Apr 11 2004
Napier University wants to use the sun to power computers at its state-of-the-art Jack Kilby Centre.
The University has lodged a planning application with the City of Edinburgh Council to place solar panels on the side of a building at the Merchiston Campus in Colinton Road. The panels, which will cover an area of 160 sqm on an existing wall, will power 50 computers reducing the centre’s electricity consumption by 10%.
Professor Tariq Muneer, of Napier’s School of Engineering, said: “The Government wants to produce 10% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and we would like to make Napier a model for producing clean, noiseless and pollution-free electricity. This is a groundbreaking project which we hope will become a showpiece demonstration and experimentation facility for use by the University as a teaching tool. We would also encourage the public to come to see it.”
The panels are the latest BP Solar ‘Saturn’ high efficiency models and are non-reflective and self-cleaning. They will be mounted from the second floor of the seven-storey building to the roof level.
Professor Muneer continued: “The panels would provide 6-10 hours of power per day and as the Jack Kilby Centre is open 24 hours, seven days a week, all the electricity would be consumed internally.”
Napier has consulted with the local residents in the Merchiston area including the council and community council representatives.
Source: Napier University