Hello Solar Enthusiasts! I’m here today to share a bright and encouraging story about the power of solar and how it’s being harnessed by forward-thinking institutions. You all know how passionate I am about advocating for solar panels for your home, and the benefits of exploring solar companies who provide us with services to make this a reality. Today let’s talk about the incredible feats of an inspiring solar array for home, and in truth, an entire community – The University at Buffalo.
The University at Buffalo has a commendable climate action plan with sights set firmly on achieving climate neutrality by 2030. To take giant leaps towards this goal, the university has installed five ground-mount solar arrays and four rooftop installations, resulting in a commendable push towards renewable energy sources. Something that makes UB quite special in their solar journey is the openness of their solar projects – there are no fences surrounding the arrays (except around the high-voltage equipment of course). This gives the community a closer look at how solar energy could become a part of their world.
The most recent and largest of these installations, The UB Solar Stroll, is a fantastic example of how to integrate solar into one’s landscape. Spread across 24.5 acres, the stroll holds over 16,000 solar panels, producing a staggering 6.54 MW of electricity, or 8.29 GWh annually. This is enough to offset the energy usage of approximately 1,354 homes – a real testament to the power of tapped solar energy.
And it doesn’t stop at the solar arrays. The University’s Solar Decathlon house, which sits alongside the Solar Strand, is another testament to UB’s commitment to sustainability. In essence, the University at Buffalo encourages its community to not only embrace solar energy but to also witness how it can be seamlessly integrated into daily life.
Sustaining such a project, let alone financing it, can be quite a challenge for any institution. UB managed to finance its larger Solar Stroll array model through a power purchase agreement (PPA). This gave the University the ability to leverage capital and provided budget stability. Simply put, a PPA allowed UB to pay for the solar energy it consumed over time, leading to eventual savings. This is an excellent model for other institutions looking into solar. Good solar companies offer such financing options to make solar panels for your home a reality.
University at Buffalo’s forward-thinking doesn’t stop at existing projects. They are also considering regulations for all new construction to have the ability to install rooftop solar panels on buildings. This is somewhat similar to the new rule enacted by California that requires builders to include solar and battery energy storage in most new construction projects. The University is also considering solar canopies for campus parking lots, which I believe is a smart move in utilizing available space for solar.
I find it rejuvenating to see such passion and commitment towards renewable energy. More so, coming from an institution that holds such influence over a community. As Ryan McPherson, the chief sustainability officer at UB, said, “As a major public research university, these solar panels speak — they communicate and reinforce our value of taking responsibility for our actions as an institution.”
This story is more than just positive news. It’s an inspiration for us all to strive towards a greener, more sustainable future. Whether it’s installing solar panels for your home or lobbying local solar companies for a larger array, every action is a step forward in our journey towards net neutrality.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/07/02/university-solar-projects-model-institutional-responsibility/
