Field of Beams

The University’s new $28 million ­solar-collector field is one of the largest at a U.S. college.

Number of photovoltaic panels: 16,500

Proportion that use a GPS to track the sun: 80%

Acres ­covered by the solar field between the Dinky line and ­Washington Road: 27

Output, in megawatts, when the sun is out: 5.4

Amount of the University’s annual electrical consumption that will be produced: 5.8%

Annual ­number of sunny/mostly sunny days in the region: 205

Expected payback period for system: 8-10 years

Project’s life span: 25-30 years
 

Source: Campus Energy and Utilities