Renewable Energy Initiatives at An-Najah National University

Renewable Energy Initiatives at An-Najah National University

An-Najah National University (ANNU) has implemented several renewable energy initiatives to enhance sustainability across its campuses, integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) throughout planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and revision of all programs related to energy and climate change.

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1. Key Renewable Energy Projects

• Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power (CCHP) Unit:
  Located on the roof of the Sports Complex swimming pool, a solar water heating system with a capacity of 481,800 kWh/year provides energy for heating, reducing overall energy consumption.

• Solar PV Systems:
  Multiple rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with a total capacity of 1.5 MW (2,118,200 kWh/year) have been installed across faculties including Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Educational Sciences, Humanities, and at An-Najah University Hospital.

• Biogas Production:
  The Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine produces 60,350 kWh/year of biogas from animal waste and plant residues, reducing fossil fuel reliance and minimizing carbon emissions.

• Additional Solar Projects:

  • Rooftop PV: Faculties of Medicine (41 kWp), Engineering (75 kWp), Educational Sciences (62 kWp), Humanities (105 kWp), Agriculture (80 kWp).

  • Hybrid PV: University Hospital (110 kWp).

  • Solar Carport: Faculty of Art South Car Park, 50 kWp (under implementation).

  • Solar Power Tree: 3.2 kWp (demonstration unit).

  • PV Pumping System: University Farm, 50 kWp.

  • Solar Thermal Demonstration Systems and Waste-to-Energy Pilot Units supported by international collaborations.

Total renewable energy production in 2023/2024: 2,660,350 kWh/year (9,577 GJ).

2. ICT Integration Across All Stages

• Planning:
  GIS mapping, renewable energy simulation software, and Najah2Twin Smart Campus Digital Twin were used for site selection, sizing, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact analysis.

• Implementation:
  ICT-based project management systems track progress, budgets, and installation schedules in real time.

• Monitoring:
  Advanced IoT sensors and dashboards provide real-time monitoring of energy production, efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction.

• Evaluation:
  KPI dashboards analyze energy savings, greenhouse gas emission reductions, and ROI to ensure alignment with sustainability goals.

• Revision:
  Continuous upgrades with AI-based predictive maintenance and forecasting inform policy revisions and the expansion of renewable energy initiatives.

3. Impact

The integration of ICT in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation ensures that ANNU’s renewable energy initiatives maximize efficiency, reduce the university’s carbon footprint, and contribute to its sustainability goals.

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Additional Information and Evidence:

• Energy Research Center: https://www.najah.edu/en/erc/

• First Solar Power Station at ANNU: https://www.najah.edu/en/community/community-news/2020/11/08/first-solar-power-station-inaugurated-at-an-najah-university/

• Energy Efficiency in Higher Education (Med-EcoSuRe): https://www.najah.edu/en/academic/academic-news/2023/02/16/an-najah-university-shares-best-practices-for-energy-efficiency-in-palestinian-higher-education-buildings-under-med-ecosure-project/

• ENI CBC Med Project Page: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/med-ecosure-launches-calls-tender-installation-demonstration-units-palestine

• Peer Exchange on Energy Renovation & Management: https://www.enicbcmed.eu/med-ecosure-organizes-tunisian-palestinian-peer-exchange-energy-renovation-and-management

• ANNU role in sustainability webinars: https://www.najah.edu/en/igpc/news/an-najah-participates-in-higher-education-institutions-for-sustainability-what-universities-do-and-can-do-to-lead-sustainability-in-their-territories-webinar/

• Video – Solar Projects at ANNU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAM1U78agNE

• https://www.najah.edu/en/erc/