CMU sets course for green campus

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) is aiming to have the entire campus powered by solar energy by October this year, through a US$1.5-$3 million solarisation project.

The project is being done in partnership with Emirati state-owned renewable energy company MASDAR and will be implemented by the United Kingdom-based Enzen Ltd at no cost to the seafaring training facility.

CMU President Professor Andrew Spencer explained that the project kicked off in January and the discussions on project scope are being finalised.

It will include the construction of solar PV carport power plants with installation capacities greater than or equal to 160 kWp (kilowatt peak output) with LED underlighting, solar PV rooftop power plants with installation capacities greater than or equal to 280 kWp, and two level-three single electrical vehicle charging stations.

“It is a part of our strategic thrust to become more energy efficient. Through various cost-cutting measures, we were able to reduce energy costs over the last 12 months by 11 per cent. This solarisation project will advance this mission,” Spencer said.

Stating that the Port Royal-based main campus already has 135kW (kilowatt) of solar power, he outlined that the project will provide an additional 440kW. However, he noted that the CMU will be using approximately 400kW of that amount, and stated that the surplus could benefit another government organisation.

“It will also serve as a model for other universities to consider. Finally, with the necessary permission, it will allow us to sell energy at reduced rates to government entities,” he continued.

Meanwhile, speaking at a recent Gleaner Editors’ Forum, Spencer shared that the university is anticipating that it will receive International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification for its research capabilities by May.

The ISO certification establishes credibility and trust among consumers, clients and other business partners.

RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION

Since assuming the helm of the institution in September 2022, Spencer said he worked to establish a research implementation committee and a research advisory council to assist and encourage the university’s 101 academic staff to conduct and publish research.

In addition, he said efforts were made to improve the school’s ranking on the AD Scientific Index, a system that ranks the productivity of scientists in their academic publications based on country, university, and field.

“So I said, ‘Okay, let’s encourage people to set up their Google Scholar accounts. When they set up their Google Scholar account, without publishing a single additional piece of work, we became third on the list,” he said.

Along with CMU’s improvement locally on the AD Scientific Index, Spencer said that over time the school’s research publication output and mass impact projects have also increased.

He pointed to the university’s Shared Ocean Project, an 18-month research initiative that commenced in January. The project is being funded through a €150,000 grant and looks at the alternative uses of sargassum seaweed.

Other integral pieces of research coming out of the university looked at the causal effect of the Panama Canal expansion on Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic growth, and improving port operations through Internet of Things Integration.

While noting that the “immediate impact” of these pieces of research have not yet been realised, the professor lauded the high calibre of research being produced at CMU.

“Quality is important to us. We can’t play the numbers quantity game that others do, so the quality output is going to be critical,” he said.

In the meantime, he shared that the university is engaging the industry to help guide future investigations.

“We don’t want to be the kind of institution that’s just research for the purpose of being esoteric and in the end, you end up with a whole heap of tautology and shelved documents. I mean, I’ve lived that life, so I understand the importance of now translating that to industry,” he said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com