Energy & Renewables

Renewable Energy

Group standing around rooftop solar panels

Purchased electricity accounts for about half of the University’s potential GHG emissions — and thus remains a key target for conservation, efficiency, and ongoing source shifts to cleaner options.

Under the Pitt Sustainability Plan, the University is committed to producing or procuring 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2037, to help reach carbon neutrality.

Renewable Energy Sources

In 2024, 32.4% of the University’s electricity originated from renewable energy sources. Learn more about our progress.

Closing this gap requires a combination of solutions, including on-site renewables, directly purchased renewables, long-term power purchase agreements, and renewable energy certificates (all detailed below).

On-site Renewables

  • The University of Pittsburgh has rooftop solar installations dating back to 2012 — and is planning for additional future installations.
  • Rooftop solar arrays currently adorn Petersen Sports Complex and Ruskin Hall on the Pittsburgh campus, with many more in design and construction.
  • Learn more on the Solar page.

Long-term Power Purchase Agreements

  • The University of Pittsburgh is currently committed to one long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for local, renewable electricity.
  • The University purchases all of the electricity from the 20-megawatt Gaucho Solar facility just 25 miles from the Pittsburgh campus (on the border of Allegheny and Beaver Counties). This ~35,000 MWh annually is ~18% of Pitt’s annual electricity need.

Renewables in Electricity Retail Contracts

  • In 2019, Pitt’s first 100% renewables contract was for a small electricity portfolio representing 4% of the University’s annual electricity usage.
  • In mid-2020, Pitt committed another ~7% of its electricity usage to 100% renewables via a separate contract.
  • Current retail contracts (2022-25) include 20% renewables or better.
  • In 2024, Pitt joined the Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium, helping ensure additional renewable electricity.

Renewable Energy Certificates

  • In 2009, Pitt began regularly purchasing small amounts of renewable energy certificates (RECs) specific to LEED building certifications.
  • For both FY19 & FY20, the University purchased 32,000 RECs (or 32,000 MWh), equating nearly 14% of Pitt’s annual electricity consumption.
  • All RECs purchased by Pitt for LEED projects were Green-e certified; today, the University does not procure separate RECs for standalone projects, instead relying on long-term PPAs and structured retail agreements.
  • Learn what a REC is from the U.S. EPA.

 

 

We're a Power Partner

In 2018, Pitt joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use.

Learn More