The system was developed and built by Panasonic Eco Solutions North America, with local support from Lighthouse Solar.
The CU-Boulder solar installation is on the university’s East Campus, in its 220-acre CU Research Park, which is home to the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building. The 500 kW ground-mounted solar panels will provide clean energy power generation to both research facilities and buildings throughout the Boulder campus.
Jamie Evans, director of project finance for Panasonic Eco Solutions North America, said: “It’s a comprehensive solution of this nature that Panasonic, in partnership with Coronal Management, is also bringing not only to the educational sector but to both the municipal and social minded corporate sectors as well.”
Financing was provided by a subsidiary of Renewable Social Benefits Fund (RSBF), Coronal Management LLC, which is Panasonic’s finance partner for distributed generation solar projects in the US.
Jonathan Jaffrey, president of Coronal Management LLC said: “Working together with Panasonic, we have found a way to combine our financial resources with Panasonic’s solar expertise and corporate strength to fund, build and maintain solar PV projects under 20MW across North America.”
The new installation will help the university meet its short-term goals of powering the campus with clean energy, as well as reducing energy usage and cost, while fulfilling part of its long-term goal for a carbon-neutral campus.
“For more than half a century, CU-Boulder has been a leader in climate and energy research, interdisciplinary environmental studies programs and engaging in sustainability and green practices both on campus and in the larger world,” said Moe Tabrizi, campus sustainability director for CU-Boulder. “This project complements and extends our commitment to leveraging solar power throughout our campus to provide power in a low cost and responsible manner.”
Hear Jim Doyle, president of Panasonic Eco Solutions North America, talk about the company's mission...