Renewable Energy

 

Since the construction of the Cardinal Cogen power plant in the late 1980’s, the university has created most of its energy on site through the co-generation of electricity and steam from natural gas fuel. In more recent years increasing availability and cost effectiveness of renewable energy sources has spurred Stanford to explore sustainable alternatives to fulfill its energy needs.

Solar Energy

Currently, the university has three photovoltaic solar arrays; one 10-Kilowatt (kW) system on the Row at Synergy house, another 20-kW system powers the Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station at Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, and the third 30-kW solar array is located in the Stanford foothills atop Reservoir 2.

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Reservoir 2 Photovoltaic Project

Completed in January 2004, Stanford’s largest PV array system is located just a short walk into the Stanford Foothills, not far from The Dish radiotelescope. Funded by the Stanford Utilities Division, built and designed by local companies and operated in collaboration with Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the solar array at Reservoir 2 represents the university’s ongoing commitment to state-of-the-art energy technology, community involvement, and environmental responsibility. The solar array is comprised of over 200 photovoltaic modules, capable of producing 51,000 kWh each year and eliminating an estimated 61,000 lbs of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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System Information

  • Photovoltaic system size is 30 kW AC.
  • Annual production is approximately 51,000 kWh.
  • It has 220 BP Solar photovoltaic modules (model BP3160S).
  • Normal electrical power to the site is fed from Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E).
  • A small pump house building approximately 600 feet from the reservoir houses the PG&E service connection and is the site for the inverter and the balance of the equipment associated with the PV system.
    Project Location
  • The PV system is horizontally mounted on top of the existing Reservoir 2 roof structure and sits about 8 inches off of the reservoir top.
  • The reservoir roof is a circle roughly 275 feet in diameter -- less than one quarter of this space is used to accommodate the PV system.
    Other information:
  • Stanford received a $135,054 rebate for this project from the Self-Generation Incentive Program administered by PG&E.
  • Excess power produced by the PV array is sold back to PG&E according to the Net Metering (E-Net) rules.
  • This project eliminates 61,000 lbs of carbon dioxide emissions per year according to California Energy Commission estimates.
  • TDN Electric of Sunnyvale performed the design and installation with assistance from Solar Depot of Petaluma.
  • The 51,000 kWh per year produced by the PV system is equivalent to the energy required to run 17 normal-sized homes for one year.

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Why This Site Was Selected

  • The solar access is excellent with no structures or trees nearby to shade the array.
  • No digging was required as the conduit was already in the ground (extra conduit were installed as a part of the original Reservoir project).
  • A fence surrounds the entire roof area effectively providing separation from the rest of the Foothills/Dish area.
  • The photovoltaic system is not visible from Junipero Serra Blvd.
  • This project is in the PG&E service territory and therefore eligible for the Self-Generation Incentive Program

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Other Solar Arrays on Campus

The following links provide information about Stanford’s other PV systems.

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Fuel Cells

Stanford is also considering the possibility of installing a fuel cell on campus. Innovative developments within the industry and rapidly decreasing price tags are making fuel cell technology an increasingly attractive energy alternative. For more information on fuel cells check out the US Department of Energy’s page on renewable energy.

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Green Dorm

Plans to construct a “green dorm” on campus are underway. In addition to highlighting renewable energy sources such as solar arrays, fuel cells, and wind turbines, the green dorm will also incorporate numerous conservation features to minimize its consumption of energy and water. For more information on Stanford’s green dorm project and how you can get involved, visit the Green Dorm Web Site.

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