Salk Institute going solar with Stellar Solar

SAN DIEGO, USA: The Salk Institute of Biological Sciences has selected San Diego solar company Stellar Solar to design and install a new 500 kW rooftop solar electric system for its architecturally renowned campus in La Jolla, according to Tim Ball, the Institute's senior director of facilities services.

The project also combines the sustainability of solar energy with the sensibility of architectural preservation, Ball pointed out. The buildings were completed in 1965 and officially designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991. As such, providing a long-term strategy to care for the facility's energy needs was a key part of the decision.

In addition, solar is seen as a way to help save money on the Institute's energy bill, Ball said. "As a non-profit institution, we are always looking for ways to stretch budgets and save money," he explained. "As a research facility, we use a lot of electricity. Although we get a very good rate from SDG&E, we found we could produce our own solar electricity onsite for about 30% lower than what SDG&E charges us."

Stellar Solar was selected to design and build the solar array because it was a local firm with a proven track record of success, Ball said. "Not many firms have been in the solar business as long as Stellar Solar has and we wanted to work with a group that could integrate themselves easily into our existing work on a weekly basis. Stellar has the know-how to do that," he said.

Stellar Solar president Kent Harle said his firm considers it an honor to be selected to work on a high-visibility solar project such as this one. "The San Diego Union-Tribune calls the Salk Institute 'the single most significant architectural site in San Diego,'" he said. "It is also significant that this site will now be solar-powered and we are so very proud to be a part of making that happen," he said.