San Diego, CA
The O’Farrell Charter School is a pillar of the Encanto community in San Diego, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade with a mission of academic excellence and social responsibility. As part of a broader commitment to modernizing its 27-acre campus, O’Farrell partnered with Stellar Solar Commercial to integrate renewable energy into its infrastructure. In July 2019, we successfully placed into service a 110.93 kW (DC) solar system, transforming the school’s rooftop into a source of clean, sustainable power that directly benefits its students and faculty.
Modernizing a historic campus—originally built in 1959—requires a careful balance between preserving existing structures and implementing 21st-century technology. Stellar Solar Commercial engineered a robust rooftop solution designed to maximize energy yield across the school’s facilities while ensuring the highest standards of safety and structural integrity.
The technical specifications of the O’Farrell project include:
-110.93 kW (DC) Installed Capacity: This system was sized to offset a significant portion of the school’s daily electrical load, providing a reliable hedge against rising utility costs.
-Strategic Campus Integration: Placed into service in July 2019, the array was part of a forward-thinking initiative to reduce the school’s carbon footprint and demonstrate environmental leadership to the student body.
-High-Performance Infrastructure: By utilizing premium industrial-grade components, we ensured that the system would deliver consistent energy production for decades, regardless of the coastal San Diego climate.
For a charter school, every dollar saved on operational overhead is a dollar that can be reinvested into student success. Electricity is a major, non-negotiable expense for a K-12 campus, particularly with the addition of modern technology, air conditioning, and a new 12,500-square-foot student union. By generating its own power on-site, O’Farrell Charter School has effectively “locked in” a portion of its energy costs.
In the 2026 energy landscape, where utility rates for San Diego schools have reached historic highs, the ROI of this 2019 installation is staggering. The clean energy produced on-site creates a permanent stream of savings that supports:
-Enhanced Academic Programs: Funding for the school’s theater, chemistry, and music departments.
-Extracurricular Activities: Supporting the weight room, student lounge, and athletic facilities.
-Campus Modernization: Providing the capital needed for ongoing site improvements and classroom renovations.
Since 1998, Stellar Solar Commercial has been the premier partner for the San Diego Unified School District and independent charter schools. We bring over 28 years of technical expertise to these public works projects, navigating the unique requirements of the Division of the State Architect (DSA) and ensuring that every installation meets the rigorous safety standards required for a school environment.
Our in-house team handles the entire lifecycle of the project—from initial structural analysis of historic buildings to the complex utility interconnection and state-specific incentive programs for education. We specialize in “quiet-professional” construction, ensuring that the school day remains undisturbed while we build the energy infrastructure of the future.
As we move through 2026, the strategy for educational campuses has evolved to include Solar + Battery Storage. For institutions like O’Farrell Charter School, adding a battery system provides an essential layer of resilience, ensuring that campus security, administrative data centers, and critical lighting remain online even during grid instability or regional power outages.
Stellar Solar Commercial continues to lead this energy revolution, helping San Diego’s educational leaders build a resilient, low-cost energy future. We turn school rooftops into powerful tools for sustainability and innovation.
If your school or campus is ready to follow the lead of O’Farrell Charter School and reclaim control over your energy future, contact Stellar Solar Commercial today at 866.787.6527. We provide comprehensive, free site evaluations to help your institution lead the way.