Enel X energizes education with renewables

Enel X, with its expertise in renewables and energy efficiency projects, has launched programs with prestigious universities in Spain to help them generate their own clean energy while teaching sustainability to their students.

The Endesa X solution enables the academic institution to annually produce 2,141 MWh of electricity while avoiding some 700 metric tons of emissions, equivalent to the amount of CO₂ absorbed each year by 71,376 trees. With a peak capacity of 1.3 MWp, the PV system covers 20% of the buildings’ energy needs and helps protect the university from energy price volatility. Endesa X supplied the photovoltaic panels and handled the installation, while the balance of the university’s power requirements is obtained via a contract with Endesa Energia, which supplies the university with an additional 8,000 MWh per year. By taking on the entire initial costs of the project, Endesa X enables the university to allocate its financial resources to other initiatives while at the same time continue along its sustainability journey.

With this system, the university – which caters to some 13,000 students each year – will be able to cut its annual emissions of climate-changing CO₂ by some 1,018 tons, a measure equivalent to the amount of greenhouse gases absorbed by 6,100 trees. Aside from reducing pressure on the environment, the deal between the University of Seville and Endesa X is also financially light on the learning institution: the installation of the 3,432 PV modules at the university’s campus – a 2.7-million-euro investment – will be completely taken on by Endesa X, which will also operate and handle maintenance of the system over 15 years, selling the university electricity at a pre-agreed price. At the end of this period, the system’s operation will pass completely to the university of Seville, which will over the years have saved money, monitored its electricity use and enhanced its environmental credentials – while involving its students in its sustainability drive. 

Thanks to this solution, the University of Granada – which each year hosts just over 24,000 students – will significantly reduce its environmental footprint: the renewable solution will allow it to cut CO₂ emissions by 1,044 tons annually, an amount equivalent to that absorbed by planting 6,252 trees. The PV panels will be installed on the roofs of nine university buildings; the installation of the system – which includes more than 4,900 solar panels – will require an investment of 1.9 million euros. But in what is an added bonus of the project, the University will have no initial upfront costs: Endesa X will take on the financial burden, including installation costs, allowing the university to spend its money on other initiatives. Endesa X will also manage the project and carry out maintenance over the 10 years of the contract, during which it will sell the university electricity at a pre-agreed price. After the contract expires, the university will take full control of the system. This is the third deal Endesa X signs with a public university in Andalucía.

By shifting to a self-consumption-based model, Complutense University will reduce its CO₂ emissions by 428 tons annually, the equivalent of planting some 2,569 trees each year. As with other similar deals between Endesa X and Spanish academic institutions, Complutense will not be required to pay any of the 1.3 million euro investment upfront. Endesa X will cover the initial costs, as well as operations and maintenance expenses, over a 10-year period. This will allow the university to allocate resources to other initiatives. Complutense will acquire the electricity produced by the system from Endesa at a fixed price over the duration of the deal - an added benefit, as it increases certainty about part of its energy costs. At the end of the contract period, Complutense will take ownership of the PV infrastructure.

A total of 2,298 PV panels will be installed on the rooftops of various of the university’s faculties and the library – enough to cover approximately 28 per cent of the institution’s current power needs. The total investment for the infrastructure is projected to be approximately 1 million euros, but it will be covered by Endesa X, freeing the University to invest precious financial resources in education. Endesa X offers customers a type of contract whereby it stipulates a fixed price to be paid over the duration of the 10-year contract, during which the energy services provider will be responsible for operating, maintaining and exploiting the installed infrastructure – a solution that will allow the University of Burgos to increase its level of certainty with regards to its energy costs for the entire period. When the contract is completed, the University will take over full operations and management of its photovoltaic installation.