Lehigh University has partnered with EDF Renewables and Standard Solar to develop, install, and operate a solar array on a portion of university-owned land located on Goodman Campus. Called the Saucon Valley Solar project, it supplies more than 100% of the annual electrical power needs of the Goodman Campus, which includes the majority of the university’s athletic and event facilities, utilized by students, staff, faculty and the community.
The project was completed in June 2024 and is in line with the university’s commitments to environmental sustainability and climate action as outlined in its Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030. Lehigh is offsetting 100% of Lehigh’s electricity consumption with renewable energy through this project and purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs).
The Saucon Valley Solar project is a 2.625 megawatt (MWac) solar photovoltaic project located just south of Legacy Park and opposite the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center.
The project utilizes single axis trackers and bifacial solar panels to optimally capture solar energy. The Facility will generate an estimated annual energy output of 5,090 MWh/year, which is more than 100% of the Goodman Campus’s current annual electricity usage.
The site was chosen both because it aligns well with Lehigh’s long-term planning goals and because of its location relative to existing transmission infrastructure. In order to supplement the existing electrical power, the array is tied into a primary feed to campus. The design for the area between the solar array and the nearest residential community uses landscape and a variety of plant species to establish a rich backdrop to the existing yards and utilizes both seasonal and evergreen materials to ensure a quality year-round experience.
Through energy efficiency measures, renewable energy sourcing, and energy management, Lehigh is proactively reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating global climate change impacts. Lehigh continues to play an active role in the search for innovative solutions addressing global climate change and in resiliently adapting to its impacts.
See real time production here:
Goodman Campus Solar Array Production