The original photovoltaic array (left) was installed in 1988. The second array was installed in 2001 to meet an increased need for electricity.

Goblin Valley State Park is unique in the state park system in that it is entirely off-grid (not connected to an electric utility). Due to the park's remote location, solar power is the most cost-effective technology for providing electricity.

Power is provided by two photovoltaic (PV) systems, one for the park facilities and another to pump water from a 600 foot deep well.

Residents/Park System

The cost to run a power line from Hanksville to the park is approximately $300,000. Running the park on a generator would have a lower cost at first, but is more expensive to operate than a PV system due to higher maintenance and fuel costs. The residents/park PV system provides power for the staff housing, entrance station, and the campground restrooms.

The original PV array was installed in 1988. Employees of the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah State Energy Program and the Bureau of Land Management participated in the installation of the PV system upgrade in 2001 to meet an increased need for electricity.

Three additional charge controllers were needed due to the high current of the solar array. The two inverters have a combined capacity of 8,000 watts and can run both 120 volt and 240 volt loads.

Some of the crew are wiring the solar array during an upgrade of the photovoltaic system in 2001.	The two inverters (left) have a combined capacity of 8,000 watts and can run both 120 volt and 240 volt loads. The "power center" (right) contains a charge controller, metering, and circuit breakers. Three additional charge controllers (top right) are needed due to the high current of the solar array.

System Specifications for Each Photovoltaic System

The solar powered submersible pump delivers over 10 gallons per minute. The water is pumped from the well to storage tanks high above the park facilities.

Water Pumping System

Drilled in early 1980, the well at Goblin Valley State Park is 830 feet deep with a static water level of 458 feet. The solar powered submersible pump delivers over 10 gallons per minute.

Water is used in the campground restroom (sinks, toilets, and showers), a dump station, and a tri-plex for park staff. Landscape watering is limited to a small patch of grass in front of the tri-plex.

The solar powered water pumping system consists of four racks of solar panels, a building housing the backup generator and electrical equipment, and a submersible pump in the well. The pump controller converts the direct current from the solar panels to a three-phase alternating current that can run the 5-horse power submersible pump.

This PV system does not have batteries to store electricity; water is only pumped when the sun is shining. The water is pumped from the well to storage tanks high above the park facilities. The water is then gravity fed from the tanks and is available 24 hours per day.

Additional solar panels were installed in the fall of 2002.

The solar-powered water pumping system consists of four racks of solar panels, a building housing the backup generator and electrical equipment, and a submersible pump in the well.	These solar panels were installed in 2002. They are located behind the building in the adjacent photograph.

System Specifications