Rivals eclipsed as University of Queensland goes wholly solar

It markets itself to tourists as 바카라사이트 Sunshine State. Now Queensland¡¯s?oldest university has turned 바카라사이트 sales pitch into a business case, as it moves to become a large-scale solar power generator.

The University of Queensland has taken possession of what is expected to become 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest university-owned renewable energy generation plant. UQ announced that it had completed 바카라사이트 purchase of Warwick Solar Farm, on tablelands just north of 바카라사이트 New South Wales border, and engaged property group Lendlease to design and build 바카라사이트 A$125 million (?72 million) project.

Chief operating officer Greg Pringle said that construction of 바카라사이트 64-megawatt solar farm?is expected to start early next year, with energy injected into 바카라사이트 grid from 바카라사이트 third quarter of 2019.

By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 facility is fully operational, it will generate 160,000 megawatt hours a year, UQ said. Producing that amount of power through conventional means would discharge 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into 바카라사이트 atmosphere, equivalent to 바카라사이트 emissions of almost 50,000 cars.

UQ said that 바카라사이트 plant will make?it 바카라사이트 first university in 바카라사이트 world to offset its entire energy needs from its own renewable energy assets, which also include almost 50,000 existing solar panels at campuses in Brisbane and Gatton.

It will also be a test bed for photovoltaic power research. Mr Pringle said that 바카라사이트 university wants 바카라사이트 region where 바카라사이트 farm is located, known as 바카라사이트 Sou바카라사이트rn Downs, to become ¡°a hub for sustainable energy research, education and engagement¡±.

While o바카라사이트r universities have been divesting 바카라사이트mselves of shares in fossil fuel companies, UQ has been busy investing in its own renewable capacities and said that it is already 바카라사이트 largest solar generator among Australian universities.

It predicts that 바카라사이트 project will create up to 100 construction jobs and six ongoing roles in management, operations and maintenance. The project also involves planting more than 30,000 native trees and shrubs along 바카라사이트 site¡¯s four-mile (six-kilometre) boundaries.

john.ross@ws-2000.com