Download Solar Power Comes to Paradise Valley Community College

Solar Power Comes to Paradise Valley Community College
http://www.paradisevalley.edu/sustainability
Where did this idea come from?
In 2010, Paradise Valley Community
College President, Paul Dale, and
Maricopa County Community College
District (MCCCD) Chancellor, Rufus
Glasper, signed the American College and
University Presidents’ Climate
Commitment (ACUPCC). Since doing so,
each MCCCD College has inventoried
their campus’ carbon footprint and
implemented ways to improve energy
efficiencies and to reduce energy use and
reliance on fossil fuels. Early in 2013
MCCCD issued Requests for Proposals:
a) to evaluate best ways to reduce our
carbon footprint, then; b) installation of
solar panels. Solar City was selected for
solar panel installation. Installation is scheduled to begin October 2016.
How will the solar panels work?
PVCC will install covered parking over most of the north parking lot; solar panels will be
installed atop this structure. Panel product information: 13,726 Trina TSM-305-PD14,
photovoltaic panels. System size is determined by the 12 months of campus energy usage
immediately preceding the installation and APS interconnection requirements. Final system
size will be determined during design. Estimated System Size (DC kW): 2,500 - 4,049
How much energy is generated by the solar panels?
Expected first year energy production: 4,617,500 kWh - 6,676,801 kWh.
How much money will PVCC save?
The solar panels will provide 40% - 65% of total annual power use. The return on
investment is expected in the third or fourth year.
How much will the panels cost?
The 20-year contract with Solar City is based on a guaranteed energy price per kWh and
cumulative Actual kWh generated by the facility. A first year projected annual utility bill
additional cost is $9,000 - $13,000. The estimated year of initial utility bill savings/reduction
is year three or four (based on projected APS electric cost escalation of 1.5%.)
Solar Energy at Paradise Valley Community College FAQ
Where did the money for the panels come from?
The MCCCD agreement with Solar City is a Power Purchase Agreement. This means Solar
City incurs almost all upfront costs, and all maintenance costs while retaining ownership of
the installation for the 20-year contract. PVCC and other participating MCCCD colleges
agree to pay Solar City a negotiated rate for energy produced by the solar panels while
retaining ownership of the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). Owning the RECs allows us
to apply all greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction from the solar power production to our total
GHG output. EPA information on RECs: http://www3.epa.gov/greenpower/gpmarket/rec.htm
How will the panels benefit the college and our community?
•
Reduce reliance on fossil fuels energy production and the attributable greenhouse gas
emissions. Based on our estimated first year of solar energy production, here are amounts
generated by the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator results:
•
•
3,184 - 4,604 Metric Tons of CO2 saved per year. This is equivalent to the
following emissions:
•
670 - 969 passenger vehicles annual use, or 7,580,957 - 10,961,892 miles driven
by average passenger vehicle, or
•
358,276 - 518,060 gallons of gas consumed, or
•
3,419,980 - 4,945,215 lbs of coal burned, or
•
291 - 420 homes’ electricity use for one year, or
•
7,405 - 10,707 barrels of oil consumed 1
Using the average of above figures, savings over the 20-year contract: 87,835
Metric Tons of CO2. This is equivalent to the following emissions:
•
16,390 passenger vehicles, or 185,428,490 miles driven by average passenger
vehicle, or
•
8,763,360 gallons of gas consumed, or
•
83,651,950 lbs of coal burned, or
•
7,110 homes’ electricity use for one year, or
•
181,120 barrels of oil consumed 1
•
Promote renewable alternatives and sustainable energy sources
•
Contribute to meeting the requirements of the American College and University President’s
Climate Commitment pledge (renamed the Carbon Commitment in October 2015)
•
Procure renewable energy at a reasonable cost
If printing this document, please use double-sided printing and recycled-content paper or paper that
has already been printed on one side.
1
In 2014, the United States consumed a total of 6.97 billion barrels of petroleum products, an average of about 19.11
million barrels per day. This total includes about 0.34 billion barrels of biofuels. U.S. Energy Information
Administration
Solar Energy at Paradise Valley Community College FAQ