After a year of determination and collaboration, 44 solar panels were installed in mid-September on the roof of the university’s dairy farm’s manure recycling facility as part of the university’s ongoing sustainability efforts.
Tom Sims, deputy dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and a professor of soil and environmental chemistry, said a sustainability plan for the dairy farm was developed and implemented in 2004. Since then, more than $2 million has been invested in various projects to improve the farm, he said.
“The addition of an alternative energy source, the solar panels, is just the latest step in a long-term plan to enhance the sustainability of our farm,” Sims said. “All these improvements support the teaching, research and extension programs conducted by our college.”
Jenny McDermott, manager of the agriculture and natural resources department, said one of the key features of the university’s environmental plan has been updating the dairy farm, located behind Worrilow Hall.
In 2005, McDermott said the university exported manure off the farm, and a manure separation system was installed to maintain a safe balance. Solar panels are nowbeing installed to offset the power use by the system and other equipment. While the equipment was using between 4.6 and 5.8 kilowatt hours, the solar panels generated approximately 4.8 kilowatt hours, she said.
“Those panels are clearly helping us achieve our sustainability goals,” McDermott said.
Sims said the solar panels provide energy that operates the dairy manure recycling and composting facility, where manure is converted into organic fertilizer for the farm’s crops. When the facility is not operating, the electricity is transferred back to the city of Newark’s electric grid, he said.
“We’ll see reduced energy costs, a lower carbon footprint, and a facility that we can use to teach our students and others about integrating alternative energy into agricultural operations,” he said.
Larry McGuire, senior project manager of facilities, said he oversaw nearly every aspect of the project and quickly became interested in the environmental impact of solar energy.
“All my projects over the last 30 years have been interesting to me,” McGuire said. “But, I did take interest in this one as it is the first solar installation I have been involved with, and I believe it is the first system installed on campus.”
Steven Hegedus, a solar researcher at the university’s Institute of Energy Conversion, said he wanted to make sure the solar panels would be educational as well as sustainable.
“My main concern was making sure that there would be a good graphic interface for students, visitors to the Ag buildings, and UD researchers to access,” Hegedus said. “This would show the hourly, daily, and monthly output of the system.”
Hegedus said he has been a researcher at IEC for 28 years and uses solar energy in his own house.
“I am eager to help spread the use of solar energy and to integrate it into education,” Hegedus said. “It will also be used to help show Delaware dairy farmers how solar can reduce their operating expense.”
Anne-Marie Crossan, a university facilities maintenance engineer, said she had to obtain approval from the city of Newark to install the panels. She also facilitated the grant process for the Green Energy Fund, which, along with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, provided funding for the project.
“There are many benefits to having a solar power system on the UD Dairy Farm, not the least of which is education for the entire UD community,” Crossan said. “The lessons learned from this project can be used to assist dairy farmers on the Delmarva Peninsula, and the knowledge gained can be applied to other solar projects on campus.”
Bruce Wanex, a university alumnus and owner of Blue Skies Solar and Wind Power, which installed the solar panels, said although the project went smoothly, he and his team.
“Working around a manure farm was definitely an unusual experience for most of the guys,” Wanex said.
McGuire said he believes this is only the first step for the university.
“I believe the trend to solar will continue, not only on campus, but in the world in general,” he said.
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our feed
Contact us through email
Be the first to comment on this article!