University of Adelaide lighting up Roseworthy campus with renewables

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

The University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus is closer to generating, supplying and storing nearly half its energy needs thanks to $780,000 from the State Government’s $150 million Renewable Technology Fund.

The funding will support the installation of a $1.56 million 0.5MW/2MWh battery storage system and increase the benefits of a $4.2 million 1.2MW solar project that will supply more than 40 per cent of Roseworthy’s annual energy needs.

The project is part of the University’s Campus Sustainability Plan, towards which it is investing $14.4 million over the next three years.

The University of Adelaide is ranked in the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide and a member of the Group of Eight, making it one of Australia’s leading research universities.

The project will create up to 23 jobs during construction of the solar and battery storage and one ongoing position, while the University will perform three research projects each year connected to the energy storage system for the next three years.

It will also assist the University to include topics such as remote-energy management, energy storage and load flex in various tertiary education courses.

The $150 million Renewable Technology Fund was established in March 2017 to support further integration of renewable technologies, fast-track South Australia’s energy transformation and improve electricity market competition.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to improve energy sustainability at our Roseworthy campus. This is part of a suite of emissions reduction projects under the University’s Campus Sustainability Plan,” says University of Adelaide Chief Operating Officer Bruce Lines.

“The installation of a state-of-the-art battery storage system in addition to our solar energy project at Roseworthy campus will greatly reduce our reliance on grid electricity, and builds on an existing commitment towards the Carbon Neutral Adelaide program.

“The saving on the grid will be like switching off the power at more than 370 Adelaide homes for an entire year – so it’s a major saving. It will also help us to test the performance and reliability of battery storage technology in hot, dry conditions, which will benefit industry and the community,” says Mr Lines.

“The University of Adelaide is one of the world’s leading research institutions, and the State Government is pleased to help it contribute to South Australia’s world-leading reputation in renewable energy and storage technology,” says Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis.

“This is a great example of a project that will lower electricity costs by pairing solar panels with batteries on a large scale.

“Renewable energy projects like this one at the University of Adelaide also reduce demand on the grid during peak times, which puts downward pressure on power prices for all South Australians,” says Minister Koutsantonis.

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