Dominion Virginia Power, a regulated electric utility, will install its first solar energy installation at Old Dominion University (ODU), through its pilot Solar Partnership Program.

The company will set up more than 600 photovoltaic panels atop ODU's Student Recreation Center this summer.

These panels are estimated to produce 132 kilowatts of electricity directly from sunlight that will be passed on to the power grid, equivalent power for 35 homes. The project is expected to be completed by the end of summer.

"This installation will pave the way for us to assess the benefits of solar facilities on our electrical distribution system," Ken Barker, Dominion Virginia Power's vice president for customer solutions, said. "This new program is already encouraging the growth of solar energy in Virginia."

Before fixing the panels, the company will first analyze the 150,000-square-foot building's suitability for the solar installation.

The State Corporation Commission agreed to the solar demonstration project in November. The project, costing $111 million overall, allows the company to build solar equipment on commercial, industrial and public sites to generate up to 30 megawatts of power.

The 30 megawatts will be produced across 50 rented sites, and is projected to supply power to around 7,500 homes.

ODU President John R. Broderick said that the university is the right fit for the pilot program, as it is considered to be the center of alternative energy research.

This is the first such initiative taken up by the university in solar energy utilization. Last December, ODU placed a solar tracking system and photovoltaic panels on the roof of Kaufman Hall building. In fact, Dominion gave $50,000 to the $2 million federal grant that the university received for the project.