Northridge Magazine

In 2003, Cal State Northridge completed one of the largest solar electric installations at a public university in California. More than 3,000 solar panels were installed in student parking lot E6 at the north end of the main campus.

Two years later, the university again invested in the solar idea, installing 2,832 more panels in faculty/staff parking lot B2, in the campus’ southwest corner.

Today, the panels not only provide shade for cars but act like “batteries” of sorts by absorbing the sun’s rays and saving the campus more than $160,000 annually in energy costs.

“The solar installations at the university have been a great benefit as they are clean sources of electricity and generate that power with little to no maintenance,” said William Sullivan, energy manager of CSUN’s Department of Physical Plant Management, which maintains the panels. “The power is also free, once the savings have paid for the installation costs.”

The $5.4 million photovoltaic project was developed through a partnership with the university’s Physical Plant Management Department, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) and the Southern California Gas Co. The panels generate from 75 to 165 watts of power each, producing a peak capacity of 692 kilowatts.

Photovoltaic cells absorb the sun’s rays and create direct current power that goes to a substation and ultimately is 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

— Shanté Morgan

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