NCUE is committed to increasing our renewable energy usage year by year. For example, the planning and installation of a megawatt-size energy storage pilot system in our Bao-Shan Campus not only helped significantly improve the campus’ energy use efficiency; the system is also being used as the foundation for the development of more than 20 research projects related to the topic, including smart grids, microgrid, power electronics, and the strategic management of energy storage equipment. We are constructing an Internet of Things (IoT) smart grid demonstration project on that campus, which will use the energy storage system to adjust and optimise energy usage on campus. We will also install monitoring equipment in various buildings to collect power data with which to research and develop forecasting models on energy usage. By optimising efficiency, we aim to make NCUE an important centre for green energy research.

1. In 2022, the total installed capacity for rooftop photovoltaic solar power at NCUE’s Baoshan Campus came to 581.5 kW, complemented by a ground-mounted 20kW system. Meanwhile, our Jinde Campus boasts a combined rooftop photovoltaic solar capacity of 2087.75 kW. With the supplementary energy storage systems, we were able to achieve 100% renewable energy generation during certain off-peak daytime periods. Using April 30, 2022, as an illustration (Figure 1), the historical net load data shows that our photovoltaic solar systems supplied the entire campus load during specific daytime intervals, with surplus energy stored in a megawatt-size energy storage system for nighttime use.

2. It is planned that between 2023 and 2024, additional solar cells, with capacities of 510.04 kWp and 473.14 kWp will be installed at the Jinde and Baoshan campuses, respectively. By 2024, the total power generation capacity will exceed the power consumption of NCUE during peak hours. Thus, 100% of the power requirement during normal daytime operating hours will be supplied by renewable energy, see Table 1 and Figures 2-7.

Table 1. Year, Newly Added Capacity, Accumulated Capacity, Peak-Hour Power Consumption

3. At our Baoshan Campus, we have completed the construction of a smart grid system, which consists of the main campus microgrid and three sub-microgrids: #1 (Sewage Treatment Plant), #2 (Academic Building) and #3 College of Technology) to achieve smart energy management (Figure 8). Each sub-microgrid (Figure 9) is equipped with rooftop photovoltaic solar panels and 100 kW/50 kWh energy storage system. Notably, sub-grid #3 also features a 30 kW/78 kWh electric bus charging station that enables bidirectional battery control for vehicle-to-grid and grid-to-vehicle (V2G/G2V) applications. In conjunction with smart meters and an energy management system (EMS), we are able to achieve our vision of a 100% renewable energy supply by enabling zone-based control of net loads.

Furthermore, during periods of unstable weather when solar power generation declines, the university can utilize a combined total of 1.2 MW of energy stored in the systems to provide prompt output, thereby compensating for shortages in power with more stable and sustainable 100% renewable energy supply. (Figure 10)

4. On September 29, 2020, NCUE’s chancellor signed the NCUE Environmental Safety and Health Policy, witnessed by members of NCUE’s Occupational Safety and Health Committee. The policy contents are as follows: To build a sustainable green university, all NCUE faculty and staff shall actively abide by the relevant laws and regulations, implement education and publicity, maintain campus safety, prevent disasters from happening, cherish environmental resources, work towards energy conservation and carbon reduction, and strive for pollution prevention and continuous improvement, thereby creating a zero-disaster and pollution-free ecological campus and doing our part as members of the global village. (Figure 11)

NCUE/Environmental Safety Centre/University-level laws and regulations/NCUE’s Environmental Safety and Health Policy (signed by the president):

https://eshc.ncue.edu.tw/ezfiles/25/1025/img/986/142845388.pdf

5. The president of NCUE signed the carbon neutrality declaration in September 2022. The detailed content is as follows: (Figure 12)

National Changhua University of Education will adhere to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and implement various carbon emission regulations in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2029.

Our institution has formulated the “National Changhua University of Education - Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Bulletin” which intends to conserve electricity, water, and energy used for lighting and air conditioning. It also aims to promote environmental awareness in order to reduce the carbon footprint and carbon dioxide emissions. The annual budget allocated for the replacement and maintenance of energy-consuming equipment will amount to least NT$5 million. Furthermore, a minimum 1% yearly gain in overall energy efficiency is anticipated. Compared to 2021, it is projected that the total annual power consumption of existing equipment will be reduced by at least 1.3 million kWh by 2029.

In addition, our institution has already installed a megawatt-level power storage system and plans to accelerate the installation process of solar generators on the campuses in Jinde and Baoshan. An additional three sets of 100,000-watt-level power storage systems are proposed to assist in the operation of the campus microgrid. Such systems are intended to shift load by saving excess electrical power during off-peak hours at night for later usage during peak hours, which in turn alleviates the load on coal power units during peak hours. Simultaneously, the maximum line current will be lowered, thereby reducing power transfer loss by approximately 3%, resulting in decreased carbon emissions from power plants.

Through our continued education in relevant university courses, as well as our efforts towards sustainability, we will continue to advocate for energy conservation and carbon reduction measures in the future. We anticipate that our institution will become not only a sustainable campus with motivated, environmentally conscious faculty and students, but also a key facilitator of Taiwan’s sustainable development.

6. The president of NCUE signed the carbon neutrality declaration in September 2022. The detailed content is as follows: (Figure 13)