Sunrise Unit Replacements and Upgrades

Mount Rainier is a class one air quality site. The Sunrise unit of Mount Rainier National Park is the highest point to which one can drive on the mountain (6400-foot elevation), notable for its pristine meadows and weathered, alpine terrain. During the summer season, one of the diesel generators at Sunrise runs twenty-four hours every day to distribute power to the area. The generators produce emissions which degrade air quality and noise which affects wildlife and visitors. In September 26, 2005, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) completed a study entitled “Conversion from Diesel to Renewable Energy.” In June 2009, the University-National Park Energy Partnership Program (UNPEPP) and Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) completed a “Solar Photovoltaic System Design and Sunrise Lodge Energy Audit.” In 2011, the park developed a PMIS to “Replace Sunrise Diesel Generator Power Supply with Solar Hybrid System.” In February 2015, a value analysis/choosing by advantages exercise was held at the park to evaluate alternatives for generating power at Sunrise. The alternative with the greatest Total Importance of Advantages is: Fixed Solar Array (with Crystalline Solar PV Modules) on Building Roofs with Battery/Propane Generator Backup.

This project constructed a 2,304-square foot multi-purpose structure/building addition for maintenance and community use. The building addition was constructed using insulating concrete form (ICF) technology in which the foam blocks serve as the formwork for placing the concrete walls. Solar panels were attached to the entire south facing roof (as well as the south facing roof of the existing water tank cover) and the system components (regulating, storage and backup) were installed within the new building. The remainder of the building provided space to replace the employee laundry facility as well as an employee wellness center and storage. Construction documents were prepared to enable a majority of the project work to be completed with NPS day-labor crews, the documents having select elements bid for construction. In addition, the project included the replacement of the 100-kilowatt diesel generators, which supplies electrical power to the Sunrise area, with a solar/hybrid system rated at 25 kilowatts.

Services Provided by HECO Engineers:

• Civil Engineering
• Project Management
• Electrical Engineering
• Architectural Engineering