Ambitious Climate Action: Johns Hopkins' Roadmap to 100% Renewable Energy by 2030
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is at the forefront of renewable energy research and sustainability initiatives, positioning itself as a leader in the fight against climate change. Through a combination of ambitious goals, innovative research, community involvement, and educational initiatives, JHU is making significant strides toward a sustainable future.
Renewable Energy and Net-Zero Emissions Commitments
More recently, JHU has shown long-term dedication to renewable energy via innovative steps such as the landmark solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with Constellation Energy in 2019. Under this agreement, the university can satisfy approximately two-thirds of its electricity demand with energy generated from off-site solar farms. The proactive approach not only successfully reduced the university’s greenhouse gas emissions by 57% by 2022—three years ahead of the planned goal—but also an industry model for JHU’s commitment to achieving its climate goals.
In October 2024, JHU published its Climate Action and Sustainability Plan, which lays out an ambitious roadmap toward transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, and ultimately achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. The university-wide plan advocates the gradual elimination of fossil fuels from its energy mix, the electrification of transportation systems, and sustainable building practices. This type of guide includes novel techniques such as the use of sustainable materials, such as mass timber and CarbonCure concrete, to ultimately minimize the carbon impact of the construction process.
Research Excellence: The Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute (ROSEI)
The Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute (ROSEI) is JHU’s leading interdisciplinary center for solar energy and renewable technologies research. ROSEI brings together engineers, social scientists, and policymakers to tackle the nuances of energy storage, scalability, and accessibility of sustainable energy solutions.
ROSEI spotlighted several key projects including:
Solar-Driven Hydrogen Production: Working with MIT, JHU researchers have created a new hybrid solar distillation-electrolysis device that could enable solar-powered hydrogen production from seawater. Their pioneering work not only produces an energy source but also demonstrates a scalable approach that could revolutionize energy storage systems.
Advocating for Community Solar: ROSEI has advocated for programs where community members can subscribe to solar initiatives. In an effort to increase access to solar energy, the initiative allows everyone — including residents and businesses — to purchase discounted solar credits from the closest solar farms, resulting in lower energy bills, while helping expand adoption of renewable energy on a community scale.
Innovations From the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), specializing in state-of-the-art solar energy technologies and advancing solar research. Noteworthy projects include:
However, Parker Solar Probe, which is a NASA mission with APL as its lead, aspires to strengthen comprehension of interactions between the Sun’s corona, solar wind, Earth’s magnetic field and energetic particles that influence terrestrial energy hosting. These insights are crucial both for optimizing harnessing solar energy as well as for understanding the interplay of solar activity with terrestrial energy processes.
Lightweight Energy Solutions: APL researchers have created scalable designs for fibers that can harness solar energy and pack it away into battery systems. This could be earth shattering for wearables and smart textiles, and a step towards personal energy.
Infrastructure and Community Base Management
JHU is currently in the process of turning its campuses into “living laboratories” for sustainability:
The Remington Energy Hub is an innovation, research, and testing facility focused on energy transition technologies, with an emphasis on solar integration and microgrid technologies in Baltimore. The hub is a network of experience and knowledge sharing between researchers, industry practitioners, and policymakers.
Electric Transit underwires: Aiming to cut emissions, JHU has set a goal of a completely electric fleet of buses by 2026. This fleet will only use renewable energy, which will make sustainable transportation alternatives available to major university corridors.
Education & Workforce Development
JHU understands that education helps shape the next generation of leaders in sustainable energy, so it’s committed to training through variety of programs:
ROSETAS (Research Opportunities in Sustainable Energy and Technology for All Students): This intensive 10-week summer research program is focused on sustainable energy systems and is geared toward undergraduate students, providing hands-on research experience for students pursuing careers in renewable energy.
Pre-College Programs: JHU offers high schoolers coursework and applied projects on solar energy and engineering. Through these efforts, students and young people are introduced to the concept of renewable energy professionals and exposed early on to the applications of this kind of energy.
Summary
Johns Hopkins University is committed to solar energy research and sustainability, and these efforts position the school as a leader in addressing climate change. By establishing a cutting-edge solar research initiative, supporting cross-sector collaborations, engaging with the community on the ground, and investing in future generations, JHU is poised to be a leader in the renewable energy transition. These initiatives have placed the university not only at the forefront of environmental efforts, but also as a role model that motivates other schools to combat the urgent issues caused by climate change.