A solar panel generating one-third of Grinnell College’s energy

Grinnell College Solar Farm, the largest privately owned solar farm in Iowa.

Grinnell College is on track to operate without greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation with the completion of a 9,000-panel solar system.

One-third of Grinnell College’s campus is now powered by renewable energy thanks to the largest privately owned solar installation in the state, said Anne Harris, president of Grinnell College. As Grinnell College reaches a milestone in its goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, a community-wide solar project could result in more than half of the university’s energy coming from renewable sources.

“This is a great example of how knowledge and education has moved through the institution and into the world of Grinnell,” Harris said.

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The plant is owned by an independent developer, Sunlight General Capital LLC, and Grinnell College is purchasing all of the power generated at the plant for the next 20 years with a 10-year extension option.

The network, which Grinnell College Environmental and Safety Manager Chris Bair said has been operational for about a month, provides 4 megawatts of power that flows to almost every building on campus. He added that the university uses six other smaller solar plants that provide power to buildings beyond the main meter, such as the facilities building and the environmental education center.

Bair said each panel is double-sided, which allows them to collect energy from reflected light, such as from snow, and follow the sun’s path from east to west to absorb energy more efficiently.

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In addition to the daily power provided by the solar panel, a battery connected to the system can store energy when needed. Bair said this will be most useful when the university’s energy use is highest, such as on a hot August day when all the air conditioners on campus are running non-stop. The battery will help curb the peak at least a little, helping you save some money on your energy bills.

“When we know we’re going to have a hot day where we’re going to generate a likely peak for that month, we’re going to start drawing power from the battery and reduce that peak,” Bair said.

The years of renewable energy are coming

Before Grinnell College began using solar energy to power much of its operations, Harris said the college’s board of trustees created the Fossil Fuels and Climate Impact Task Force in 2017 to study how the university could combat climate change after students reporting concerns.

Grinnell College developed a sustainability plan in 2018 with the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and through collaboration with students, campus environmental organizations, faculty and staff, including Bair, the university decided turn to solar energy as a suitable solution to become more sustainable in the future.

Bair said the array has been working smoothly so far, with some tweaks still being made to address minor issues. Mechanically, it was near completion for about a year, but further review and approvals from Alliant Energy were needed before the university could connect it. Bair got into the habit of telling people “any day now” and nothing came of it.

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“I drive by there four times a day and those panels have been out for a very long time,” Bair said. “I was just staring at them and it was really frustrating, and now that it’s finally started I’m very, probably more relieved than anything else.”

Bair said another solar panel project, led by Alliant Energy and community partners, will provide the university with an additional 2 megawatts of solar power, ensuring that once operational, more than half of the campus’ energy will come from solar energy.

Array offers educational opportunities

Harris said solar panels can also be a source of education and inspiration for Grinnell students. People involved in the Grinnell College Student Environmental Committee, other organizations, and some activities have been part of this process and the college’s overall efforts to be more sustainable, and future students will be able to learn about both the hows and whys of using solar energy.

After graduation, students will be able to apply that knowledge elsewhere, Harris said, hopefully showing other communities in Iowa and beyond solutions for the future.

Grinnell College is one of many institutions with sustainability plans and practices, Harris said, and all universities should be thinking about such solutions because they can make a tangible impact not only on the campus itself, but also on the community in which it is located.

“We are employers, we are neighbors, we contribute to all these different communities,” Harris said. “And I really think that energy awareness is a very tangible and real way that all colleges and universities can contribute to… the environmental well-being of the communities that they call home.”

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