KTU’s hybrid energy system attracted the interest of the Lithuanian government

KTU’s system of renewable energy resources, which received international recognition in 2020, attracted the attention of the Commission for Energy and Sustainable Development of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) this year. During their visit to KTU, the MPs got acquainted with the hybrid electricity production and heat storage system operating at the University, which not only protects the environment but also supplies the buildings on the campus.

In the field of energy, Kaunas is the capital, and KTU is a top university of training energy specialists,” emphasised the Rector of Kaunas University of Technology Eugenijus Valatka during the meeting.

Saulius Gudžius, KTU
Saulius Gudžius, professor of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, KTU
Responding to the latest trends in the field of energy, KTU confidently and firmly moves towards sustainability. Today, 7 KTU buildings have solar power panels on their roofs. This year, the university purchased a part of the solar park in the Lazdija district, which recently started to operate.

According to the Head of the KTU Department of Electrical Power Systems, professor of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Saulius Gudžius, this year, the university purchased 30 per cent less electricity in the Studentų str. 48 building, and the amount of purchased thermal energy fell by more than half – from 1020 MWh to 490 MWh.

Romualdas Vaitkus, a member of the Commission for Energy and Sustainable Development, was impressed by the KTU energy system: “In other educational institutions, this technology is already quite outdated, and you go hand in hand with technology. It is very important.”

The chairman of the commission Justinas Urbanavičius said that the opinions of scientists and experts in the field will contribute to the Seimas’ work while making decisions.

University contributes to solving climate change issues
Jakutis, KTU
Svajūnas Jakutis, Director of the KTU Asset Management and Administration Department
According to Svajūnas Jakutis, Director of the KTU Asset Management and Administration Department, a successfully operating system is a good example of university researchers being able to offer relevant solutions to the market, so the KTU infrastructure becomes a “testing ground” for the realisation of such ideas.

“Every year, these solutions save about 100 thousand euros for the University, and under the conditions of new realities in the energy sector, this amount will double”, emphasises Jakutis.

This year, the university purchased 30 per cent less electricity, and the amount of purchased thermal energy fell by more than half.

Installed KTU solar power plants also contribute to solving the challenges of climate change – it is predicted that after the implementation of the launched projects, CO2 emissions will be reduced by more than 1.2 thousand tons per year.

According to Jakutis, next year KTU will have 2300 kW of solar power capacity, of which 1400 kW will be in remote solar parks. The rest of the capacity is installed on the campus of the university, on the roofs of seven KTU buildings.

4 Oct 2022