TXU Energy brings solar energy education to the classroom in the TXU Energy Solar Academy. TXU Energy provides a contribution to the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project to coordinate and deliver a solar education program that helps teachers meet the requirements of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), helps students and their families understand basic energy concepts and brings solar demonstration installations to local communities.
In 2008, the TXU Energy Solar Academy installed 10 photovoltaic (PV) systems in Texas school districts. In 2009, 15 school districts joined the TXU Energy Solar Academy. In 2010, another 8 school districts joined. These PV systems include software that monitors the electricity output of the system and displays the data on a website for students, their families, and community members to see the power of the sun.
In addition to the PV installations, the TXU Energy Solar Academy provides teacher training workshops that have reached over 2,000 teachers adding more teachers to the TXU Energy Solar Academy each year. Participating teachers receive TEKS aligned standards, professional development credit, and over $800 of classroom hands-on kits and materials. In order to not put a drain on school district budgets, substitute reimbursement is provided for participating teachers.
TXU Energy Solar Academy programs teach students about energy and electricity generation while introducing students to the power of the sun. TXU Energy and NEED came together to provide award-winning resources, the power of a local solar installation, and the high-quality teacher support and resources available from NEED. TXU Energy Solar Academy districts celebrate recently installed systems with TXU Energy Solarbrations.
TXU Solar Installation Data
The system is an educational demonstration at the school site and generates electricity while the sun is up. The school receives solar generated electricity (likely between 1,400 kWh and 2,200 kWh per year) for many years to come. The data acquisition system monitors the generation of solar electricity in real time and displays it on the internet for all teachers, students and their families to use in classroom lessons and activities. The TXU Energy Solar Academy school districts compare and contrast their data with other districts in Texas and across the United States.
The PV system consists of three parts: The data collection system, the inverter, and the solar panels.
| Click below for PV data from | ||
| ISD | Installed Date | Location |
| August 6, 2013 | TXU Energy Sierra Office | |
| 2008 Solar Academy | ||
|
ISD |
Installed Date |
Location |
| Aransas County ISD | August 21, 2008 | Rockport-Fulton High School |
| Cleburne ISD | February 28, 2008 | Cleburne High School |
| CyFair ISD | May 14, 2008 | Science Resource Center |
| Flour Bluff ISD | January 14, 2009 | Flour Bluff Intermediate School |
| Frankston ISD | August 14, 2008 | Frankston Elementary School |
| Goose Creek ISD | January 30, 2009 | Ross S Sterling High School |
| Klein ISD | August 22, 2008 | Kleb Intermediate School |
| Mesquite ISD | August 13, 2008 | Mesquite High School |
| Trinity Valley School | January 30, 2009 | Trinity Valley School |
| Wichita Falls ISD | June 23, 2008 | Kirby Junior High School |
| 2009 Solar Academy | ||
| ISD | Installed Date | Location |
| Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD |
October 10, 2009 | Dan Long Middle School |
| Celina ISD | September 30, 2009 | Celina Middle School |
| Donna ISD | November 16, 2009 | Donna High School |
| Duncanville ISD | October 6, 2009 | Duncanville High School |
| Ector County ISD | August 10, 2009 | Wilson & Young Medal of Honor Middle School |
| Fort Worth ISD | October 5, 2009 | Arlington Heights High School |
| Katy ISD | May 20, 2009 | Morton Ranch Elementary School |
| Magnolia ISD | July 15, 2009 | Williams Elementary School |
| International Museum of Art and Science |
Sept. 16, 2009 | International Museum of Art and Science – McAllen |
| McKinney ISD | June 10, 2009 | Minshew Elementary School |
| Nacogdoches ISD | August 27, 2009 | Nacogdoches ISD |
| Spring ISD | February 4, 2010 | Roberson Middle School |
| Waller ISD | November 25, 2009 | Field Store Elementary |
| Tyler, Tx | February 20, 2010 | All Saints School |
| Lampasas ISD | May 09, 2010 | Taylor Creek School |
| 2010 Solar Academy | ||
| ISD | Installed Date | Location |
| UTPA | August 2010 | University of Texas Pan American |
| Lakehill Preparatory School | December 12, 2010 | Lakehill Preparatory School |
| Birdville ISD | December 12, 2010 | North Richland Middle School |
| Cedar Hill ISD | December 20, 2010 | West Intermediate School |
| Corsicana ISD | December 27, 2010 | Corsicana High School |
| Jacksboro ISD | February 28, 2011 | Jacksboro High School |
| Arp ISD | February 28, 2011 | Arp High School |
| Fort Bend ISD | February 28, 2011 | Fort Bend ISD Central Office |