University of Exeter saves over 45,000 KG CO2 a year with new solar panels

The University of Exeter has installed over 300kw and 700 solar panels on the roof of its Harrison building at the Streatham Campus in Exeter, playing a crucial role in the University reaching its target of Carbon Net Zero by 2030 and supporting its Strategy 2030 to lead meaningful action against the climate emergency.

The installation of 700 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roof of the Harrison building reduces the reliance on fossil fuels and is moving the University towards clean renewable energy. The panels will save 45,282 Kg CO2 a year and the estimated output is 212,591 kWh a year.

The installation was made possible by funding awarded by Research England for the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) project, currently being built on North Park Road, to achieve ‘Net Zero in Operation’ status from day one of operation. The power generated by the solar panels for the Harrison building will off-set the energy consumption of CREWW.

Back in July 2020, the University introduced three solar installations across both the Streatham and St Luke’s Campuses cutting University of Exeter’s carbon footprint by more than 100,000kg per year.

Andy Seaman, Energy Manager at the University of Exeter said: “We are proud to have introduced over 700 new solar panels on the Harrison building adding to our existing installations across our campuses in Exeter and Cornwall.

We are committed to maximising our renewable energy provision and our work doesn’t stop there, as we have further plans to install more PV panels on our Creative Quadrant building, which is currently being built in the University of Exeter Business School.”

The University of Exeter declared an environment and climate emergency last year. To read more about what the university is doing in response to the emergency, visit: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/sustainability/