Texas A&M will be building the largest solar institute in the world, according to project leaders at the university. Known as the Center for Solar Energy, the goal of the facility will be to develop and test new technologies for creating eco-friendly electricity from sunlight.
When the project is complete, sponsors hope to have created not just a new testing grounds for green energy technology, but also be able to supply 100 percent of the electrical needs of the campus and 20,000 additional homes. Some of the eco-friendly energy will be used to power nearby Fort Hood and a portion will be sold to power supplier Oncor.
"Technological innovation is the cornerstone of the center's programs, and it will use the 50 MW solar field to create a baseline of data for grading new and existing technologies, while also providing a basis for research. Developers of promising early-stage technologies will thus be attracted to Central Texas for training, support and validation," Bruce Mercy, Center for Solar Energy executive director, said.
Included in the 800-acre facility will be a solar farm which will produce 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Located on the campus of Texas A&M central in Killeen, the $600 million project is being created in partnership with PPA Partners, a solar energy company based out of California. They have already developed similar projects in their home state, New Jersey and Arizona.
"The Center for Solar Energy is truly a market-changing partnership and will make A&M-Central Texas the premier destination for the study and advancement of solar energy," John Sharp, Texas A&M University System chancellor, said.
As the facility comes closer to completion and the institute begins operations, Texas A&M will expand its curriculum to encourage more students to study eco-friendly renewable energy. It is hoped that the Center for Solar Energy will allow researchers to proceed from idea to finished product for new solar energy technologies in as little as two years.
Texas A&M installed its first solar energy facility in 2011. This 30 MW system is currently used for testing of new equipment, as well as providing a backup power system for the school's emergency exits and ventilation systems during blackouts. The facility also serves as an educational tool, giving students the chance to work on a full-scale solar farm. The $200,000 cost of that facility was underwritten by the Energy Department and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.
