Solar Powering Sustainability

In just three years, solar panels at the University of Southampton Science Park have generated enough electricity to power 670 homes for a year. Fitted to ten buildings, along with two solar trees, the panels have created an incredible 1.8-Gigawatt hours of renewable electricity. This has saved 350 tonnes of carbon from the grid; a volume that would look like 1,430 double-decker buses stacked up!

The successful solar scheme demonstrates the power of close collaboration between the Science Park, the University of Southampton which supported the initial research conducted by Phil Wu, and the resulting spin-out business, Absolar Solutions.

Robin Chave, Science Park CEO, said: “The Science Park is aligned with the University of Southampton's goal of achieving net zero by 2030 so everything that we do here in terms of solar generation helps move us forward on that journey. It is also helping resident businesses to decarbonise and provide evidence that they are they are using green electricity in their operations.

“We've got a particular emphasis on commercialising technology that comes from the University of Southampton, helping to develop ideas fostered in research and grow these into businesses. One of the principal ways we support early-stage businesses is our Catalyst business acceleration program, which helps technical people who have a great idea to focus on and develop the key business skills that they need to grow and succeed in real world settings. Absolar is a great example of how this works in practice.”

Absolar’s technology conducts uniquely accurate surveys to assess the solar potential and return on investment for any building. Launched in 2020, the business received research and development support from the University, followed by mentoring through the Science Park’s Catalyst programme for early stage businesses.

The company’s Founder, Dr Phil Wu, explains: “The research that I conducted at the University of Southampton gave me the idea for Absolar and the support we received there, and now here at the Science Park, has been critical to our success. Being based at the Science Park is very important as it’s not just a great place to work but also an ecosystem with like-minded people who are passionate about innovation. This has been the backbone of our growth. Looking ahead, we want to continue to keep the momentum going to capture the market opportunity.”

Fellow Director, Nic Cory, added: “For us, it is all about optimisation and performance. At the core of Absolar is our technology that allows us to take any square metre, anywhere in the country, and precisely predict how much power that area would generate at any point in time. We mapped the Science Park to determine exactly which roofs, and which parts of the roofs, were suitable for solar panels, and as importantly, which were not going to be suitable. Given how good our technology’s ability to forecast is, we’re not surprised by the results we’ve achieved here, but we’re pleased that they are in line with expectations. It is a significant sustainability milestone and we’re proud of the impact we’re having.”

Professor Phillip Wright, Senior Vice-President at the University of Southampton, said: “The success of the solar energy scheme at the University of Southampton Science Park highlights how our university supports and develops research and enterprise collaborations. Absolar is a fantastic example of a University of Southampton spin-out that’s now delivering real-world impact for our region and beyond.”