Pathway to Carbon Neutral Campus: Strategic Solar Energy Assessment of Khon Kaen University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56261/built.v24.264965Keywords:
Carbon neutrality, Strategic energy management, Solar photovoltaic, Net Zero University, Campus-as-city, Self-consumption ratioAbstract
The transition of universities toward carbon neutrality requires not only strategic planning but also a feasibility assessment. In the case of the energy sector, the largest GHG source in large higher-education institutions. This study integrates strategic planning analysis with technical evaluation for Khon Kaen University (KKU), which targets carbon neutrality by 2040 and positions solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment as the flagship Scope 2 measure within that pathway. Using 8,760-hour electricity load data, spatial suitability analysis, and hourly PV simulation, the study evaluates the self-consumption ratio (SCR), self-sufficiency ratio (SSR), and curtailment rate across PV capacities of 10–30 MWp, and quantifies the resulting direct GHG reduction and 2040 load-projection performance. Purchased electricity accounts for 60–65% of KKU's emissions, equivalent to a baseline of approximately 81,600 tCO2e/yr. The optimal capacity range of 19–22 MWp yields an SCR of 98.9–99.7%, an SSR of 26–30%, and a curtailment rate of 0.27–1.08%, achievable without battery storage. This range corresponds to a direct GHG reduction of approximately 13,300–15,300 tCO2e/yr, or approximately 26–30% of Scope 2 and 16–19% of total institutional emissions. Under a projected 2040 load scenario, the same capacity range remains technically valid, confirming it as a robust, no-regret near-term measure. These findings demonstrate a strategic balance among direct emissions reduction, load compatibility, and operational feasibility and can guide other Thai universities in linking emissions diagnostics to practical, evidence-based, and monitorable energy strategies.
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