Sustainable Solar Energy in Mexican Universities. Case Study: The National School of Higher Studies Juriquilla (UNAM)

Abstract

Universities around the world should be at the forefront of energy-saving and efficiency processes, seeking to be at the same level or preferably higher than the rest of society, and seeking the goal of 20% renewable energy by 2020. Sustainability practices have been carried out by several universities. In Mexico, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is a leader in this subject; in fact, the newest National School of Higher Studies - Juriquilla (ENES-J) that belongs to UNAM, located in the city of Queretaro (Mexico), is involved in its sustainability plan, with one of its main objectives being to save electric energy. UNAM has some campuses outside of Mexico City, and one of them is the National School of Higher Studies Juriquilla (ENES-J) in the state of Queretaro, where there is the Orthotics and Prosthetics Laboratory (OPL), in which has been installed a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine type Haas Automation model UMC-750, which has 5-axis and is an effective means to reduce the number of setups and increase accuracy for multi-sided and complex parts. This machine will be used to design, build, and assess human prosthesis. This study aimed to contribute to sustainability policies at the ENES-J from UNAM, implementing a solar photovoltaic system (PVS) to deliver electricity to the grid and contribute to reducing the electricity load at the Orthotics and Prosthetics Laboratory (OPL), as well to propose new research lines to support the sustainability policies in universities, and also proposing a financial analysis. To achieve this, in an area of 96.7 m2, 50 solar panels type mono-Si Advance Power API-M330 with an efficiency of 17.83% and a capacity factor of 20.4% will be installed and will provide 17.25 kW of power and 345 kWh of energy. The financial analysis shows the initial costs of 46,575 USD/kW, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs (savings) of 569 USD/kW-year, a monthly electricity export rate of 0.10 USD/kWh, electricity exported to the grid of 21.5 MWh, and an electricity export revenue of 2,145 USD. To assess the environmental balance with this PVS at ENES-J, an analysis of greenhouse gases (GHG) is carried out by using the RETScreen software. In this analysis, a GHG emission factor of 0.45 tCO2/MWh was found, as well as a savings of 12,089 USD per year.

Low carbon futures: assessing the status of decarbonisation efforts at universities within a 2050 perspective

“…This is evident in the red cluster, where terms such as 'renewable energy' , and 'photovoltaics' are dominant. Obviously, of different renewable energy sources, solar energy has received more attention [61,62]. The expansion of such renewable-energy-based initiatives is also expected to enhance efficiency by contributing to reducing energy loss in the distribution lines.…”

Campus sustainability research: indicators and dimensions to consider for the design and assessment of a sustainable campus

“…For example, a passive rainwater harvesting system was used in the Roof of the building of Engineering Faculty of Yalova University, which is expected to save €2,900 per year and 8.5 tons of water per year ( ERBIYIK et al., 2021 ). The National Autonomous University of Mexico implemented a solar photovoltaic system, which went on to save about $12,089 per year and associated green greenhouse gas emissions ( Hernandez-Escobedo et al., 2020 ). Texas State University (TSU) saves its campus 15,391,436 kW-hours of electricity per year (17% of its annual energy costs) with sustainable energy installations.…”

Campus Sustainability Research:Indicators and Dimensions to Consider for the Design and Assessment of a Sustainable Campus

“…For example, a passive rainwater harvesting system was used in the Roof of the building of Engineering Faculty of Yalova University, which is expected to save €2,900 per year and 8.5 tons of water per year (ERBIYIK et al, 2021). The National Autonomous University of Mexico implemented a solar photovoltaic system, which went on to save about $12,089 per year and associated green greenhouse gas emissions (Hernandez-Escobedo et al, 2020). Texas State University (TSU) saves its campus 15,391,436 kW-hours of electricity per year (17% of its annual energy costs) with sustainable energy installations.…”