Green Energy Generation
The CSU is committed to developing reliable distributed generation that increases efficiency and reduces its carbon footprint. The CSU Board of Trustees set a goal of 10 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation by 2014. The CSU plans to exceed this goal by the end of 2012 with 11.5 MW of solar.
CSU SYSTEMWIDE SOLAR POWER GENERATION
Measured in Megawatts
| INSTALLATION DATE | INSTALLED | PLANNED | GRAND TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998/99 | 0.05 | --- | 0.05 |
| 2002/03 | 0.225 | --- | 0.225 |
| 2003/04 | 1.0189 | --- | 1.0189 |
| 2004/05 | 0.9078 | --- | 0.9078 |
| 2006/07 | 1.369 | --- | 1.369 |
| 2007/08 | 1.525 | --- | 1.525 |
| 2008/09 | 0.0909 | --- | 0.0909 |
| 2009/10 | 2.128 | --- | 2.128 |
| 2010/11 | 3.2088 | --- | 3.2088 |
| 2011/12 | 0.7559 | --- | 0.7559 |
| 2012/13 | --- | 0.4433 | 0.4433 |
| Grand Totals | 11.2793 | 0.4433 | 11.7226 |
Through a combination of cogeneration, wind and fuel cell sources, the CSU is also on target to reach and exceed a trustee goal of 50 MW of onsite generation by 2014. Currently, the CSU generates 10.6 MW of solar energy, with an additional 11.5 MW planned, cogenerates 30.2 MW of energy and heat, and produces 1.2 MW at CSU Northridge's fuel cell plant and 10 KW of wind power at CSU San Bernardino. Each MW of onsite generation is equivalent to powering approximately 1,000 homes. This means that by reaching the trustees' target, the CSU will generate enough power for 50,000 homes while reducing the university's reliance on greenhouse gas-producing, "dirty" forms of energy.
