News
Pera Uni goes green with solar power
View(s):By L. B. Senaratne
Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Professor Terrence Madhujith inaugurated a massive network of solar energy panels at the university as part of the Green University initative commenced to upgrade the universities in the country.
An important milestone in the creation of a green university, the inauguration of solar power generation units around the campus, was also part of the university’s centenary development plans.
A saving of nearly one-third of the present consumption is being envisaged with the installation. Thirty-six per cent of the total consumption will be covered and with the addition of another unit at the Faculty of Medicine it will rise to forty five per cent of the total consumption.
The solar panels on the rooftops of the university
This has been installed, commissioned and connected to the National grid through the university’s 0.4/33kV ring network. The Solar PV system has a capacity of 1200 kilo watts (kW) of dc power. They are installed in three distinct locations, two in the Faculty of Engineering with a generating capacity of 820 kW and another in the Department of Education, Faculty of Arts, with a generating capacity of 380 kW.
In the selected sites, under sunny weather conditions, it has started generating a total of over 6000 units of electricity (kilo watt hours) per day. The total electricity consumption of the University per month is approximately 500,000 units. Hence the addition of the 1200 kWp system covers 36% of the total consumption of the university. Another 300 kWp will be added to the system with the installation in the Faculty of Medicine.
The system contains JA Solar Panels of 590 W and SOLAXTM grid tied inverters of capacities ranging from 50 kW to 125 kW.
The supply, installation and commissioning was contracted to a private firm which completed work within 90 days from the date of award of the contract. With the installation, the university expects to go up further in the global green metric and sustainability rankings.
At the inauguration held at the Senate Room of the campus were Coordinator of the Five thematic goals of the Centenary Committee Professor Buddhi Marambe, a member of the team Professor Janaka Ekanayake, Chairman, Sri Lanka Sustainability Energy Authority, the Leader of the Solar Project Gamini Phupha, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Lilantha Samaranayaka, Acting Director , Centre for Environmental Sustainability Dr G.A.N.Suranjith, Acting Registrar University of Peradeniya Mahinda Ekanayake, Bursar of the University Nisantha Arampath, Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Ranjith Pallegama and representatives of Hayleys Fentons Ltd. and the Electricity Board.
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