More than 40 math and science teachers were on the receiving end of the lesson during a recent Sun Power for Schools’ Teacher Learning Lab. The full-day training session, hosted by Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMCs), including GreyStone Power, provided teachers with hands-on instruction for working with their schools’ photovoltaic (solar energy) system as well as lesson plans for their classrooms.

       There are currently 26 middle and high schools throughout Georgia that have an operational 1kW grid-tied photovoltaic system onsite as part of the Sun Power for Schools program. Through the program, EMCs work with a middle or high school to install a photovoltaic system to harness energy from the sun, and students can participate in a number of labs and exercises to witness first-hand the benefits of solar energy.

       Hiram High School, in partnership with GreyStone Power, has a system installed at the school to educate students about renewable energy and its affect on the environment. Rie Cowan and T. J. Lofgren, both science teachers, attended the training session on Nov. 12 at Hiram High School in Paulding County.

       During the training, EMC representatives discussed the importance of introducing students to the concepts of photovoltaic technology and green energy; familiarized teachers with the photovoltaic system; and demonstrated how data from the system could be incorporated into classroom projects.

       “The Sun Power for Schools program is an opportunity for students to use their math and science skills in a real-life, practical application. We are able to monitor how much energy the photovoltaic cells produce each day, and use the accumulated data for a wide range of labs and projects, such as seeing if we generated enough energy to light our classroom on a particular day,” says Sharon Roper, Chief Communications Officer for the Paulding County School District. “In addition, the energy we generate at our school becomes part of a mix of renewable energy used by Green Power EMC, so our school is making a contribution to reducing pollution and preserving natural resources – more good lessons and learning opportunities for our students.”

      Sun Power for Schools was introduced in 2005 as part of a larger effort of Green Power EMC, the state’s first renewable energy program, and a joint effort by 38 of the state’s EMCs to generate and sell green energy from renewable resources. The project is funded by a $160,000 grant from the research and development arm of Green Power EMC.

       “While many people are familiar with the concept of solar panels and using the sun as an energy source, the technology is still not developed to a point where it makes economical sense as a replacement for other types of generation,” says GreyStone Power President/CEO Gary Miller. “We hope by teaching students about today’s technology, they will become leaders in developing innovative new ideas that transform solar energy into a practical, cost-effective energy source.”