The West campus recently completed part of a program that is slated to bring 17,000 solar panels to its south parking lots and surrounding areas.
Construction of panels in Parking Lot 2 of the West campus was completed earlier in August, which allowed construction in Lot 3 to begin.
The project, which started in April and is expected to be completed by February, will provide 4.65 megawatts of power when completed, said Bonny Bentzin, director of University Sustainability Practices.
The solar panels on the Tempe campus currently provide about 2.2 megawatts. By the end of February, ASU plans to have approximately 10 megawatts between the two campuses, which is roughly 10 percent of what all four campuses require at peak times, or when the most energy is being used, Bentzin said.
“The University as a whole, at our peak period of usage … use 40 megawatts of power,” Bentzin said.
She also said the power provided from the panels will be equal to almost all the power the West campus uses during its peak time.
The panels will mostly be placed in the south parking lots on the West Campus, but some will be installed in nearby fields. The panels that are installed in the lots will also provide shade for the parking spaces.
The panels are being installed by APS Energy Services, a branch of the Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, which is headquartered in Tempe.
The company has assisted in several other alternative energy projects on the Tempe and Polytechnic campuses, including installation of solar panels in parking structures on the Tempe campus.
According to a press release from the company, its collaborations with ASU provide 94 million kilowatt hours annually, equivalent to preserving 523 acres of forest from deforestation.
Student reaction has been positive, with students like film and media studies sophomore Melissa Martinez applauding the commitment to the use of solar power.
“If there’s one thing we have in Arizona, its sunlight,” Martinez said. “We might as well get something in exchange for all that heat.”
Though the current installations will account for almost a quarter of its energy consumption once completed, ASU is also looking into other alternative energy programs to provide power to students, Bentzin said.
“One of the things that is really important is to diversify our energy portfolio,” she said. “We are looking at other renewable energy sources.”
Though the University would like to bring more sustainable energy options to the Downtown and Polytechnic campuses, several problems stand in the way, Bentzin said. Small roofs and future downtown expansions near the Downtown campus and different energy providers for the Polytechnic campus may mean that solar is not the best option.
“Those campuses are a little more challenging,” she said.
The installations at Lot 2 have already been completed, and the lot has reopened for parking. Installations have now begun at Lot 3. Permit holders for that lot are permitted to park in Lots 1, 2, or 20 as long as they have their Lot 3 permits displayed, according to Parking and Transit Services.
Reach the reporter at michael.reppenhagen@asu.edu
