Flinders University announced the release of its new sustainability plan at the formal launch of its huge solar carpark last week.
As we reported last August, 4,136 solar panels have been installed over a car park at the university’s Bedford Park campus in South Australia. All up, around 6,000 panels are now installed on carpark 3 and key buildings, which will generate equivalent to 19.3% of the electricity needs of Flinders’ main campus.
The University isn’t done yet – it has announced a new investment of $2.4 million into solar and other sustainability measures. Through an additional $1.45 million investment in solar energy over 2019-20, the campus will aim to generate equivalent to 33% of its electricity requirements from PV.
“This will see us roll out more panels across our roof tops, create solar covered walkways and shelters, and begin planning another large solar car port or ground-mounted solar array,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling. “With all this energy generated on campus, we are also investigating energy storage”.
The University has a goal of achieving zero net emissions from electricity by 2021.
Other sustainability-related initiatives will include installing charging stations for electric cars, decarbonising the University’s fleet of vehicles, eliminating single-use plastics for food and beverages, and reducing, reusing and recycling more materials on campus. As well as reducing the university’s carbon footprint, the projects will provide opportunities for teaching and learning, plus foster partnerships with industry, government and the community.
During the 2019-20 period, Flinders University will also develop a framework for its transition to being “carbon positive”1, meaning it will seek to go beyond net zero carbon emissions and achieve an environmental benefit from its operations.
In 2018 the university released its draft Sustainability Plan for consultation, which resulted in the contribution of 500 unique ideas. Among the top 10 insights from feedback was a desire that the university keeps investing in renewable energy generation on campus and continues to capitalise on efficiency opportunities in energy and water management.
The feedback has formed the basis of an action plan and map the institution’s path to 2025. The “Bold Ideas, Brighter Future – Sustainability Plan To 2025” can be viewed here.
Footnotes
- Carbon positive is also known as climate positive. Among the ways it can be achieved is by generating more zero-emissions energy than is consumed, or purchasing carbon offsets surplus to requirements. ↩
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it is great to see educational uni and other australian institution going green. we have the biggest sky longest summer days, and the hottest climate, and why not everyone participate to go green. from australian government to local and state government all other people, we got to do somethings positive for our future and we got to be ahead of other country in the world we go green, Australian WE have to be roll model to the world,
well done flinders uni