Q's 64 megawatt Warwick Solar farm is powering UQ to be 100 per cent renewable.
As UQ's own asset, this remarkable project cements UQ as a sustainability leader, building upon a long track record in renewable energy, which also includes the 3.3 megawatt solar farm at the Gatton campus and over 3 megawatts of solar systems on the rooftops of the University’s buildings across multiple campuses and sites.
The Warwick Solar Farm is first and foremost an act of leadership that demonstrates that a transition to renewables can be done at scale, that’s practicable and makes economic sense.
The power generated at Warwick, in addition to seven megawatts produced at Gatton and St Lucia, will make UQ the first major university in the world to offset 100 per cent of our electricity use with renewable power produced from our own assets.
The Warwick Solar Farm will facilitate a wide range of new teaching, research and engagement opportunities for UQ in addition to its environmental and financial benefits.
In addition, the site is home to a number of sheep that help out with grounds maintenance while grazing.
Project history
This site was chosen because it met a range of essential technical criteria such as proximity to a suitable connection point, slope of the land, geotechnical conditions, and sufficient space for such a large facility.
Importantly for UQ’s teaching, research and engagement objectives, it is less than two hours from UQ’s main St Lucia campus, and is close to the services and amenities of a major regional centre.
Investigations into the feasibility of becoming 100% renewable began in early 2017, the project was approved to connect to the electricity grid in November 2018, and construction commenced in February 2019. The project was officially opened in July 2020.
Read more about UQ's Warwick Solar Farm during the construction phase
Fast facts
- Over 200,000 solar panels chasing the sun!
- The panels laid end to end would reach from Noosa to Coolangatta
- Clean energy generated is sufficient to power more than 25,000 homes every year
- Greenhouse gas emissions avoided equivalent to what's generated from almost 50,000 cars
- 750+ grazing sheep on site
- 35,000 native trees on site
- 8 on-site weather stations continuously monitoring conditions
- $10,000 in annual scholarships to local high school students
- $125,000 million invested