![\"USC](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/solar-water-battery.jpg\")
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An innovative solar power and “water battery” system at University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland has proven to be a winner for USC – and the environment.<\/p>\n
Back in 2018<\/a>, USC announced it would be installing thousands of solar panels and a giant water battery at its campus in Sippy Downs on the Sunshine Coast as part of its efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. The University partnered with Veolia for the project, which saw more than 6,500 solar panels installed on rooftops and car park structures across campus along with a 4.5 megalitre water tank acting as a thermal energy storage device.<\/p>\n The 2.1-megawatt solar system produces energy used to cool water in the tank, which effectively acts as an eight-megawatt battery. The cooled water is used for air conditioning, which is the single biggest user of electricity at the campus (around 55%). The cooling network, which includes 1.6 kilometres of piping serving 15 buildings, has a peak flow rate of 140L\/s in summer.<\/p>\n The project included construction of a\u00a0 plant room that also acts as a teaching and learning space for students, and the implementation of an advanced Building Management Control System (BMS), allowing real-time management of solar energy output.<\/p>\n The system, which features the first environmentally-friendly Hydrofluoroolefin ( HFO)<\/a> refrigerant chillers used in Australia, went into operation in 2019.<\/p>\n