U Toledo Powered by Solar and Wind

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 04/06/10

University of Toledo's Thin-Film PV on Glass Solar Installation

The University of Toledo has just installed solar and wind power at its Scott Park Campus of Energy and Innovation in Toledo, OH with help from Constellation Energy's Projects & Services Group. This particular campus serves as an alternative energy laboratory for teaching, research, and demonstration, as well as to generate energy and reduce the university's carbon footprint.

The solar project uses thin-film-on-glass photovoltaic technology based on research done at the university. The utility company also put up a 132-foot wind turbine at the site. The two alternative energy systems are expected to save 1,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide compared to generating the same amount of electricity using non-renewable sources.

"The creation and production of clean, renewable energy sources is vital to the way we power our world. That's why The University of Toledo created the Scott Park Campus of Energy and Innovation," university President Lloyd Jacobs said. "Our relationship with Constellation Energy for the solar and wind electric generation systems on that campus will help students and researchers advance the technology that will power our future."

The utility company finances, designs, constructs, and owns the solar installations and supplies power generated on site to the customer over a period of 15 to 20 years. This model requires no upfront capital from customers. The same group that did the U Toledo installation is also developing a 17.1 megawatt system on the grounds of Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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