The University of Jaén and Enel X for sustainable education

Enel X has helped the university campuses of Lagunillas and Linares embark on a journey of sustainability, thanks to photovoltaics.

Jaén, Spain

University of Jaén (UJA)

Education

Enel X has developed two 1.3 MWp photovoltaic systems for self-consumption that will provide the University of Jaén’s two campuses – Las Lagunillas and Campus Científico Tecnológico de Linares – with clean, renewable energy that will dramatically reduce their CO₂ emissions. The facilities were built without an initial investment from the university.

The client

The University of Jaén is located in the city of Jaén in Andalusia. Founded in 1993, the institution has more than 12,000 students and offers more than 100 degree programs including undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees and doctorate degrees. The academic structures consist of 2 campuses, 6 research centers, 2 technical schools and 35 departments. The 117-plus subject areas are managed by a staff of 1400.

The agreement’s benefits

700

tons of CO₂ emissions avoided yearly

1.3

MWp of system capacity

20%

of energy needs self-produced

Enel X’s challenge

The University of Jaén was interested in improving the energy efficiency of its university campuses by taking advantage of renewable sources. For this reason, it turned to Enel X to design a self-consumption system that would enable the university to achieve its sustainability goals.

Enel X designed and built two photovoltaic systems for self-consumption and installed them on the roofs and shade canopies of the two university campuses. The systems were built without the university having to make any financial investment. Enel X will take care of system management and maintenance for the duration of the 15-year contract, guaranteeing a pre-agreed set price for the energy produced. At the end of the contract, ownership of the system will pass to the university.

Thanks to Enel X’s solution, 2,141 MWh will be produced annually, thereby avoiding the emission of approximately 700 metric tons of CO₂ a year, equivalent to planting 71,376 new trees. The PV system, which is capable of achieving a peak capacity of 1.3 MWp, will cover 20% of the buildings’ energy needs. The initial costs were met entirely by Enel X, enabling the university to allocate its economic resources to other initiatives. In addition to making consumption more efficient, the PV systems will protect the university from the volatility of energy prices.