Promoted by Iberdrola España, the University of Salamanca will save 250,000 euros a year on its electricity bill thanks to more than 3,800 photovoltaic panels
- This form of self-consumption, which generates 100% sustainable energy and has been installed by Iberdrola España on a total of 16 roofs, will avoid the emission of more than 1,000 tons of CO2 per year and will provide up to 25% of the buildings' electricity needs
- With this pioneering initiative in Castile and Leon, the Study intends to make substantial progress in the coming years in reducing the ecological footprint, as well as boosting efficiency and competitiveness
The University of Salamanca (USAL) is connected to solar energy by Iberdrola Spain. The academic institution and the electricity company are making progress in their commitment to promote environmental care and contribute to the fight against climate change with the installation of a pioneering solar self-consumption system in Castilla y León on the roofs of 16 of its buildings on the Unamuno Campus, in Salamanca, and the Viriato Campus, in Zamora.
The rector of the University of Salamanca, Juan Manuel Corchado, and the delegate of Iberdrola Spain in Castilla y León, Miguel Calvo, accompanied by the general director of Infrastructures and Environmental Sustainability of the Regional Government of Castilla y León, José Manuel Jiménez, the Iberdrola Large Customers Manager in Salamanca, Sara Merino, and the head of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency at the University of Salamanca, Pedro Calero, inaugurated this morning this photovoltaic system installed by the company Enerpal, thanks to which the Study will save 250. 250,000 euros per year on the electricity bill and around 6 million euros over the life of the project.
This joint action has made it possible to install a total of 3,803 photovoltaic solar panels - totaling 2,073 kWp - with different solutions for each of the roofs, fully integrated into the aesthetics of the buildings. In addition, this form of self-consumption, which generates 100% sustainable energy, will avoid the emission of more than 1,000 tons of CO2 per year.
The company's investment amounts to 1.7 million euros and the system management agreement, for 20 years, allows USAL to obtain energy equivalent to 25% of the consumption of the buildings where the solar panels have been installed, at a price of less than 70 €/MWh, with an estimated production of up to 3,000 megawatt hours per year, equivalent to the average consumption of 500 homes or a population of 1,500 inhabitants.
Rector Juan Manuel Corchado highlighted the importance of this pioneering project in Castilla y León, developed so far in 16 buildings, with which the University of Salamanca “reaffirms its environmental commitment”.
“Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and scarcity of natural resources are not future threats, but realities that already affect our daily lives. In this context, universities cannot simply be observers; they must take an active role as drivers of change, promoting the transition to a more sustainable and responsible development model,” said Corchado, who referred to this initiative as ”an example of public-private collaboration on sustainability issues.”
For the rector, environmental sustainability “is not an option, but a necessity and also an opportunity” and he considered that universities must play a leading role in this transformation. “Those who lead in these areas will be better positioned to continue advancing in the future. And universities, as centers of knowledge and social change, must lead this transformation. We need more research, more environmental education, more concrete actions and a real commitment from all actors in the university community,” he stressed.
“This project boosts the efficiency and competitiveness of the University of Salamanca and generates significant environmental benefits for the surrounding area. It is also in line with Iberdrola Spain's priorities and objectives to accelerate the energy transition and contribute to a more sustainable development model,” said Miguel Calvo, Iberdrola Spain's delegate in Castilla y León.
The latest-generation photovoltaic modules have sensorized and connected high-performance inverters that enable web-based monitoring of the fundamental parameters of the installations. In addition, the built-in intelligent solution allows real-time monitoring of the energy consumed and produced through an application.
The faculties of Pharmacy, Medicine, Unamuno Pavilion, Nursing, Biology, Law and the Francisco de Vitoria Library, the FES building and the Cancer Research Center are the buildings on the Unamuno Campus that have solar panels on their roofs. Also in Salamanca, the faculties of Education, Fine Arts, the Colegio Mayor San Bartolomé and two research institutes, INCYL and CIALE, are also equipped with solar panels on their roofs. And in Zamora, the classroom buildings and the sports pavilion.
Leader in self-consumption
As part of its commitment to accelerating the energy transition, Iberdrola España not only promotes photovoltaic self-consumption by encouraging its incorporation into the energy system through its networks, but also leads the customer management market for this type of self-consumption in the country.
The collective self-consumption solutions developed by Iberdrola España have made self-consumption available to any customer, whether or not they have their own roof. Customers in this segment also benefit from the Solar Plan, a competitive electricity tariff during the hours when there is no sun, which is when they need to consume energy from the grid, since during the day they are self-supplied from their own installation.
Self-consumption solar systems can save 30% on the annual bill in the case of neighborhood communities; 50% for companies and businesses; and up to 70% in single-family homes. This saving is produced by a triple way: the energy produced by the installation that the user does not have to buy, the compensation for the surplus of energy not consumed that is discharged to the grid and the saving due to lower taxes.
As for the possibility of compensating for the energy fed into the grid, Iberdrola España customers have the Solar Cloud service, which allows them to compensate for surpluses beyond the energy term, even diverting them for consumption in another residence.
