The Technical University – Plovdiv Branch has put into operation its third own energy system – a solar power plant with an installed capacity of 20 kWp. It is located on the roof of the main academic building, adjacent to an already operating plant with a capacity of 5.5 kWp. On the roof of a second academic building, the most powerful "academic" power plant of 22 kWp produces electricity, which also includes a charging station for electric vehicles.
The new solar park for the higher education institution is a gift from the Bulgarian representative office of the Austrian company Eneri. The deed of gift was handed over by engineer Dr. Stoyan Petrov – Executive Director of Eneri Bulgaria. "With this gesture, we want to mark the opening of our new office in Plovdiv, which will be responsible for monitoring all 200 MWp of our own solar and wind capacities in five European countries," he said. The Executive Director explained that it is a tradition for the company to donate a percentage of all its revenues to social projects. "The idea is to support the university by reducing electricity purchases through own production. But also, our gift will serve as a training tool for students majoring in "Electrical Engineering". Currently, there is a shortage of personnel in Europe who can work with new photovoltaic capacities," said Eng. Dr. Stoyan Petrov.
With proper maintenance, the new solar park of the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch will have a lifespan of between 30 and 40 years. The manufacturers of solar panels provide a warranty for their product for 25-30 years. After they finish their energy work, the panels will be 100% recycled in Bulgaria.
Associate Professor Dr. Nikola Shakev – Director of the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch, thanked the donors and explained what expectations there are from the new acquisition: "This gift will facilitate our teaching work, as we will conduct practical classes on the most modern energy capacities. It will also boost our scientific research work. We expect the best specialists from the company to prepare and deliver lectures and conduct practical classes for future engineers with us." According to Associate Professor Dr. Mitko Shopov – Dean of the Faculty of "Electronics and Automation", the electricity produced by the new solar power plant will be sufficient to meet the needs of at least two of the university laboratories. "For me and our students, it is interesting to collect information on how energy is produced during the day. The analysis of this data will show us how to improve photovoltaics," said Assoc. Prof. Shopov.
The lecturer at the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Ganev, who is also the "engine" behind the new project, explained that it is important for the three solar parks to be from different systems, so that students can see the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Thus, they will actively participate in the maintenance and operation of energy systems of different types.
The fourth-year student Ekaterina Ivanova from the "Electrical Engineering" major said that her home has water heaters that heat water using solar energy. They are our home photovoltaics, and it is important for me to gain much broader knowledge in this area – she said. Nikolay Nikolov, who is a graduate of the same major, has already installed solar capacity at a small industrial company. I see good prospects for career development in this area, Nikolay Ivanov said. From the summer internships at the Eneri Bulgaria solar park, students will bring knowledge to the university about thermal imaging of photovoltaic panels with a drone, as well as about monitoring the efficiency of the panels with special equipment.
plovdiv24.bg, 25.02.2024
marica.bg, 23.02.2024
The new solar park for the higher education institution is a gift from the Bulgarian representative office of the Austrian company Eneri. The deed of gift was handed over by engineer Dr. Stoyan Petrov – Executive Director of Eneri Bulgaria. "With this gesture, we want to mark the opening of our new office in Plovdiv, which will be responsible for monitoring all 200 MWp of our own solar and wind capacities in five European countries," he said. The Executive Director explained that it is a tradition for the company to donate a percentage of all its revenues to social projects. "The idea is to support the university by reducing electricity purchases through own production. But also, our gift will serve as a training tool for students majoring in "Electrical Engineering". Currently, there is a shortage of personnel in Europe who can work with new photovoltaic capacities," said Eng. Dr. Stoyan Petrov.
With proper maintenance, the new solar park of the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch will have a lifespan of between 30 and 40 years. The manufacturers of solar panels provide a warranty for their product for 25-30 years. After they finish their energy work, the panels will be 100% recycled in Bulgaria.
Associate Professor Dr. Nikola Shakev – Director of the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch, thanked the donors and explained what expectations there are from the new acquisition: "This gift will facilitate our teaching work, as we will conduct practical classes on the most modern energy capacities. It will also boost our scientific research work. We expect the best specialists from the company to prepare and deliver lectures and conduct practical classes for future engineers with us." According to Associate Professor Dr. Mitko Shopov – Dean of the Faculty of "Electronics and Automation", the electricity produced by the new solar power plant will be sufficient to meet the needs of at least two of the university laboratories. "For me and our students, it is interesting to collect information on how energy is produced during the day. The analysis of this data will show us how to improve photovoltaics," said Assoc. Prof. Shopov.
The lecturer at the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Ganev, who is also the "engine" behind the new project, explained that it is important for the three solar parks to be from different systems, so that students can see the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Thus, they will actively participate in the maintenance and operation of energy systems of different types.
The fourth-year student Ekaterina Ivanova from the "Electrical Engineering" major said that her home has water heaters that heat water using solar energy. They are our home photovoltaics, and it is important for me to gain much broader knowledge in this area – she said. Nikolay Nikolov, who is a graduate of the same major, has already installed solar capacity at a small industrial company. I see good prospects for career development in this area, Nikolay Ivanov said. From the summer internships at the Eneri Bulgaria solar park, students will bring knowledge to the university about thermal imaging of photovoltaic panels with a drone, as well as about monitoring the efficiency of the panels with special equipment.
plovdiv24.bg, 25.02.2024
marica.bg, 23.02.2024
