University of Pennsylvania unveils 220-MW solar PPA

April 14 (Renewables Now) - The University of Pennsylvania will be the off-taker of 220 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) parks that will be built in the Commonwealth and go live at end-2022.

The university said on Monday it has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA), consisting of two separate contracts, that will facilitate the construction of a couple of solar plants in the central part of the state. The deals cover the entire output of the PV farms, which will meet around 75% of the total power consumption of the campus and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

The PPA was signed with Pennsylvania-based Community Energy and has a term of 25 years. While construction of the plants will kick off in the autumn of 2021, power supplies will start in 2023. The university’s plan is to retire all alternative energy credits from the facilities.

The contract supports the university’s goal to make its academic campus 100% carbon neutral by 2042 and lower its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 45% from 2009 levels as an interim goal. Back in 2006, it signed a 10-year PPA with Community Energy for the Bear Creek wind park in the state as part of its sustainability efforts.