From brain power to green power - UCLAN goes green

Energi Holdings, a leading supplier of renewable technologies, successfully installed the Sharp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of the student union's 53 Degrees building at UCLAN.

The student union at the University of Central Lancashire is now one of the greenest in the UK, thanks to the installation of 270 photovoltaic panels.

The building's panels will generate 36,800kWh of electricity per year, which is enough to power laptops for over 500 students, supply electricity to 8 houses or make 1,840,000 Pot Noodles.

The installation forms part of a three-phase project that will see 600 panels installed across the University's building portfolio.

When complete it is thought it this will be the largest renewable energy project by a UK educational establishment.

In addition, the students' union has also been fitted with a display screen that will give students and university bosses live information about the power that has been generated and consumed on campus.

Paul Morris, director of facilities management at UCLan said: "The UCLan campus covers 45 hectares and uses more than five million kilowatt hours each month, so we knew that renewable energy would deliver real benefits in terms of financial savings and reduced carbon emissions".

""Opting for onsite energy generation is a key part of our sustainable development strategy and we've had a brilliant response from all involved, the students in particular.

The live meter readings have really made this a project for the whole campus community"".

"Mark Dickinson, managing director of Energi Holdings said: "From the very beginning, UCLan was especially keen to break new ground and provide a way to become more energy self sufficient, reduce the university's carbon footprint and encourage more responsible energy use amongst the students too.

They've certainly achieved that with this scheme.

The first phase was installed at a cost of GBP270,000 and was part-funded through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which gives 50 per cent funding to renewable energy projects.

UCLan has already been held up as an exemplar of sustainable development and is one of only two universities in the UK to achieve the Carbon Trust's Pathfinder status - a badge given to those organisations who deliver real tangible carbon reductions.

Energi Holdings is fully accredited under the BRE Global MCS scheme for Solar PV installers and are members of the REAL Assurance Scheme.

Back to top