CHAMPAIGN, IL – The university and Solar Farm project partners achieved a Commercial Operation Date (COD) on Friday, December 11, 2015. The date marked the beginning of the university’s procurement of renewable electricity from Phoenix Solar South Farms, LLC as part of a 10-year power purchase agreement.
The university approved the completion of the Solar Farm and confirmed the COD following a final review of license and permits for operation, insurance requirements, as-built construction and maintenance documents, and warranties.
As part of fulfilling the project’s goal of providing solar data for research and education, a Solar Farm online dashboard has been created (http://go.illinois.edu/solar). The website provides hourly information on the array’s energy production and impact to campus.
The Solar Farm is expected to produce 7.86 million kilowatt-hours per year or approximately two percent of the average electrical demand for the Urbana campus.
The electricity which will be generated by the Solar Farm is a significant step in meeting long-term Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) targets and achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and no later than 2050.
NOTE: A video of the Solar Farm ribbon cutting ceremony featuring university and campus administration is available at:
http://fs.illinois.edu/resources/news-announcements/2015/12/01/solar-farm-completed