The sports facility at Algoma University is going green, with a plan to sell back energy generated from solar panels to the provincial grid.
A total of 540 panels will be installed and generate 135 KW AC at a cost $1.15 million on the roof of the George Leach Centre as part of a joint venture between the university the Public Utilities Corporation and Superior Energy Solutions. The majority of the equipment and labour will come from local suppliers.
The new solar system will reduce negative emissions from the centre equal to the carbon dioxide created by automobiles driving over 12 million kilometres. Annual revenue under the province’s Feed-in Tariff program is expected to be $127,356, a portion of which will go to the university and will be allocated towards scholarships.
Algoma University president Richard Myers sees the solar project as another way the university can be a leader in the community.
“One of the responsibilities of a university is to be at the forefront of innovation,” Myers said in a news release. “Algoma University has long been a leader in implementing green solutions, from using environmentally friendly cleaning products to our new Bioscience and Technology Convergence Centre that is expected to achieve LEED gold certification.”
“Solar power has great potential as a resource, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with our partners to harness that power on our campus and return it to the grid, while at the same time using the resources generated from this project to fund student scholarships,” he added.
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