Princeton University Solar Project Gets Key Approval
Princeton University has been granted "Permission to Operate" from PSE&G for its Solar Collector Field project. A milestone in the regulatory process, the approval means that the system has been reviewed and approved by local municipalities as well as the utility (PSEG), and is considered safe to connect to the Campus utility grid via the newly-completed feeder cables that run under Lake Carnegie. Over the next few weeks, Facilities Engineers will continue to do programming, calibration, testing, commissioning, and landscaping. A multi-day performance test is required before the project is considered complete.
"The 'Permission to Operate' letter represents the culmination of a lot of hard work by staff from various offices throughout the University, including the Office of General Council, Facilities Engineering, Facilities Finance and Administrative Services, and the University’s Department of Public and Community Relations," said Thomas Nyquist, Executive Director of Campus Energy and Utilities. "We are very pleased with the progress so far. This project will play a key role in helping Princeton meet its energy and sustainability goals."
Princeton's Solar Collector Field, comprising 16,500 photovoltaic panels will be connected to the Princeton main campus electric power distribution system and is expected to meet about 5.5% of Princeton's annual electrical needs.