Solar array powers major upgrade to UNC Charlotte’s facility operations building

UNC Charlotte’s Facility Operations Building (FOPS) near North Deck received a solar-powered upgrade this fall. Led by Facilities Management, the building now has 224 solar panels on its roof that will generate clean energy to power the building and contribute to the regional Duke Energy electrical grid.

The rooftop solar array is on the south-facing side of the building to maximize the energy production. It generates 130 kilowatts of power and will produce approximately 187,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year. That output could charge 8 to 9 electric vehicles each day, supply energy to 21 to 23 average U.S. homes each year, and power roughly 11,400 standard LED bulbs while the sun shines.

Solar energy reduces reliance on energy created by burning haet-trapping fossil fuels. This project will offset 117 tons of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to the emissions of 300,000 miles driven by gas-powered cars.

The project’s total cost is $352,774, which includes design, commissioning and system installation. It is funded under North Carolina House Bill 1292, which supports energy conservation measures that reduce utility use and operating costs through investments in energy-efficient building systems and infrastructure improvements. The solar array will save an estimated $13,300 per year and recoup its cost in less than 27 years by offsetting the cost of energy that would otherwise need to be purchased to power the campus.

Two new solar picnic tables behind McEniry Hall, beside the pollinator garden beds, now provide space for the campus community to recharge devices, study and meet outdoors. The Charlotte Green Initiative, UNC Charlotte’s student green fund, funded the tables and supports additional green projects on campus. If you have a renewable energy project you would like to explore with the Office of Sustainability, learn how CGI can support your idea through the program website.

Written by Jenny Washam