Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has announced that it will be launching a solar energy project that aims to install 1,000 solar panels on campus within the next five years.
The solar panel project was recently approved by BC Hydro, as the university aspires to lead in sustainable energy among post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. As a part of this project, TRU is working towards achieving zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The first phase of the solarization project will bring 540 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to three buildings on campus: the Arts and Education Building, the Campus Activity Centre and the Industrial Training and Technology Centre.
Touching on the solarization project’s scale and phased rollout, James Gordon, Manager of Sustainability Programs, said that it would take approximately five years to install around 1,000 solar panels on campus.
“Within that five years, a little less than 1,000 solar panels — I think it’s around 980, will be done in several phases. We know the first phase is moving ahead. There will be 540 solar panels installed on three campus buildings. These buildings were chosen for their structural suitability to handle the added weight of the panels,” Gordon said.
The project’s alignment with the Low Carbon District Energy Systems [LCDES] will enable TRU to transition its heating systems from natural gas to electrically produced hot water, distributed through a network of underground pipes from a soon-to-be-constructed energy center.
“The big reason is that this ties in with the LCDES,” Gordon said. “At the essence of that, we are going to get away from using fossil fuels, specifically natural gas, to heat the inside of buildings on the campus, almost all the major buildings on the campus.”
This shift is part of a wider mandate in British Columbia to decrease reliance on fossil fuels for energy.
In addition to benefiting the environment, TRU’s solarization project will serve as a hands-on educational opportunity for students.
According to Natalie Yao, Energy Manager, the project will give students within the Trades program the opportunity to gain practical experience by observing and participating in various stages of the solar installation process. “Their instructor will direct them through the whole process,” Yao said.
As TRU students learn from this sustainable energy project, they will contribute to TRU’s goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2030. This combination of student learning with TRU’s renewable energy goals reinforces TRU’s commitment to sustainability and education, building a greener future for the campus community.
With installations scheduled to start in early 2025, TRU’s Solarization project is a step forward in its goal of creating a greener future.