UU faces extra costs due to power supply problems

Last month, DUB reported that International School Utrecht will have to start using diesel generators to ensure a sufficient electricity supply. Biology students at Utrecht University fear the consequences this could have for a small nature reserve maintained by their department, best known as De Driehoek (the triangle, Ed.).

UU now informs that the power grid's limited capacity is also affecting the construction and renovation of its buildings. A spokesperson for the university says the problems arise either from a lack of connection to the available electricity grid or from insufficient supply during peak hours.

As of July 1, it is no longer possible to obtain a new or higher-capacity connection in the province of Utrecht. The grid is full and must be expanded. This situation may last until 2031. Meanwhile, all sectors, from industry to housing, will be affected by this. At Utrecht Science Park, the High Five student housing complex, set to be inaugurated this summer, is the last construction project guaranteed a new connection.

UU states that the energy supply for existing buildings is not at risk. The situation is different for new buildings or those being expanded or renovated. At Utrecht University, several construction projects are currently underway or in preparation. In 2023, it was estimated that investments in better, more sustainable facilities were substantial. Grid congestion will almost certainly result in additional costs, but it is not yet clear how much. It all depends on Stedin's measures and how the projects progress.

During the design phase of the new construction and renovation, the university focused on using electricity rather than natural gas to heat buildings. It is using heat pumps and, at Science Park, a thermal energy storage system. Alongside grid operator Stedin, UU is now examining which adjustments are possible on a project-by-project basis.

Not ideal
The temporary deployment of batteries and generators powered by diesel or gas currently seems unavoidable. The guiding principle here is to limit the installation of diesel generators that pollute as much as possible. These devices could only serve as a temporary solution or as an emergency provision to cover shortages during peak moments. Gas may also be used more frequently as an alternative to the planned thermal energy storage-based heating. The problem with this sustainable technology at present is that it can only operate independently with a sufficient power supply.

This concerns "a situation of force majeure" that is also regrettable from a sustainability perspective, the university notes. UU has the capacity to generate its own electricity, but the current output is insufficient.

For instance, UU generates energy using solar panels on the roofs of university buildings. The solar farm UU purchased in Bunnik could also offer a solution in the future, but construction is facing delays because additional research is still needed to rule out the presence of protected plant and animal species on the site.

In addition, the gas-fired combined heat and power plant on the Veterinary Medicine campus contributes to the university's electricity supply. UU intends to phase out this less sustainable form of energy supply, but this will likely take longer due to the recent developments. 

Large battery
According to UU, the solar panels and the power plant help absorb peak loads and reduce dependence on the public grid, but they do not provide a complete solution. This is especially true, given that there are not enough cables throughout the Utrecht Science Park to deliver power to the right places. Discussions with Stedin on this matter are ongoing.

UU hopes to install a large battery on the grounds of the combined heat and power plant before winter. This will provide some relief when the solar panels and the plant cannot supply enough power. The battery can also store energy from the solar field in Bunnik that is not used during the day for deployment at night. The aim remains to make the Utrecht Science Park carbon neutral by 2030, the spokesperson states.

Projects
UU is currently working on two buildings (read here and here) intended to house the researchers of the Faculty of Science, who are currently working in the Kruyt Building. The Kruyt Building also needs significant renovation in the coming years, as does the Van Unnik Building. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine will also be investing heavily in new construction.

Apart from the International School Utrecht and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), no other external parties have recently established themselves at the Utrecht Science Park.