The German International School of Portland partnered with Power Northwest to install a 137 kW rooftop solar system at its Beaverton facility. Completed in June 2025, the 282-panel array generates approximately 152,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, covering 91 percent of the facility’s yearly energy usage.
The initiative lowers utility costs so savings can be redirected toward classroom resources. School leaders also use the solar system’s monitoring data as an educational tool, teaching students about sustainability and energy efficiency through real-world operational performance.
The German International School of Portland has always seen sustainability as part of its mission. When a member of the school community challenged the school to find ways to become more energy efficient, going solar emerged as the clear answer. Partnering with Power Northwest, the school installed a rooftop solar system that will power day-to-day operations at their Beaverton facility for decades to come.
The project started in 2024 and was fully completed and interconnected in June 2025. As Assistant Head of School, Kara Tambellini and Director of Facilities, Hunter Gregg, explain, the solar project was more than a business decision. It has also provided opportunities for education and a way for the leaders of the school to practice what they preach when it comes to sustainability.
Background
Solar had been on the school’s radar for a while, although it took a direct challenge and the support of a community member to turn that interest into action.
Power Northwest worked with the school to determine the ideal solar solution for their site and energy needs. The facility’s large flat roof proved to be a great candidate for a commercial rooftop solar system. It had enough space for a system that could produce close to all of the school’s energy in a given year, and it is largely unobstructed by trees and shade-producing buildings.
Objectives
The project had two goals working in tandem: reduce operating costs, and lead by example by transitioning the school to renewable energy.
On the financial side, the aim was straightforward: reduce utility bills so the savings could be redirected elsewhere. “Everything we do is ultimately to impact the classroom,” Gregg explains, “and to try to give teachers the resources they need to be able to continually grow their program.” By spending less on electricity, the school is able to pursue other initiatives that have a direct impact on their students.
When it came to their educational philosophy, school leaders saw their commitment to solar as a teaching opportunity. The system on their roof serves as an example of how you can make a difference in the world while also serving your organisation.
Results
Power Northwest delivered a 137 kW solar system for the German International School that produces roughly 152,000 kWh of electricity each year and is designed to offset 91% of the school’s annual usage. The ballasted system uses a mix of south-facing and east/west-facing modules to maximise production in the available space.
System specifications
| System size | 137 kW |
| Annual production | 152,000 kWh |
| Annual offset | 91% |
| Panel count | 282 × 485 W panels |
| Completed | June 2025 |
| Location | Beaverton, Oregon |
The system went online in June 2025, and its first two months were better than the annual figure suggests: production outran consumption entirely, and the school ran effectively off grid through the summer while selling the surplus back to the grid. Across a full year the design offset settles at 91%. The data generated by the monitoring platform has been shared with students as a way to make the benefits of going solar tangible: how much energy a school actually uses in a day, how that is measured, and where it goes.
By emphasizing these larger projects to our kids, we’re seeing an impact in the classroom, in the hallways, in the parking lot. People are giving added awareness to the ways they can positively affect energy efficiency in their daily lives.
Hunter Gregg, Director of Facilities, German International School of Portland
Working with schools and commercial properties
Power Northwest is proud of this partnership and the impact the system has had on the German International School. As a Portland-based Benefit Corporation serving residential and commercial customers across Oregon and Southwest Washington, we support projects big and small, and we would love to work with more educational institutions as we help transition our community to renewable energy.
You can read more of our commercial work in the Port of Camas-Washougal admin building case study and our Harka Architecture case study, or start with our 2026 Commercial Solar Purchasing Guide. Considering solar for a property in the area? See our complete guide to going solar in Beaverton or request a free estimate.
