Solar field installations begin at the site of the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park
The two ground mount solar panel installations are expected to produce more than 2,100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually
Solar field installations begin at the site of the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park
Solar array details
Miami is working with Melink Solar on the solar array project.
The Geothermal Solar Array is located north of the Western Geothermal Plant and adjacent to Hillcrest Hall near the Western Upper Pond — situated above the Western Geothermal well field.
- Size: 2.26 Acres
- Panels: 1,800 total panels installed
- Mounting system: Ballast (on top of the ground)
The Thomson Lot Solar Array is situated at the former site of Thomson Hall. The residence hall was removed last winter.
- Size: 1.87 acres
- Panels: 1,536 total panels installed
- Mounting system: Screw type anchor
Sequence of events
- Racking material delivery;
- Surveying, layout of the north-south main electrical duct bank; locating existing Geothermal piping and wells using a GPR unit (Ground Penetrating Radar);
- Installation of racking;
- Once several rows of racking are completed the solar panels will arrive and start being installed and connected.
Late August: Solar racking and panel installation completed (weather permitting).
Fall: Delivery of final electrical distribution components; connection of both sites to the electric grid.
Installation of the Sustainability Park and pathways will start “as soon as we have access around the solar panels without causing any delay or interference of the solar installation,” Fellman said.
Note: The initial project design announced last fall included solar parking lot canopy arrays. These are not included in the final design, slightly adjusting the estimate of electrical output.
Installation of the Sustainability Park and pathways will start “as soon as we have access around the solar panels without causing any delay or interference of the solar installation,” Fellman said.
Note: The initial project design announced last fall included solar parking lot canopy arrays. These are not included in the final design, slightly adjusting the estimate of electrical output.
To learn more about Miami’s 2040 Climate Action Plan and sustainability projects, visit the Sustainability at Miami website.
