Espinardo Campus at University of Murcia Equipped with 1 MW Photovoltaic System

Ferrovial has been awarded all five lots of a contract for a total of €889,608, representing a 63.8% reduction from the initial tender price of €2,458,392.

The University of Murcia is launching an energy project that will involve the installation of 4,570 square meters of photovoltaic panels on the Espinardo Campus. This installation will have a capacity of 1.013 MW and an estimated annual energy production of 1,832.30 MWh, with 100% of the generated electricity designated for self-consumption. Based on previous studies, the university anticipates annual savings of approximately €350,000 and an 8% reduction in energy consumption.

The tender for this project was initially set at a maximum of €2,458,392, divided into five lots to expedite the installation process across the roofs of the Biology, Veterinary Medicine, and Chemistry Faculties, the General Library, and the Pleiades building on the Espinardo Campus.

Ferrovial secured all five contracts with a bid totaling €889,608, significantly below the original tender price. The savings achieved will be reinvested in a second phase of the project, aimed at increasing the production of clean, renewable energy at the University of Murcia. Construction is expected to begin soon, with completion targeted by the end of the year.

The photovoltaic modules will be supported by aluminum plates on prefabricated prestressed concrete blocks, oriented southward at an angle of -32º. The tilt angle, set by the supports at approximately 34º, is optimized for maximum accumulated solar radiation throughout the year, based on the latitude of the installation site.

In a statement, the university also highlighted that the facilities, equipped with Eco and Taurus inverters from the Austrian manufacturer Fronius, will not only generate renewable electricity but also enhance the energy efficiency of buildings. This improvement is due to the thermal insulation effect provided by the solar panels on the roofs, which helps reduce the energy consumption of air conditioning systems.

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Operational Programme of the Region of Murcia 2021-2027.