Cornell To Add 6,766 Solar Panels
Cornell University will build a 2,000-kilowatt DC photovoltaic installation, the school's first large-scale solar project, thanks in part to a grant from the New York State Electric Research and Development Agency.
The project, comprising 6,766 solar panels, will be installed by Distributed Sun on 10 acres owned by Cornell in Lansing, NY. Once completed, the installation will provide approximately 2.5 million kilowatt hours each year.
The company will also provide 10 panels for academic use, giving instructors and students physical access to the panels and online access to a monitoring dashboard.
The project, which will be capable of generating about one percent of the school's current energy needs, is part of a larger Cornell goal to eliminate campus greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through cleaner energy sources.
"Pending local approvals, this represents a significant step to advance Cornell's renewable energy portfolio," said Kyu Whang, Cornell vice president for facilities, in a report in the Cornell Chronicle. "A Lansing solar facility would align with the carbon reduction goals of Cornell, Tompkins County, and New York State."
For more information about sustainability efforts at Cornell University, visit cornell.edu/sustainability.
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].