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Panoramic view on the North Campus © Jürgen Huhn​/​TU Dortmund
Energy transition

Solar Panels Set up on North Campus

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Photo: A large field of solar panels lies next to a building. © HeimWatt
A ground-mounted photovoltaic system consisting of 3,650 solar modules is being built in front of the HVDC Test Center at TU Dortmund University. It is expected to cover approximately five percent of the university’s electricity needs in the future.
TU Dortmund University is making clear progress on the path to the energy transition: Installation of the solar panels for the large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic system in front of the HVDC Test Center began in early June. The system is scheduled to go into operation toward the end of the year and will be able to meet around five percent of the university’s electricity demand. The 3,650 solar panels will together generate around 1.7 MWp, which will enable the university to increase its self-generated solar power by a factor of ten.

Preparations for this major project, which are coordinated by the Corporate Center Construction and Facility Management at TU Dortmund University, have been underway for about three years. “Construction projects require considerable patience,” says project coordinator Jonas Giehler. “Which makes us all the more delighted that progress is now becoming clearly visible.” Many steps were necessary, from planning application, land survey and soil analysis to procurement of the technical components. In February this year, the city’s Historic Preservation Department also used the building project as an opportunity to conduct archaeological excavations on the site and documented traces of prehistoric settlements.

Further milestone

The installation of the solar panels marks a further milestone. In the next step, a battery bank and a station building must be added, together with transformers as well as low- and medium-voltage equipment, before the system can go into operation. According to a feasibility study, the project costs will be recouped in around six years. What’s more, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology will be able to use the system in the future to conduct scientific trials.

Installing this ground-mounted photovoltaic system is part of TU Dortmund University’s contribution to reducing climate-damaging emissions: Compared with Germany’s electricity mix, the solar panels can save the environment just under 600 tons of CO₂ per year. This is equivalent to the emissions produced when a passenger flies 200 times from Frankfurt to New York and back. The university will forge ahead with the expansion of PV systems on suitable roofs and commission a wood pellet plant before the start of the next heating period so that it can generate even more of its own renewable energy in the future. TU Dortmund University also recently signed a letter of intent with DEW21 to commence the construction of a wind turbine on South Campus.

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