• The Athenian School
• Danville, CA
• 221 kW
• August 2008
• Download Case Study

In 2008, REC Solar was contracted by the Athenian School to provide a solar electric system that would provide clean energy for their school’s operations. The Athenian School is a 450 student preparatory school located in Danville, CA. On the initial survey of the site, 2 obstacles became apparent: the site for the solar was a dormant landslide and the school required specialized financing assistance. REC Solar provided a full professional geological survey of the site and formed a partnership with Tioga Energy to provide Power Purchase Agreement financing options to the school.

The results of the geological survey found that the tops 15 feet of this hillside’s 30 degree sloped surface was sliding at a variable rate depending on the rain level and seismic activity. REC Solar worked with its geological engineering subcontractor to define a low cost pinning option that would stabilize the hillside while providing a mounting structure for the solar modules. One hundred 20’ deep by 2’ diameter, steel reinforced concrete piers were formed into the underlying bedrock at the site. A 220kW photovoltaic array was mounted to the top of the piers.

Financially, the School was able to purchase power from the system at a savings from the cost of the local utility, PG&E, while also stabilizing a hillside that could have created safety issues.