Dean Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles inaugurated, this Tuesday morning (21), in the auditorium of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), the largest energy efficiency project ever carried out between Unicamp and CPFL Energia — a partnership that has already lasts six years and promotes energy efficiency and sustainable production of electrical energy.
In total, there were six energy efficiency and photovoltaic generation projects, implemented through the “CPFL nos Hospitais” program and carried out at the Hospital das Clínicas (HC), the Hospital da Mulher Caism, the Hematology and Hemotherapy Center (Hemocentro), at the Gastrocentro, at the Community Health Center (Cecom) and at the Institute of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (IOU). “CPFL in Hospitals” is part of the Unicamp Sustainable Campus project.
Photovoltaic panels were installed on the roofs and the lighting system was modernized. According to Professor Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva, coordinator of the Sustainable Campus program, 1,1 watts of photovoltaic generation were installed, which represents practically triple the capacity previously installed. “In our first project, which gave rise to the Sustainable Campus, we installed 534 kW of photovoltaic generation. In this project alone, we are now installing 1,1 kW”, said the professor.
Silva says that Unicamp has made efforts to increase the generation of renewable energy within the campus, also with resources from the University's budget. “Next year, we will carry out a large project, which should install another 5 thousand kW. We will go from the current 2,5 kw to 7,5 kw”, he says.
“We also have our own budget project for replacing light bulbs. We have the 'Unicamp 100% LED' (program), through which we will replace 100 light bulbs, and the “Sustainability in the Air” project, through which 2 old air conditioning units, with more than 20 years of use, will be replaced.” , enumerates.
According to professor Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva, with all the projects that Unicamp develops in Campinas and on the Limeira campus, the program saves R$5 million per year, in addition to additional savings of R$10 million per year, with the contracting of energy on the free market. “What we do at Unicamp is energy management. We try to reduce waste with energy efficiency and offer renewable energy”, concludes the professor.
Outlook for the future
For the dean of Unicamp, this type of partnership highlights an intention. “One thing we need to have is ambition and a plan for the future”, he teaches. “We want a partnership like this, with CPFL, to have this future perspective, which is to transform this region of the state into a great innovation hub”, he explains.
“Innovation in the area of energy transition, health care, production of equipment and medicines, hospital logistics. This can transform not only Unicamp, but our city and region into an example of development, which is based on science and technology, which respects the environment and promotes social justice”, argues Meirelles.
Meirelles recalled that the HIDS (International Hub for Sustainable Development) — which has been built by the University, alongside a group of institutions and public authorities — could be the inducer of a virtuous process of development. “We have greater ambitions on the issue of energy transition and even on development in the health sector”, says the rector.
For the rector, the objective is not only to improve energy efficiency for the academic community or the region, but to generate knowledge that can serve as an example for the country.
“Brazil brings together a set of natural resources, a very considerable entrepreneurial network and a very advanced production of science, technology and knowledge. This combination, together with public power, can generate a convergence of interests, perspectives and possibilities for development. Perhaps we have had few opportunities like this at other times in our history”, argues Meirelles. “We even have favorable international conditions, since Brazil's weight in the energy transition process is quite significant. Furthermore, we have a society in need of solutions”, concludes the dean.
The CEO of CPFL, Roberto Sartori, said that the company has formed this type of partnership with several municipalities, but that, with Unicamp, it has been special, due to the openness to new research into new technologies. “We are very proud of this work with Unicamp, and CPFL is open to new areas of collaboration with Unicamp,” he said.
The ceremony was also attended by the director president of the Mário Gatti Municipal Urgency and Emergency Network, Sérgio Bisogni, who represented the mayor of Campinas, Dario Saadi; CPFL's director of strategy and Innovation, Bruno Monte, and vice-rectors Ivan Toro (Graduation) and Fernando Coelho (Proec), as well as unit directors, professors and researchers.
