Columbia University - Johnson Farms — United States of America
Solar power plant in New York, United States of America. Approximate location 41.3791, -74.2638.
SolarNew YorkUnited States of America
Columbia University - Johnson Farms is a 2 MW solar power plant in New York, United States of America. It is operated by AES Distributed Energy. Based on reported annual generation of 3 GWh, it can supply roughly 857 homes. It ranks #8854 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2018, it is around 8 years old — recently built. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 8.6% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0061576.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000812552; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 2 MW, Columbia University - Johnson Farms is below the median solar plant in United States of America (3 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 17%, from 3 GWh of reported generation; the median for 3185 solar plants in United States of America that report generation is 19%
- Share of United States of America solar capacity
- less than 0.1% of 38,093 MW across 3,283 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 2,221 of 3,277 dated solar plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by AES Distributed Energy. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 41.4°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 36% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 72/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with thermal cycling the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #2047 largest solar power plant of 3283 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 3283 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 38,093 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Chester CSG · Solar · 2 MW · New York
- Orange County Solar Farm (NY) · Solar · 1.5 MW · New York
- Al Turi · Waste · 2.4 MW · New York
- Shoemaker · Gas · 41.9 MW · New York
- Sacket Lake Rd #2 Community Solar Farm · Solar · 1.7 MW · New York
- CPV Valley Energy Center · Gas · 770 MW · New York
Location
Coordinates 41.3791, -74.2638 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Columbia University - Johnson Farms?
Columbia University - Johnson Farms is a 2 MW solar power plant in New York, United States of America, commissioned in 2018.
How much electricity does Columbia University - Johnson Farms generate?
Columbia University - Johnson Farms generates about 3 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Columbia University - Johnson Farms?
Columbia University - Johnson Farms is operated by AES Distributed Energy.