Thousands of solar panels installed at Exeter University

New solar panels as the uni continues green transition

Thousands of solar panels are being installed as the University of Exeter continues its shift to renewable energy.

Once completed, the new panels – including 1,800 on land near Duryard Halls of Residence – should increase total solar generation on the University’s Exeter campuses to 4.1 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year.

This electricity – equivalent to the power used by 1,500 households – would provide about 15% of the University’s annual requirements, saving 840 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Solar panels are already in place on the roofs of 19 University buildings, and more are planned on buildings, car park canopies and unused land in the coming years.

“We are investing in sustainable initiatives to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and provide energy security for our campuses,” said Andy Seaman, Head of Carbon and Energy.

“This supports our goal to reach net zero, and our Strategy 2030 ambition to lead meaningful action against the climate emergency. 

“Already this year, we have installed solar panels on the Physics building, Richards building and Holland Hall – adding to our fast-growing solar generation capacity.”  

As on-campus generation increases, the University will evaluate options for demand management (influencing when and how much energy is used) combined with smart network management – potentially using battery storage.