Southeastern Louisiana University is taking great strides in utilizing of solar energy, which is a free resource. By harnessing the power of solar energy, our University will reduce its reliance on the local electrical utility grid. These projects were funded through the University Technology Fee and will be used for student education.
Click on a thumbnail below to learn more about the current solar energy projects our University has in operation.
The 3,150 Watt twin pole mounted Photovoltaic Tracker Panels were installed in March
2012 out front of the Physical Plant. Photovoltaics is a process of generating electrical
power by converting solar radiation into DC electricity. Tracker panels are more efficient
because they are able to follow the movement of the sun to absorb direct sunlight,
which is where 90% of the solar energy is carried. Like the stationary unit, it supplies
solar power to the administrative offices at the physical plant. All solar energy
that it produces is being metered so that we can compare its production to that of
the fixed solar array. From our recent trend studies, we have found tracker panels
produce 23% more electricity than stationary panels.
The 3,150 watt stationary solar panel system was installed in July 2010 to shed electrical consumption from Southeastern Louisiana University’s local provider reducing the cost of operation. As listed illustrated below, it is a single pole mount array containing eighteen 175 Watt modules. The solar array supplies solar power to the Administration office of the Physical Plant which is now on a standalone net meter. The primary and secondary electrical for the building was routed from the local provider’s pole by the Electrical Department at Southeastern’s Physical Plant. The project was funded through the University Technology Fee, along with the Biodiesel Plant, and will be used for student education.
The Sunflower is a 4,500 watt Stationary solar panel system installed in March 2021 at the Sustainabiliy Center entrance. The flower is 27 feet tall and has 18 LG 375 solar panels with microinverters. The solar array supplies solar power to the Sustainability center. A Tesla Wall baterry connects to the system where energy is storage for future needs. The system also provide energy for a EV station. This system also count with partialy edible landscape. The project was funded through the University Technology Fee along with a Student engagement grant.
Sunflower Production
In March of 2012, this Lochinvar SCH130 solar thermal system was installed and brought online on the roof of our Kinesiology building. This unit is one of the largest solar hot water systems sold by Lochinvar in America and on a clear day has the capability to produce 130,800 BTU/day. The seven rows of arrays seen in this picture absorb the sun’s solar energy to heat glycol which circulates in a serpentine fashion through each panel. The heated glycol is piped down and through a heat exchanger, which then heats all domestic hot water for the building as well as the supplying heated water for the Olympic size swimming pool. This allows us reduce the need for the 100 horsepower boiler that was previously used to make hot water. The efficiency of this system is so advanced that the payback is only five years. Not only does this provide monetary savings it reduces our dependence on a nonrenewable resource, natural gas.
Solar thermal technology captures the sun’s heat and converts it into mechanical energy from for heating or production of electricity. At Southeastern we have five solar thermal systems designed for heating. The largest one is located atop of the kinesiology building using the heat to warm the pool and has saved more than $45,000 in energy costs over the last five years. At the Biology building and the Horticulture Center, we have passive systems that are used to warm our greenhouses- keeping our plants alive. At Cardinal Newman Hall the system provides warm water to our students to take showers and regular uses. At the Sustainability Center, we have one for education and demonstration.
The solar array was installed in 2018 with the objective to provide supplemental electricity to our financial AID building. The 6.6 Kilowatt photovoltaic system includes 22 panels. This system is installed in a ballast system which prevent perforation to the roof of the building. The panels have a 28 degrees angle facing to the south.
