Over 400 new solar panels – also known as photovoltaic panels (PV) – have been added to Poole House on Talbot Campus in a continued effort to reduce the university’s carbon emissions.
These panels will generate an estimated 130,000 kWh of renewable electricity per year. Existing solar panels are installed on the Fusion Building, Student Centre, new waste compound and in the bus hub canopy and these already generate up to 8% of the electricity used on Talbot Campus.
The additional panels will mean the campus has a total of 1,140 panels generating over 303,000 kWh of renewable electricity per year – enough to power about 100 houses for a year.
Once the final panel had been laid, Vice-Chancellor John Vinney, Chief Operating Officer Jim Andrews, Students’ Union Bournemouth University’s (SUBU) Vice-President Community Abidemi Abiodun and SUBU’s Community Partnerships Manager Gillian Lewis visited the roof top to take a closer look.
John Vinney commented: “Sustainability is now at the core of the organisation and we’re constantly looking at ways that we can shape a more sustainable future. These solar panels will go a long way to improving our carbon emission figure and ultimately improve the quality of life for those who work and study at BU.
“While the university continues to look into ways we can invest in and develop more sustainable surroundings, as individuals there are many things we can do to embed our goals into everyday life. Part of this is delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals and I encourage you all to take a look at these and see if you’re inspired to make some positive changes.”
Abidemi from SUBU said: “It’s fantastic to see all the great work the university is doing to encourage sustainability - not just within BU but also among the students and SUBU is always keen to support these initiatives.”
BU has set an ambitious target of reducing our carbon emissions by 40% by 2020/21 based on a 2005/06 baseline and installing PVs is an important part of the strategy to achieve this target, as solar power reduces emissions by being a clean and renewable source of energy.
