The goal of expanding solar energy has been achieved for the time being: all relevant roof areas of the university are covered with PV modules. Further construction and refurbishment measures have improved the energy balance over the past year.
New solar modules, an energy-efficient greenhouse, a modern ventilation system in the sports wing and an expansion of the energy management system: in the past year, the University of Oldenburg has done a lot to improve its energy balance.
Substantial progress was made in the expansion of renewable energies: The roofs of several buildings on the Wechloy campus were fitted with new photovoltaic systems. Overall, the capacity installed at the university has increased by around a third - around 360 kilowatts peak output - to 1,378 kilowatts. "We have thus achieved our goal of expanding solar energy for the time being: all relevant roof surfaces at the university are covered with photovoltaic systems," explains Vice President Jörg Stahlmann. A further increase in photovoltaic output can be achieved in future through new buildings or the structural refurbishment of older buildings whose roofs are not yet suitable for solar systems.
In addition, various refurbishment and new construction measures have led to the university further reducing its energy requirements. The basis for this is the energy management system that has been in place since 2006 and is currently being expanded. The main component is a network of measuring points and meters that record electricity and heat consumption at various points on campus. By analysing the recorded data, it is possible to determine where energy consumption is particularly high and what savings can be made through refurbishment. A number of sensors are currently being added to the Haarentor and Wechloy campuses to enable more precise measurements and analyses. The university received funding totalling 250,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Economics for the measure, with the total costs amounting to around 360,000 euros.
New ventilation system in the sports wing reduces heat consumption by three-fifths
A major project last year was the refurbishment of the ventilation system in the sports wing, which supplies the large triple hall with its stands as well as other rooms. It had been in operation since 1982 and moves 41,000 cubic metres of air per hour - roughly equivalent to the volume of ten hot air balloons. By replacing the switching technology and improving heat recovery, electricity consumption was reduced by 8 per cent and heat consumption by 58 per cent. This saves the university almost 34,000 euros per year. The measure cost 1.1 million euros, of which the National Climate Protection Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment covered around 150,000 euros.
At the Botanical Garden's Küpkersweg site, the previous, poorly insulated greenhouse was replaced with a modern and energy-saving facility. For example, the new building has an "energy screen" - a special, translucent fabric that reduces heat loss in winter and provides shade on hot days. Modern control technology also makes it possible to create an ideal climate for growing plants in the greenhouse. Several cisterns collect rainwater so that the plants can be watered sustainably. The new building has an area of 827 square metres, cost 3.8 million euros and was financed by the university from its own funds.
The background
The new photovoltaic systems on the Wechloy campus were installed on parts of the main building (W02 and W04), the technical workshops, the experimental lecture theatre and building W37 on Küpkersweg. This completes the fourth and final expansion stage. The first major expansion of the solar modules took place in 2017 on the Haarentor campus on the library, building A02 (the "bridge" over Uhlhornsweg), the domed roof of the lecture theatre centre and other buildings. In 2019, the Wechloy campus was equipped with photovoltaic modules in the area of the main building and the NeSSy research building. In 2022, systems went into operation on the sports building, the fitness and health centre and the lecture theatre centre A14. In 2024, further systems were added on the NeSSy research building, the open-air hall, the Language Centre, the new research and training centre and at the Ringebene in Wechloy.
The energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings and the supply of renewable energy are two important building blocks on the university's path to becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Following the current expansion, the energy yield of all photovoltaic systems installed at the University of Oldenburg amounts to around 1.2 gigawatt hours per year, which corresponds to the average annual consumption of almost 300 four-person households. The university consumes all of the electricity generated itself. This saves around 660 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Most of the financing is provided by the university's own funds as part of an intracting model.
