From solar farms to hydrogen buses: The University of Queensland on its way to a sustainable future

Hydrogen & solar

By University of Queensland

With two groundbreaking projects, The University of Queensland (UQ) aims to reduce its environmental impact.

Warwick Solar Farm

The $125m Warwick Solar Farm powers UQ to 100 per cent renewable.

Australia’s renewable energy research capacity has been boosted with the completion of The University of Queensland’s 64-megawatt solar farm at Warwick in the state’s south-east.

Dr Jessica Gallagher, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship), said as a research and teaching institution with a vision of creating “knowledge leadership for a better world”, sustainability is really central to everything we do, here, at The University of Queensland (UQ).

“Our University will be the first university in the world to generate 100 per cent of its electricity from its own renewable energy asset: the Warwick Solar Farm. The University now has about 252,000 solar panels with 70.3 megawatts of capacity. This current capacity would serve around 15,000 houses and their daily usage.”

Society is largely built on the cumulative effect of small acts.

“Building on UQ’s existing strengths in the renewables field, the project provides the groundwork for a wide range of new teaching, research and engagement opportunities, in addition to its environmental and financial benefits. We also aspire to be a sustainable development leader in the higher education sector globally.” Dr Gallagher said.

Lead image: Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Anthony Lynham and Former Minister for State Development, Tourism andinnovation Kate Jones. Above: Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership Director and UQChair in Sustainable Energy Futures Professor Peta Ashworth at WarwickSolar Farm with Liveris Academy scholars.

Project size

Upon completion, the solar farm will total around 64 MWac and 78 MWdc. The project site is around 154 hectares, of which just less than 30 per cent will be covered by solar modules. The balance will be made up of the spacing between each row of panels, 16 inverter stations, access roads, screening vegetation to be planted, and several small buildings including a site office and a visitor/ learning centre. “The generation profile of the solar farm provides an ideal opportunity for piloting emerging battery energy storage or hydrogen conversion technologies.

UQ is the first major university in the world to offset 100 per cent of its electricity use with renewable power produced at its assets.

See Warwick Solar Farm on Youtube

Research opportunities

The Warwick Solar Farm will support a wide range of research and industry partnerships across multiple disciplines. Many of these will be led by the dedicated UQ Solar Research Group within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology. Potential areas of research include:

- use of cloud cameras to predict solar farm output,

- use of inverters and new market structures to provide voltage regulation and reactive power services to the distribution network,

- co-optimisation of providing energy alongside frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) into the National Electricity Market,

- integration of behindthe-meter demand response with in-frontof-meter large scale generation.

The facility will also support the development of new and emerging research streams. In particular, the generation profile of the solar farm will provide an ideal opportunity for piloting emerging battery energy storage or hydrogen conversion technologies.

Green award recognises UQ’s sustainability leadership

UQ won a coveted Australasian Green Gown Award for its commitment to sustainability through the Warwick Solar Farm project in the inaugural 2030 Climate Action category.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Aidan Byrne said UQ was proud to be recognised as a leader in the sector via the awards, which recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives.

“We’re at a moment in history when the decisions we make, in my view, will determine the future well-being of humanity, and we must stop saying that individual action will not make a difference,” Professor Byrne said. “Society is largely built on the cumulative effect of small acts. When it comes to climate change, we all share the responsibility and the consequences, and so we all need to make sure that we are doing our bit.”

Introducing the state’s first hydrogen buses

In a further announcement, The University of Queensland has revealed it will add two hydrogen fuel cell buses to its fleet by 2022, expected to be the first of their kind in the state.

The buses are to be introduced with support from the Queensland Government’s Hydrogen Industry Development Fund.

UQ sustainable energy expert Professor Peta Ashworth said the buses’ emissions were 60-70 per cent lower than those of the diesel-powered intercampus shuttle buses they would replace.

“They will cut about 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year,” Professor Ashworth said.

“UQ will produce the hydrogen through electrolysis, taking advantage of the University’s large renewable energy generation portfolio to offset power demands.

“Hydrogen fuel cells are an attractive choice for lower carbon emission vehicles because water is the only by-product when hydrogen and oxygen are combined to produce electricity.

“The established research and educational facilities near the hydrogen production site at UQ Gatton give us significant opportunities to explore how the technology works for applications in the community and will provide insights for other future applications.

The Queensland Government invested $4.85 million to the hydrogen bus project.

Former Minister for State Development, Tourism and Innovation Kate Jones said the buses were part of the government’s strategy to rebuild the state’s economy and create jobs.

“We’re investing in projects that deliver economic growth and create highly skilled jobs,” Ms Jones said.

Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability last November presented UQ with a coveted Green Gown Award for “commitment to sustainability through the Warwick Solar Farm project”.

Hydrogen fueling station, Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/ picture alliance via Getty Images

UQ is committed to being a global leader in sustainability and is a signatory of the Talloires Declaration.

About us

The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions. We strive for excellence through the creation, preservation, transfer and application of knowledge. For more than a century, we have educated and worked with outstanding people to deliver knowledge leadership for a better world.