Over the summer, a 128.02 kW solar array project was completed on the roof of the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. This project comprises of 346 solar panels that produces 165,900 kWHours a year. Over the last year, every light in the tennis center and parking lot were changed to LED, which also included replacing the court lights with a more efficient fixture using 75% less energy and providing twice as much illumination ensuring the courts meet NCAA standards for competitions. With the reduction of electricity use from lighting upgrades, the project engineer determined that 346 solar panels were sufficient to produce enough electricity through renewable energy that would equal the amount used in the building for the entire year making it a “net zero” building. Over the next 25 years, the solar array will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2695 metric tons, equivalent to 371 homes’ energy use for one year, or 2,894,737 pounds of burned coal, or 6,497,619 miles driven in a passenger car.

The solar panels started to produce electricity on Sept. 10. To view the dashboard and learn more about the system performance and amount of energy created per day along with the environmental benefits of this project using renewable energy, visit Roger Knapp Tennis Center Solar Project. 

Using renewable energy sources is particularly important for Drake University in achieving the goals of the University’s Climate Action Plan, https://www.drake.edu/sustainability/.  Solar power is one of the cleanest, most reliable forms of renewable energy available.  This project was made possible through a generous gift from John Lorentzen and Penny Fillmor and our food service partner Sodexo.

— Kevin Moran, Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Management