SOLAR INSTALLATION IN STUDENT PARKING LOT E6 IS AMONG THE LARGEST AT CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

In February 2005, Cal State Northridge completed one of the largest solar electric installations among California public universities, more than 3,000 solar panels that provide shade for student cars while also expected to save the campus more than $50,000 annually in energy costs.

The $1.8 million photovoltaic project was the result of a partnership between the university's Physical Plant Management Department, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), the Southern California Gas Co. and Camarillo-based Shell Solar Industries, a local subsidiary of global energy provider Shell Group.

PHOTOVOLTAIC LIVE FEED!

PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION PROJECT

Mo Qayoumi, CSUN's Vice President for Administration and Finance, had this to say about the project:

"For the past two decades, Northridge has been very
active in seeking new and innovative technologies to
reduce its energy bills. This project is a good example
of the university's commitment to promoting
environmentally friendly technologies, supporting
energy conservation and reducing its energy costs."

The project also represents an excellent example of
the collaborative work between the academic and
administrative divisions of the university, namely our
College of Engineering and Computer Science and
Physical Plant Management, as well as model
partnership between DWP, the Southern California
Gas Co., Shell Solar Industries and CSUN.

The 3,024 Shell solar modules are doubling as
shading in student parking lot E6 at the north end
of the main campus south of Halsted Street, just east
of the Art and Design Center. The panels can generate
75 watts of power each, producing a peak capacity of
225 kilowatts.

Photovoltaic cells in the panels absorb the sun's rays, creating direct current power that is directed to a substation and ultimately fed into a power grid that distributes electricity throughout the campus. In addition to saving energy, the use of photovoltaic cells is easing the campus' impact on the environment. According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, using 225 kilowatts of photovoltaic power reduces carbon emissions by an amount equal to an average passenger car driving 722,181 miles. The project also provided a team of CSUN engineering students an opportunity to use the skills they learned in the classroom. "It's probably been the greatest opportunity I've had so far in school," said Josh Gallo, a junior electrical engineering major who served as the project manager. "I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom to a real-world situation. In the classroom, you deal with numbers and a lot of math. But working on this project I really learned what it takes to get something built and how to deal with all sorts of people.", Gallo said.

CSUN is considered a leader in energy conservation among universities across the country. The university was hailed two years ago by the Clean Air Coalition for its use of alternative energy. In 2001, the campus installed six micro turbines through a partnership with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and DWP as another energy-saving measure.