Case Study: Oberlin College achieves net-zero carbon emissions with NRG Energy

Oberlin College reaches net zero by 2025 with NRG Energy

Oberlin College aimed to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2025, a goal it committed to in 2006. To meet this challenge, the college partnered with NRG Energy to implement a holistic net zero decarbonization program.

The solution developed with NRG Energy incorporated multiple key components of sustainability. This included installing a large 2.72 MW solar array, replacing a coal-fired boiler with natural gas assets, and implementing an ambitious campus-wide geothermal system with 847 wells. The results were a 30% increase in energy efficiency, with the solar array alone producing 12% of the school's yearly energy demand. For its innovative and effective approach, Oberlin College earned a 2021 Excellence in Energy Award for Sustainability from NRG.

Oberlin College