University of Maryland uses Sunburst funding for solar array

The University of Maryland has just committed to installing the largest roof-mounted solar array in the state on one of its buildings.

The University was selected as a Maryland Energy Administration Project Sunburst Initiative Partner and awarded a grant aimed at promoting the installation of renewable energy systems on public buildings in Maryland, according to a press release.

It’s one of the first institutions to receive funding from the Sunburst Initiative.

The University of Maryland recently bought an old Washington printing facility and established it on the College Park campus, said Scott Lupin, the University’s director of sustainability.

“It’s a large building with a very large carbon footprint,” Lupin said.

The University of Maryland is one of 650 American colleges and universities that were signatories to the American College and University President's Climate Commitment.

"The university is committed to addressing the significant challenges of this generation, including environmental sustainability, climate change, and renewable energy", said Ann Wylie, Vice President of Administrative Affairs and Chair of the University Sustainability Council. "The use of solar energy—a clean energy source that produces no greenhouse gases—will move us another step closer to achieving our vision for a greener campus embodied in the university's strategic plan."

And the institution is striving to become completely carbon neutral by 2050, Lupin said.
This 631-kilowatt solar installation, which will include 2,600 solar photovoltaic panels, represents the University’s fourth power purchase agreement, Lupin said.

The school already buys power from two wind farms and one solar farm, he said.

“But this will be our first renewable energy installation on campus,” he said. “We haven’t had any others on site.”

The Standard Solar project, which will be one of the largest solar projects in Maryland, should provide about 20 percent of the building’s energy needs, Lupin said. It will generate 792 megawatts of electricity each year, according to the press release.

Lupin said he expects the installation to be up and running by early July. Installers will be working through the summer to get the project finished before students return to campus in the fall, he said.