Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has partnered with Riverside Energy Systems to install 540 solar panels by March next year, aiming to lower BC Hydro costs and power the campus with clean energy. This marks the first phase of a $600,000 project that will add over 1,000 panels in five years, ultimately generating one megawatt of electricity — enough to power nearly 200 homes.
Initial installations will occur on the Campus Activity Centre, the Arts and Education Building, and the Industrial Training and Technology Centre. Future panels, producing an additional 650 kilowatts, may be placed on parking lot structures, retrofitted rooftops, or ground-mounted arrays.
The solar panels will support TRU’s $40-million Low-Carbon District Energy System, set to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2026. Gordon, TRU’s sustainability manager, noted the panels’ low maintenance and their role in offsetting energy costs.
With BC Hydro’s load displacement program covering part of the cost, the panels are expected to pay for themselves in 15 years. Installation begins in January, advancing TRU’s goal of zero carbon emissions by 2030.
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