The University of Adelaide broke ground for a new 1.2 MW solar farm on its Roseworthy Campus yesterday, an installation that will supply over 40% of the campus’ energy requirements.
The Solar and Energy Storage Project was one of 20 to receive funding through the State Government’s $150 million Renewable Technology Fund which looks to bolster the runout of renewable energy technologies in South Australia.
University of Adelaide Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Lines, said the solar farm is part of the University’s Sustainability Plan, an effort to decrease the environmental impact of its operations. This plan has been partially facilitated by a $778, 500 grant for a hybrid battery storage solution as part of the overall $7 million solar project.
There is however, from the university’s perspective, not solely a financial and environmental benefit, but also an educational one. “The solar farm will be a ‘living laboratory’ for students and researchers,” said Lines, “with access to time-lapse recording of the construction, building plans and data systems for remote-energy management, energy storage and load flex.”
