Lehigh University will soon add a 2.61-megawatt (MW) solar project on its campus as a critical component of its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Standard Solar recently acquired the Lehigh Valley project from developer EDF Renewables North America, further solidifying the company’s commitment to advancing solar energy in Pennsylvania and educational institutions nationwide.
“This transaction adds to Standard Solar’s impressive track record of successfully bringing solar solutions to schools, empowering them with clean and sustainable energy sources,” said Eric Partyka, Director of Business Development, Standard Solar. “We’re thrilled to continue our successful development and construction partnership with EDF Renewables North America with this newest project – delivering clean energy to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh University community.”
Upon completion, the project is anticipated to fully power the Murray H. Goodman Campus, where the majority of the university’s athletic facilities are located. This solar installation is expected to meet 100 percent of the campus’s electricity demands while offsetting 8 percent of the university's overall grid electricity consumption.
The single-axis tracker system is estimated to generate approximately 5,224 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy each year, enough to power about 285 houses for one year and offset the carbon dioxide equivalent of burning more than 1,250 tons of coal in one year. This latest acquisition marks another milestone in the company’s longstanding partnership with EDF Renewables North America and a growing project portfolio in Pennsylvania. Standard Solar currently owns and operates several projects in the state.
The Lehigh Valley project is part of Standard Solar’s rapidly expanding portfolio in the education sector. The company currently owns and operates more than 35 MW of solar projects serving educational institutions, encompassing both K-12 schools and higher education establishments.
“We look forward to our ongoing expansion efforts in Pennsylvania and remain fully committed to supporting the state’s journey to becoming a thriving hub for distributed generation and community solar,” continued Partyka.
Myles Burnsed, VP Business Development for EDF Renewables Distribution-Scale Power group said, “We are pleased to build on our successful partnership with Standard Solar and support Lehigh University’s ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality. We look forward to further opportunities with Standard Solar.”
“Lehigh University has a bold, comprehensive plan to become a carbon-neutral institution, one driven by University and Lehigh Valley stakeholders” said Audrey McSain, Sustainability Director at Lehigh University. “This project will play a key role in our strategy, delivering rapid emissions reductions to help meet our ambitious goals. We thank EDF Renewables and Standard Solar for their partnership and look forward to producing clean energy onsite for our community and environment.”