Electric vision out to tender
Deakin Uni plan for renewable energy microgrid at Waurn Ponds
A PROJECT to build a renewable energy microgrid at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus is edging closer to fruition.
A public tender process has opened up for contractors to bid on designing and constructing the $30 million project, which is expected to slash carbon emissions at the campus by 12,000 tonnes each year.
The university is teaming up with AusNet Services to deliver the project that will include: MORE than 23,000 solar panels; A 7.25 megawatt smart microgrid; A SOLAR generation farm covering 14-and-a-half hectares; and, AN integrated new research and visualisation centre.
The project is expected to start powering the campus from mid-2019.
Potential contractors and suppliers have until May 19 to express their interest in being involved with the project.
According to a notice published online, the works associated with the project will be structured into four distinct areas, including design and construction of the solar farm.
The initial 12-month site construction phase is expected to generate 25 jobs and a further five off-site supply jobs di- rectly linked to the microgrid.
The Geelong Advertiser first revealed Deakin was planning the project in 2016 when directors at the university were in preliminary talks with a South Korean company.
The project was officially announced in December, with university vice-chancellor Jane den Hollander saying it would be capable of supplying half of the campus’ electricity needs.
She said it was a major step towards the university’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality.
“We need to look at the problems that the community has — there is no point in doing research not relevant to the community,” Prof den Hollander said.
“One of the things we know engineering is, over the last decade and into future decades, there has been an emerging focus as to how we look at energy and its sustainability.
“It’s very important to do that with industry. There is no point getting an academic solution, we need a practical solution from which everyone will benefit.”
Deakin Energy director Dr Adrian Panow previously said the significant project would lead to innovative research and job creation.
“We envisage numerous commercialisation opportunities to come from the research program,” he said.