Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 06, 2026
South Dakota Mines Powers Up First Solar Array, Creating Living Lab for Students
TLDR
- South Dakota Mines gains a competitive edge by reducing campus energy costs with its new 87.2 kW solar installation, enhancing its reputation for innovation and STEM education leadership.
- The 87.2 kW DC solar array at Vanderboom Laboratory comprises 160 modules and inverters, delivering energy savings while providing real-time data for student courses and projects.
- This solar project reduces carbon emissions and supports environmental stewardship, making tomorrow better through hands-on student engagement and sustainable energy solutions for the community.
- South Dakota Mines' first solar installation, powered by GenPro Energy, features 160 solar modules and serves as a live educational model for renewable energy innovation.
Impact - Why it Matters
This development matters because it represents a tangible intersection of education, sustainability, and economic efficiency that serves as a replicable model for other institutions. For students at South Dakota Mines, this isn't just theoretical learning—they gain access to real-time data from an operational solar system, preparing them for careers in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector. For the broader community, it demonstrates how universities can lead in reducing carbon emissions while managing costs effectively. Given the increasing importance of renewable energy in national infrastructure and job markets, this project provides both immediate environmental benefits and long-term workforce development advantages. The successful collaboration between educational and private sector partners shows how institutions can implement sustainable solutions without compromising educational quality or financial responsibility.
Summary
South Dakota Mines has achieved a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey by energizing its first-ever solar installation at the Vanderboom Laboratory for Entrepreneurial Research building in Rapid City. This 87.2 kW DC system, comprising 160 solar modules and state-of-the-art inverters, represents a major step forward in the university's commitment to sustainability and STEM education innovation. The solar array is designed to deliver substantial energy savings while serving as a living laboratory, providing real-time data that will be integrated into student courses and projects, creating unique hands-on learning opportunities for future engineers and scientists.
The successful implementation of this project was made possible through the collaborative expertise of GenPro Energy Development and GenPro Energy Solutions. GenPro Energy Development initiated the project with a comprehensive feasibility study that ensured both technical and financial viability, while GenPro Energy Solutions executed the high-quality installation using their recognized excellence in solar engineering, procurement, and construction. This partnership demonstrates how local expertise can drive meaningful clean energy solutions, with the project serving as a model for sustainable development throughout South Dakota and beyond.
University officials emphasized the strategic importance of this installation, noting that the Vanderboom Laboratory building offered ideal conditions with ample roof space and the necessary return on investment to leverage state energy funds. The solar installation will not only reduce campus energy costs and carbon emissions but also support the university's broader goals of environmental stewardship and practical student engagement. This project exemplifies how educational institutions can lead by example in renewable energy adoption while enhancing their educational mission through innovative infrastructure that directly benefits both students and the surrounding community.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, South Dakota Mines Powers Up First Solar Array, Creating Living Lab for Students
