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Energy from Sunlight

As part of the University’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions, we have invested in Solar Photovoltaic arrays to produce renewable electricity for our buildings. Northumbria University is also one of Europe’s leading institutes in terms of research into solar cells. The University is currently working on a £2 million project to introduce cheaper raw materials into the production of solar panels, making them less expensive and capable of being mass produced. 

Our PV arrays:

Northumberland Building PV 

Northumberland Building Façade

Installed 1995

40kW array

465 panels

The array on Northumberland Building was the country’s first building integrated PV installation.

In 2015 the array was updated with new modern inverters, and cleaned. The array is still fully operational and generates around 25,000 kWh per year, saving 11 tonnes of CO2.

View generation data

View 1998 case study of Northumberland Building array.

 

PV Arrays on the roof of a tall building, with more buildings in the distance. The sky is grey.

Northumberland Building Roof

Installed August 2020

77kW array

188 Photovoltaic 410w Polycrystalline panels

The array will generate over 60,000 kWh of electricity per year.

View Solaredge Generation data

 Sport Central PV

Sport Central

Installed December 2015

109.5kW array

438 panels

When installed the Sport Central array was one of the largest in the north east. It will generate 95,000 kWh of electricity each year, saving over 40 tonnes of CO2.

View generation data

 

 Coach Lane Solar PV (1)

Coach Lane Sports Centre

Installed May 2016

47.7kW array

180 Seraphim Photovoltaic 265 watt Polycrystalline panels

The array will generate almost 40,000 kWh per year, saving 18 tonnes of CO2.

View generation data

 

Pandon Building

Installed February 2017

29.8 kW array

14 polycrystalline 255 watt panels

14 monocrystalline 285 watt panels 

16 thin film 150 watt panels  

75 Seraphim 265 watt Polycrystalline panels.

The total array will generate 23,000 kWh per year, saving 10 tonnes of CO2.

View generation data

View Solaredge generation data

 

Ellison B Block

Installed January 2019

29.7 kW array

86 Photovoltaic 345 watt Polycrystalline panels

The total array will generate 27,000 kWh per year, saving 8 tonnes of CO2.

View generation data

View Solaredge generation data

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