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Sustainability

Solar panel installation completed this week on Miami’s new solar fields

Once all equipment is in place later this fall, the two solar arrays are expected to produce around 2,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually

by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published
A worker installs a solar panel
Workers install a solar panel in the Western Geothermal solar field, located to the north of the Western Geothermal Plant. This ground mount system uses a ballast that sits on top of the ground, due to the geothermal wells below (photo by Scott Kissell).
Sustainability

Solar panel installation completed this week on Miami’s new solar fields

Workers install a solar panel in the Western Geothermal solar field, located to the north of the Western Geothermal Plant. This ground mount system uses a ballast that sits on top of the ground, due to the geothermal wells below (photo by Scott Kissell).
by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published

Installation of more than 3,330 solar panels was completed this week in Miami University’s new ground mount solar photovoltaic (PV) fields. 

The two solar fields are situated above the Western Geothermal well field and at the former site of Thomson Hall. The project, which began in May, is led by Milford-based Melink Solar. 

By later this fall — once all the equipment is in place and connected to the electric grid —  the two solar arrays are expected to start producing around 2,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually, according to project director Joel Fellman, electrical engineer and project manager for Miami’s physical facilities department. 

The solar fields will be part of the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park, made possible by a $5 million principal gift from longtime Miami and sustainability supporters, Sharon Janosik Mitchell ’73 and Graham Mitchell ’73, M.En. ’76. 

Construction of the park begins this fall and will incorporate walking paths, seating areas, lighting, a primary gateway facing State Route 73, and a secondary gateway facing Western Drive. 

solar tour group
Olivia Herron, Miami’s sustainability director; Alex Miller, sustainability engagement coordinator, Green Umbrella Sustainability Fellows for Oxford and Fairfield (including Constance Kammerer ‘25); and representatives from the City of Fairfield and the City of Oxford toured the solar fields last week. The City of Fairfield recently approved an agreement with Melink Solar to design and build an array of solar panels at the city’s wastewater treatment plant .(photo by Joel Fellman)
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