University of Tartu to start using electricity from renewable energy sources

At the end of last year, the university announced a call for tenders for electricity procurement from renewable energy sources to take steps toward the university reducing its CO₂ footprint. The new procurement contract with Enefit AS and Eesti Energia AS will be valid from 1 March 2024 until 28 February 2025, and the university will purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources during this period. 

According to Director of Administration Kstina Noormets, electricity use accounts for a significant share (44%) of the university's carbon footprint, which is why the university decided to start using renewable electricity. "When we announced the procurement, we hoped that the price would remain competitive and not overly expensive, even for renewable electricity. We were positively surprised that the renewable energy exchange fee offered as a result of the open tender was lower than the fossil electricity exchange fee offered in the previous period," said Director of Administration Kstina Noormets. 

In addition to the CO₂ footprint, the university values decreasing its electricity consumption. "The best way to do this is to increase the energy efficiency of university buildings. We have built larger and smaller solar parks, purchased batteries for storing solar energy, upgraded and automated heating, cooling and ventilation systems, replaced energy-hungry lighting fixtures indoors and outdoors with LED lamps, and introduced the Emajõgi district cooling system in some buildings," Noormets explained. 

While sourcing electricity from renewable energy sources is one of the most effective ways to significantly reduce the university's climate impact, it is worthwhile for the whole university family to be environmentally aware in all their activities and to take into account ecofriendly conditions when drafting the technical specifications for public procurements.