For the ongoing operation of the university’s research-, teaching- and administrative activities, thousands of electronic devices need to be used on a daily basis, causing very high energy consumption. At the same time, energy costs are increasing due to constantly rising energy prices. Therefore, the goal of Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) is both to reduce energy and power consumption and also to set environmentally friendly standards. Accordingly, the Energy Management Department identifies and realises potential energy saving solutions.
By introducing extensive renovation measures, energy optimisation of the existing building substance and improved efficiency of the technical building systems, the university administration is continuously trying to counteract the rising energy costs.
Successes have been achieved in recent years, particularly in the area of heat supply, so that heating energy requirements have been gradually reduced. Compared to 2014, savings of around 16% have already been achieved.
Since 2017, Leibniz Universität Hannover has been using green electricity. In order to further increase renewable power generation on LUH buildings, the planning and construction of photovoltaic systems is already underway.
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Further photovoltaic systems are also being examined on buildings 3430 and office building 8910.
PROJECT – CONSTRUCTION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Leibniz Universität Hannover plans to install one photovoltaic system each on buildings 3701, 3702 and 3703.
Flat roofs are ideally suitable for the installation of photovoltaic systems. After only a few months, the systems will have generated the amount of energy that was needed for their production. This protects the climate and reduces energy costs, especially if the generated electricity can be used in the same building. Based on these considerations, the university's decentralised energy supply is to be expanded and the generation of renewable energies is to be further promoted. In this respect in particular, LUH is aware of its exemplary function as an educational institution and has therefore decided to invest further in sustainability and environmental and climate protection.
The university’s buildings 3701, 3702 and 3702 are interconnected, as can be seen in the site plan below. The three buildings are connected to the university's own power grid, each via a transformer with low-voltage main distribution. Electricity is fed into the university’s power grid by the energy supplier via a central feed point.
The system will have a planned total output of 174 kWp. The primary purpose is to supply the respective buildings with their own electricity and thereby reducing operating costs and eliminating CO2 emissions caused by external electricity supply. In this way, the planned photovoltaic systems can deliver energy efficiency targets both for the respective buildings and across the university campus area network.
Already since 2017, Leibniz Universität Hannover has been purchasing 100% green electricity, thus making a decisive contribution to sustainable energy provision. Through the construction of the photovoltaic systems the university’s annual electricity procurement will be reduced and the unused green electricity can then be used in other areas. The construction of the photovoltaic systems is expected to reduce the annual electricity consumption by 144 MWh. This would be equivalent to about 90 tons of CO2 emissions which would otherwise be caused by electricity generated from the typical power generation mix.
This project is supported with funds from the European Regional Development Fund.
