100 Percent Green Electricity at TU Dortmund University as of the New Year
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TU Dortmund University is improving its carbon footprint: Since 1 January, the university has been using certified green electricity from 100 percent renewable energy sources. In this way, it will reduce its CO2 emissions by about 8,300 metric tons per year in comparison to the average electricity mix in Germany. By switching to green electricity, TU Dortmund University has achieved one of the main objectives of its sustainability strategy.
TU Dortmund University’s annual electricity consumption is currently about 41 million kilowatt hours, of which about 45 percent are already generated by its own very efficient cogeneration plant (German) through gas-fired power. It has to buy in the other 55 percent. Here, the university has switched to certified green electricity at the turn of the year.
To improve the carbon footprint of its electricity consumption even further, TU Dortmund University is looking to install photovoltaic systems. For example, at the end of 2020 a PV system went into operation on the roof of the test hangar of the Institute of Machining Technology (ISF) on South Campus. This and other smaller solar panels on campus currently produce around 54,500 kilowatts of electricity, thus saving about 20 metric tons of CO2 per year. Additional systems are envisaged for the roof of the new daycare center on South Campus and the extension to the sports center, which is currently in the planning stage. The university is also examining whether PV systems are suitable for the new University Library building.
New Sustainability Office
In spring 2021, TU Dortmund University adopted a Sustainability Strategy (German), which it is further developing and updating on a continuous basis. The university’s Sustainability Office set up in June 2021 helps the Working Group Sustainability (German) to communicate sustainability topics in a transparent way and to initiate and implement sustainable projects (German). As part of the Section Internal Services of the Department of University Development and Organization (German), the Sustainability Office is responsible for operative tasks and the central contact point for all members of TU Dortmund University. It also encourages and supports sustainability projects and initiatives at TU Dortmund University and beyond.