UU’s energy supply accounts for 65% of the university’s total CO2 footprint. Making sustainability feasible is partly possible with solar energy: many solar panels have already been installed on roofs and carports, for example.
The university is serious about reducing our CO2 emissions, said Margot van der Starre , vice president of the Executive Board.
We are doing everything we can to achieve that and that includes looking for solutions off campus. The solar park in Bunnik is one such solution. An opportunity we are therefore seizing with both hands.
Direct connection to USP’s network
Solar park developer IX Zon is offering a ready-to-build solar park over two kilometres from the USP after four years of development. This solar park can be connected to the USP’s electricity network via a direct connection. This will add a financially interesting solar energy production facility to UU’s renewable energy production, comparable to a solar park developed on its premises. This increases the share of self-generated solar energy in one step from about 3% to about 20% of UU’s current electricity demand.This increases the share of self-generated solar energy in one step from about 3% to about 20% of UU’s current electricity demand.
Drs. Margot van der Starre
Vice President of the Executive Board
It has been calculated that the UU portion of the solar park will generate about 8 million kilowatt hours per year.
This means that we also become significantly less dependent on our thermal power plant to generate electricity. And therefore need less gas,Van der Starre informs.
Tamara Luiken, a student member of the Finance, Housing, ICT and Sustainability (FHID) committee of the University council , has recently been working hard for the solar park together with colleagues:
We are extremely happy with this development. Within UU’s sustainable ambitions, this solar park is a great step forward.
