Claflin University will install its first solar heating and cooling system thanks to a federal renewable energy grant awarded by the S.C. Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office.

This grant is one of nine state-wide renewable energy projects funded by the Energy Office and is part of $2.8 million awarded to non-profit organizations and government entities in South Carolina.

Claflin University was awarded $500,000 to install the state’s first solar adsorption cooling system on the new Orangeburg Collaborative Renewable Energy Center campus. This equipment will use solar panels to provide heat in the winter and cool water to provide air conditioning in the summer. The university will save more than $933,000 in energy costs over the life of the equipment.

“This technology is new and innovative,” said John Clark, director of the energy office.  “While many use solar power to heat water, Claflin University is taking it a step further by also using the water to provide air conditioning.”

Other South Carolina projects funded through this program are:

• $500,000 to Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) to install generators that create electricity from methane gas released from the break down of waste from the water waste treatment process.
• $500,000 to Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. to install 70 solar water heating systems in homes of members of York, Berkeley, Santee and Pee Dee Electric Cooperatives.
• $475,000 to Santee Cooper to install solar panels on the roof of its buildings in Myrtle Beach, creating the “Grand Strand Solar Station,” the largest solar system in the state.
• $340,000 to Furman University to install solar panels on the roof of the Physical Activities Center which will provide electricity to the campus.
• $240,000 to Plug In Carolina to install 28 electric vehicle charging stations in Union, Rock Hill and Myrtle Beach.
• $111,500 to the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Johns Island, S.C. to install 17 solar hot water systems on 15 housing structures and conference center.
• $100,906 to The Columbia Museum of Art to install solar panels on the roof of its building and to create a monitoring system where patrons will be able to view the amount of power created.
• $49,594 to York County Natural Gas Authority (YCNGA) to convert seven Ford F-150 light duty trucks to utilize compressed natural gas.

The nine grants will save a total of $7.7 million in energy costs over the life of the projects. Applicants are contributing a total of $3.6 million in cost-share for the projects, or a match of $1.31 for every $1 invested by the grant.

In order to be considered for these grants, projects had to foster market penetration of clean energy technologies, provide sustained reduction of fossil fuel consumption and create permanent jobs in South Carolina. Organizations must implement the projects within two years of receiving the award.

These projects are funded through a grant from the Department of Energy under Award Number(s) DE-EE0000158.