The project has two elements, one part involves the construction of a 15 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array that can generate enough electricity to power the Zoo’s Treetop Skyfari sky ride and which will produce clean energy for the electric grid that serves the community. The array will also function as an educational and research showcase as part of the Smart Grid – a system of two-way communications and intelligent devices for enhanced electric system reliability.
The second part of the project involves a new renewable energy learning center to be located in the central Safari Africa plaza at the Zoo. The learning center will help educate the Zoo’s more than one million annual visitors about renewable resources. Students from the USF College of Architecture submitted designs for the Learning Center, with the final design expected to incorporate elements from multiple submissions.
“Both parts of the Lowry Park renewable energy project are great examples of community synergy – partners joining forces on an initiative with tangible, real-world applications that provide long-term educational opportunities and also take an important step toward the technologically advanced, clean-energy future we envision for Florida and the United States overall,” said Chuck Black, Tampa Electric president.
The project will enable USF to analyze anticipated technical, economic and environmental impacts of using Smart Grid technologies to connect consumer PV systems, which are examples of distributed generation, to the community’s electric grid. It will also serve as a Tampa Electric and USF training tool for a new, high-tech work force in power engineering, the only profession dealing comprehensively with energy issues.
“Tackling our energy problems is a team effort,” said USF President Judy Genshaft. “We are fortunate in this community to be able to unite the University of South Florida’s groundbreaking work in energy technology development with the community leadership, resources and reach of Tampa Electric and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. We are proud to join with these organizations in taking the lead in the development of creative solutions to our energy challenges. To bring it all together in a setting that speaks to the crucial importance of sustainability is nothing short of brilliant.”
“Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo takes an active role in conservation and environmental issues affecting animals and their habitats, both at the Zoo and around the world, “said Craig Pugh, acting director of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. “As a center for conservation, we aim to demonstrate the importance of reducing our impact on the environment by using best practices including recycling, composting and alternate sources of energy. As a center for education, we will, for more than 1.1 million annual visitors, demonstrate with this project the importance of living in balance with the natural world and the significance of renewable energy.”
