Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us Profile Facts and figures Sustainability

UG installs huge solar panel field on Zernike Campus to generate more renewable energy

13 July 2017

This month the University of Groningen (UG) will install a huge field of 1,700 solar panels in the north of Zernike Campus Groningen. The renewable energy thus generated will be used to supply nearby research equipment. The field is located between the KVI Center for Advanced Radiation Technology (Cart) and EnTranCe. It is expected to generate around 5,400 MWh, which is roughly equivalent to the energy consumed by 120 households per year. The panels start operating in September 2017.

Energy for particle accelerator

The energy generated will be supplied directly to research equipment for KVI-Cart, including huge machines such as laser installations and the AGOR particle accelerator, used to accelerate atomic nuclei to speeds approaching half the speed of light. Generally speaking, research equipment of this type uses a lot of energy, much of which will now be renewable.

Sustainable university

The University of Groningen is working hard to raise its level of sustainability, with regard to both teaching & research, and business operations, renovation and new building projects. The UG is currently 15th in the Greenmetric Ranking of World Universities.

Panels installed by companies from Groningen

After a tendering procedure, the contract for installing the solar panels was awarded to ITBB from Groningen. This company works with ENIE, another Groningen-based firm. The Buildings and and Grounds Management department of the University Services Department, assisted by Deerns consultancy company, prepared the project. The solar panels themselves were partly funded with an SDE+ government grant.

The UG expects to recoup its investment within 10 years. The field can be expanded in the future if required.
Solar panels at Zernike
Solar panels at Zernike
Last modified:27 August 2021 3.31 p.m.
View this page in: Nederlands

More news

  • 28 March 2023

    A leap of faith: from research to enterprise

    Having ideas, experimenting and trying things out, wanting to change society. For many researchers, all of this is day-to-day business. But what if you want to take your idea to market? This is a step that often does not come naturally to...

  • 14 February 2023

    Lift to the inclusive workplace

    There is plenty of work, and yet people with a disability are still often sidelined. One plus one is two, or so you’d think: this is the perfect time to help this group of workers find a job. The intention is there, also within the University, but...

  • 15 December 2022

    Groningen contributes to major research initiative into energy-efficient information technology

    The Dutch science funding agency NWO recently awarded a large research project into new concepts for energy-efficient information technology of no less than ten million euros