AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
166
For example , we have a supercomputer consuming around 25 % of all electricity used by the entire campus . The by-product is the generation of an enormous amount of heat . We can capture that heat and reuse it in other buildings , to power hot water systems in student accommodation , for instance . Having already created two of these central energy plants , we ’ re now working on the concept for a third . The aim is to implement this process across the university and harvest the energy efficiencies we get and share the benefits across facilities .”
“ Ultimately we ’ re aiming for smart buildings which are sensor filled and capable of actually adapting themselves and moderating their energy consumptions ”
— Nicki Middleton , Director , Facilities and Services , Australian National University
The ‘ energy trilemma ’ ANU faces encapsulates the tensions between three distinct aims for future energy systems : maintaining a reliable and secure energy supply ; ensuring long term affordability , and drastically reducing GHG emissions associated with energy supply . The ANU will need to roll out large scale , on campus , electricity storage based on batteries , to reduce the significant cost of peak charges , infrastructure upgrades , and reduce network stresses . New campus
NOVEMBER 2019