California’s dynamic climate demands equally dynamic action, and the California State University (CSU) system is rising to the challenge with a commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.
For Sonoma State University, taking part in a clean energy transition presented an opportunity to drastically reduce its carbon footprint while also protecting the campus from localized Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) common to California. Partnering with TotalEnergies to install and operate a solar and battery storage system, Sonoma State University demonstrated that climate resilience, beautiful campus aesthetics, and smart economics could go hand-in-hand.
When it came to choosing a location on campus for the solar, TotalEnergies tapped into an often overlooked resource: the university parking lots.
By designing custom carport structures, TotalEnergies and Sonoma State University transformed ordinary asphalt into self-generating clean energy. Today, these carports shelter student vehicles from the California sun while using that same sunlight to power the campus.
The carport canopies span five different parking lots for a combined 4.1 MW of solar and were engineered to generate over 7.9 million kWh of clean energy in the first year of production. The site’s 1.55 MWh battery storage system captures surplus energy to be deployed when grid demand and utility costs peak, a strategy that is estimated to save the university over $5 million in utility costs over the first five years.
Beyond providing valuable renewable energy, the project has transformed the campus into a hands-on educational tool. Sonoma State University professors and students are using the university’s advanced energy infrastructure as a living laboratory to study real-time clean energy data for a better understanding of today’s evolving energy landscape.
Through a structured Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), TotalEnergies fully financed, designed, and constructed the solar and storage system at zero upfront cost to Sonoma State University and will own and operate the system for decades to come. Under this agreement, the university purchases the clean energy generated at a rate lower than local utility prices, while TotalEnergies manages all ongoing operations, performance, and maintenance.
Because the project required zero upfront installation costs, Sonoma State University was able to preserve its capital for critical campus infrastructure and core educational needs. Meanwhile, the ongoing utility savings are being redirected into a Green Revolving Fund to support students, research, and academic excellence.
