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E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY

IntroductionThis is an executive summary of UNSWs National Greenhouse and Energy Report for 2012/13.

Executive SummaryThere were some significant changes in the energy consumption, energy production and greenhouse gasemissions profile for UNSW in the 2012/13 NGER reporting period.

UNSW has been pursuing a strategy of increased on-site generation in the form of solar photovoltaic, co-generation and tri-generation. As a result, there has been a total net increase in energy consumption as theUniversity consumes more natural gas, but imports less electricity from the grid.

This can be seen in Figure 1 (see below) where energy consumption has increased significantly as has energyproduced. There is also a corresponding increase in scope 1 emissions from the combustion of natural gas,but a decrease in scope 2 emissions.

This is expected with a micro-generation strategy whereby generation inefficiencies are shifted from the power

station to site. There is however a net reduction in greenhouse emissions as relatively clean co-generation/tri-generation offsets more emissions intensive electricity from the grid.

ELECTRICITYElectricity ConsumptionElectricity consumption reduced by 2.5% in 2012/13 compared to the year before. This consumption figure isnet and includes self-generated electricity.

Electricity Generation Photov oltaicThere was a net increase of 89.5% in electricity generation mainly from the Kensington campus wherephotovoltaic generation went from 133,467 kWh in 2011/12 to 270,445 kWh in 2012/13. Photovoltaicgeneration supplies 0.4% of total UNSW electricity consumption in 2012/13 up from 0.2% in 2011/12

Electric ity Generation Co-generation & Tri-generationElectricity from co-generation and tri-generation sources has also increased significantly from 2,694,317 kWhin 2011/12 to 5,160,290 kWh in 2012/13. This represents an increase of 91.5% Co-generation and tri-generation now supplies 7% of UNSWs total electricity consumption, up from 3.5% last year. This is largelyattributed to the first full (NGER reporting) year operation of the tri-generation plant in the Tyree EnergyTechnology Building, which generates 750 kW of electricity.

NATURAL GASNatural Gas Consumptio nTotal natural gas consumption has increased by 27% from 88,054 GJ in 2011/12 to 111,731 GJ in 2012/13.This years NGER records the first full year of operation for the tri-generation plant in the Tyree Building, whichconsumed 28,234 GJ of natural gas in 2012/13 representing 25% of total UNSW natural gas consumption anda value greater than the increase in total natural gas consumption from 2011/12. In other words, if not for thefirst full year of the Tyree Buildings new tri-generation plant, natural gas consumption would have been less

DATE 24 October 2013

TO Vice Chancellor and President

FROM Aaron Magner, Director, UNSW Sustainability

REFERENCE National Greenhouse and Energy Report 2012/13

UNSW Sustainability | Vice President University ServicesEMAIL: a.magner@unsw.edu.au TEL: 0418 964 806

mailto:a.magner@unsw.edu.aumailto:a.magner@unsw.edu.aumailto:a.magner@unsw.edu.aumailto:a.magner@unsw.edu.au

8/13/2019 UNSW Memo - NGER Executive Summary

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than last year. Natural gas used for co-generation/tri-generation increased from 27,672 GJ in 2011/12 to55,708 this year.

OTHER REPORTABLE ITEMSOther fuel sources make up less than 5% of total energy consumption in the 2012/13 reporting period. Thesesources include fleet vehicle fuel use, grounds and backup generators as well industrial and specialist gasesused in laboratories and workshops. The usage profile of these items has not deviated significantly fromprevious years.

If you have any queries regarding UNSWs National Greenhouse and Energy Report for 2012/13 please donot hesitate to contact me.

Yours Sincerely,

Aaron MagnerDirectorUNSW Sustainability

ANNEXURE

Figur e 1: Variance in UNSWs gr eenhous e gas emissi ons 2011/12 v 2012/13