The University of Queensland has awarded the contract to install its $7.75 million, 1.2megawatt photovoltaic solar array to Brisbane firm Ingenero Pty Ltd.
Ingenero will partner with one of the world's leading solar photovoltaic (PV) companies, Trina Solar, which will supply the system's panels.
The contracts will deliver UQ Australia's largest and most powerful flat-panel photovoltaic array: a state-of-the-art system that will make a significant contribution to UQ's energy needs and be a globally important facility for renewable energy research and education.
"The innovative deal signed between UQ and Ingenero was made possible by a $1.5 million contribution from the Queensland Government and substantial contribution from our technology partners,” said Geoff Dennis, UQ's Deputy Director of Property and Facilities.
"This was achievable because all parties saw the value of engaging with UQ's research capabilities, and from gaining access to the system's valuable performance data.”
The panels would generate about five per cent of the University's peak power demand, and save about $6.6 million in electricity charges in the next 15 years.
"It will recover its own cost in 15 years – or sooner, depending how expensive electricity becomes — but the system will have a life of about 25 years,” he said.
The panels initially will be installed by the end of this year on the roofs of four buildings — the two multi-storey carparks, the UQ Centre and the Sir Llew Edwards Building.
Plans were in train for more panels to be installed in future on other new UQ buildings, Mr Dennis said.
Professor Paul Meredith, chair of the UQ Renewable Energy Technology Advisory Committee and leader of the array research program, said Ingenero and Trina Solar shared a strong commitment to ongoing research and development.
'They are ideal partners as UQ expands its solar research and education activities,” he said.
"Ingenero is an emerging solar integration company and Trina Solar is one of the world's leading PV panel manufacturers with a strong commitment to R&D.”
"The research team is complemented by the incorporation of ENERGEX supporting the University to understand and measure the quality of electricity supply from the solar array.”
ENERGEX will provide state-of-the-art metering and monitoring equipment in order to provide high-quality data for analysis, which will support research into the impact of renewable solar energy on the grid.
"Overall, this really is a very significant project,” Professor Meredith said. “Research-wise, it is at the cutting edge globally. From a national perspective, it is a very significant piece of energy infrastructure.”
"The system's performance data will be streamed free and live to the internet for use by schools or anyone with an interest in solar power. This is a very innovative concept in public engagement and education.”
In April, when Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced the $1.5 million grant towards UQ's solar array, she noted the system would save 1750 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually — equivalent to taking 335 cars off the roads each year.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield commended the State Government for its commitment to solar research and technology, and said the state's Office of Clean Energy had been a great support in establishing UQ's solar array.
"UQ will show leadership as a generator and user of solar energy and also as a provider of internationally-recognised teaching, research and development regarding solar technologies,” Professor Greenfield said.
"It will also be a resource for students and staff, who will use the array to help develop next-generation solar technologies.”
"The system will be part of a larger micro-grid strategy to use renewable energy across the University's other campuses over the next decade."
"The UQ Micro-Grid will allow UQ and Queensland researchers to deepen their understanding of the issues and opportunities around the deployment of solar and renewable energy.
"In particular, we see this project becoming a close collaboration with stakeholders such as established energy providers and the solar industry, to encourage the integration of commercial-industrial scale solar infrastructure in Queensland's electricity grid.
"It will position our University as a major provider of solar research expertise and infrastructure in upcoming major initiatives such as the Solar Flagships Program”.
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