As part of MIT’s commitment outlined in the Fast Forward climate action plan, the campus is set to see new solar panel installations on four significant buildings this fall and winter. Staff from the Department of Facilities, Office of Sustainability, and the Environment, Health and Safety Office are spearheading this initiative, which includes the Stratton Student Center (W20), Dewey Library (E53), New Vassar (W46), and the Theater Arts building (W97).
These solar installations are a pivotal element of MIT’s extensive strategy aimed at minimizing the institute’s carbon footprint and transitioning towards cleaner energy sources. Joe Higgins, Vice President for Campus Services and Stewardship, emphasizes that these efforts will not only reach but surpass the solar energy production target set in the Fast Forward climate action plan. Initially aimed at 500 kilowatts of installed solar capacity, the new additions will raise the total output to approximately 650 kW, playing a crucial role in MIT’s plan to eliminate all direct emissions by 2050.
It’s essential to note that the journey to installing solar panels on campus involves a complex procedure that goes far beyond simply adding them to a residential rooftop. It started with a comprehensive assessment to identify opportunities for reducing campus greenhouse gas emissions. The team first eliminated rooftops that were significantly shaded by trees or adjacent buildings, while also considering future roof replacement schedules—it’s more effective to install solar panels on roofs that won’t need to be replaced shortly. Moreover, many lab buildings contained too much equipment, restricting available space for solar installations.
Randa Ghattas, Senior Sustainability Project Manager, along with Taya Dixon, Assistant Director for Capital Budgets and Contracts, took the lead on this project. Their assessment revealed numerous buildings with substantial solar potential, and the implementation of the Fast Forward plan provided the necessary momentum to move forward.
Despite narrowing down potential buildings by evaluating shading and roof life cycles, various additional factors had to be addressed. For instance, some buildings that appeared suitable were of older construction and couldn’t support the weight and wind loads of a full solar setup without considerable structural modifications. “That has proven trickier than anticipated,” Ghattas remarks. In one instance, a building with existing solar panels was unable to handle an expanded installation due to its structural limitations, which she acknowledges as a significant consideration.
Recently replaced roofs on the Student Center and Dewey Library were specifically designed for future solar installations. Similarly, the two newer buildings were constructed with solar integration in mind, making them ideal candidates. “The designs were built into the structures to accommodate solar,” says Dixon. This foresight made these installations straightforward as the buildings were engineered to support solar power systems without issue.
Another key consideration was the historical significance of the Student Center. The solar installation was crafted to be unobtrusive, ensuring that it remained hidden from street view even with a safety railing added around the solar array. “It turned out to be a fitting solution given the building’s geometry,” notes Ghattas, highlighting how the architecture aided the project.
The power generated by each installation will connect directly to the building’s electrical systems and feed into the campus grid. While each installation won’t completely power its respective building, collectively, they, along with existing solar panels on the MIT Sloan School of Management building (E62) and Alumni Pool (57), plus the planned array at the new Graduate Junction dorm (W87-W88), are expected to cover 5 to 10 percent of the buildings’ electrical needs, reducing around 190 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This reduction equates to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 35 homes.
Installation of each solar array is projected to take just a couple of weeks, with completion anticipated by the end of the year. Future installations could be considered as roof replacements occur on various other buildings. “Having established a system now, we are hopeful that the process will be much smoother moving forward,” Ghattas states.
Alongside these solar initiatives, Higgins notes that MIT is also focusing on expanding electric vehicle charging stations and boosting the electric vehicle fleet while concurrently striving to cut energy consumption across campus facilities. “Our efforts extend beyond the campus. Through large-scale aggregation partnerships, we aim to enhance the market landscape for cleaner energy generation integral to achieving zero emissions,” he adds, emphasizing the dual local and global focus of MIT’s sustainability goals.
As part of its commitment, MIT recently finalized an agreement through the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target program. This initiative supports Massachusetts’ solar power development objectives and facilitates the construction of a new 5-megawatt solar facility on Cape Cod. The facility is aligned with the broader mission of establishing a net-zero emissions development that includes affordable housing and bolsters local grid resilience.
Higgins further elaborates that various strategies for heating, cooling, and campus power generation are being evaluated in the pursuit of zero carbon emissions by 2050. These initiatives are essential components of MIT’s larger Climate Project, which aims to drive progress both on campus and in collaboration with external partners, ultimately advancing innovative market models and informing climate policy.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
