elementary School (Berkeley County, SC)
  • Dent Middle School (Richland County, SC)
  • Eau Claire High School (Richland County, SC)
  • Gilbert High School (Lexington County, SC)
  • Irmo High School (Lexington County, SC)
  • Port Royal Sound Foundation (Beaufort County, SC)

In 2018, The Dominion Energy Solar for Students program moves to Southwest Virginia with installations on the following schools:

In 2017, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and The NEED Project selected six (6) schools and museums in the Dominion Energy, Inc. service area to receive a solar installation, teacher training, and classroom curriculum. For more information, view the Dominion Energy Charitable FoundationMedia Release. Schools Selected in 2017 included:  (Click on the links to view solar data for the schools.)

These four schools received a Spotlight Solar system installed by the great team at Sigora Solar.  Click on the links below to view solar data for the schools:

 

Using the NEED Schools Going Solar Curriculum and the entire suite of NEED solar kits, teachers and students learn about solar energy for heating, lighting, and electricity generation.

Photos from some of Dominion’s Programs

More photos from Dominion Programs

Energy in Virginia Curriculum, Kits, and Map

In 2016, NEED received a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation to create the Energy in Virginia curriculum and map for sixth grade students across the Commonwealth. This unit, designed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education brings a deeper look at energy into the science classroom. Participating teachers received an Energy in Virginia kit, curriculum and training at one of three regional workshops.

Energy in Virginia – 6th Grade Curriculum Module

Energy In Virginia Guide (pdf) Energy in Virginia Guide (e-publication)
Virginia Energy Map
Cool Coal and Nifty Natural Gas Story Props
Virginia Energy Round Up Posters
EIA Virginia Energy Data 
Dominion Energy Power Facilities 
Virginia Energy Bingo
VA Dominion Workshop PowerPoint
Virginia Energy SOL Strands and Concepts

Please email info@need.org with any questions about the Dominion Energy Solar for Students Program.