UM’s first on-grid photovoltaic system has become operational to supply electricity
To promote the use and development of green energy in Macao, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering under the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) and UM’s Energy Section have installed a 2.9kW grid-connected PV system on the rooftop of the FST building (E11), which converts solar energy into electricity. Since the system became fully operational. UM has been selling electricity to the Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM) by supplying to the utility electricity distribution network.
UM aims to build a green campus, and so many of the building rooftops are designed to cater for subsequent installation of photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation systems. Some of these buildings use environmentally friendly facilities, such as solar energy hot water and solar lighting. UM’s PV system is the first in the public sector in Macao to have satisfied all relevant regulatory requirements and is fully operational when connected to the utility distribution network. It is expected to help promote green energy in the city. The Student Activity Centre (E31) is also equipped with a PV system, which is currently operating off-grid and is able to supply electricity to the building on a stand-alone basis. UM installed PV systems on campus in compliance with the Macao SAR government’s regulations on the safety and installation of PV solar energy interconnections. PV systems generate electricity directly from sunlight. They are safe, reliable, and produce no noise and emission.
This year, UM will install another on-grid 200kW system in Building E31. The new system and the existing system in Building E11 will be connected to the low-voltage electricity distribution network. Once the low-voltage network connection technology is mature, UM will consider installing system connection to the higher voltage network in order to further promote the development of a green campus. The data collected from the system will be used for research and teaching purposes. The development and installation of the above-mentioned PV systems was funded by the SAR government’s Science and Technology Development Fund. Headed by Associate Professor Dai Ningyi from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the FST, the research team aimed to develop a low-cost capacity coupling inverter for use in PV systems. A patent has been granted in mainland China for the research results.