Two new solar arrays on North Campus are now generating power, marking the first installations completed under the University of Michigan’s Maize Rays initiative.

The panels are part of a multiyear plan to expand on-campus solar capacity, enhance energy resilience, and reduce the university’s carbon footprint.

“These first solar installations are a clear example of how we’re putting our carbon neutrality commitment into action,” said Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “It’s a tangible project that directly contributes to our sustainability goals, and we’re excited to see this initiative continue to grow.”

Located at the North Campus Facilities Services Building, the installations include both a rooftop array and a solar carport. Together, they provide nearly 600 kilowatts of renewable power; enough to supply electricity for about 100 average Michigan homes. They represent the first step in the university’s plan to add a total of 25 megawatts of solar capacity across all campuses, equal to powering roughly 3,000 homes annually. This includes 20 megawatts on the Ann Arbor campus and another 5 megawatts across UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint.

The Maize Rays initiative directly supports the university’s broader carbon neutrality goals, including efforts to eliminate Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions linked to purchased electricity. Additional installations on and off campus are planned over the next few years, and the university will own and operate campus systems, with Facilities & Operations overseeing maintenance and monitoring.

“The activation of our first two solar arrays represents a visible acceleration of our energy resilience and climate action journey,” said Shana Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability. “This initiative also underscores the University of Michigan’s strong commitment to impact that serves communities.”

This project is more than a leap forward in clean energy, it’s also an opportunity to turn the U-M campus into a living learning lab. The campus arrays will offer a variety of opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage through access to real-time data and other research interests.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Office of Campus Sustainability, Facilities & Operations, Radial Power and student groups such as Students for Clean Energy. Beyond generating clean electricity for the campus, Future phases of Maize Rays will also include community-serving solar installations developed in partnership with the city of Ann Arbor, extending benefits beyond campus.