NOAA Observatory Station (American Samoa)

Department of Commerce

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Observatory Station on American Samoa re-activated a previously disconnected and non-functioning 5kW solar system and installed new twin inverters to run it. The old solar panels were originally installed 12 years ago. The solar panels were taken down from old wooden racks and mounted onto a newly constructed carport. The island's utility provided a $3,600 grant to purchase the inverters, and local community volunteers provided the skilled labor to install the system. Project managers estimate that the solar panels would cost about $35,000 if purchased today. They save $1,200 to $1,800 in electricity costs each year.