Curtin students build solar-powered system for campus soccer field floodlights

Miri – 26 September 2019 – Members of the IEEE Student Branch of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) are collaborating with the university management to design, build, install and maintain a small-scale photo voltaic solar-powered lighting system for its campus soccer field.

The project is also aimed at promoting the benefits of renewable energy to both the campus community and the larger community, and helping the students enhance their knowledge of renewable energy and their practical applications.

According to Curtin Malaysia’s Chief Operating Officer Ir. Pieter Willem Pottas, a solar-powered system was chosen because it is efficient and economical and aligns with the university’s goal of using more sustainable energy.

“This is considering the soccer field is used almost daily all year round, and as our campus is on 1,200 acres of flatlands that enjoy almost consistent sunshine throughout the year, our location is conducive for energy harvesting,” said Pottas.

The power output of the solar farm installed is approximately 6 kilowatts and the six floodlights can light up the field for up to four hours a day. Using floodlights instead of conventional spotlights also means wider coverage of the field with more or less the same power consumption as spotlights.

Pottas added that although this initial project involves the soccer field floodlights, the concept can be rolled out to other sporting facilities such as the tennis courts, rugby field, basketball and volleyball courts, and eventually to the outdoor lighting across the campus.

“Applying it to other areas will enable us to further validate system performance and get some results at a larger scale. We see potential in many other applications across our campus for greater efficiency and cost savings. We aim to come up with various low-cost solutions and involve students as much as possible so that it is a good learning experience for them.

“The ever decreasing cost of solar panels and endless roof and ground-mount space on our campus, as well as the vast expertise of our staff and students, will allow us to carry out more ambitious projects in the future,” said Pottas.

According to Pottas, the idea to involve students in the project was conceived by Curtin Malaysia Pro-Chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan to leverage on the knowledge and skills of the students, as well as showcase the project as one carried out almost entirely by them. Dr. Chan also contributed seed funding amounting to RM100,000 to get the project underway.

Other sponsors and collaborators were EPC Synergy Sdn. Bhd. (solar panel racks, fencing and storage room construction), Kai Nguong Nursery Sdn. Bhd. (use of skylift), and LONGi (Kuching) Sdn. Bhd. (solar panels), while academic staff and staff of the university’s Campus Services Department provided technical advice.

Third-year electrical power engineering student and IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch technical head Howard Hu said he and his teammates were honoured to be involved in the project under the supervision of technical advisors from the Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and the university’s Campus Services Department.

“We are honoured that the university has allowed us to plan, design and construct the entire project to promote the use of green and clean energy on our campus. We’ve had the opportunity to learn a lot of technical skills from our advisors and experts from industry,” remarked Hu.

The advisors include Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Associate Professor Lenin Gopal; advisor to the student branch, Associate Professor Garenth Lim; and senior lecturer in mechanical engineering Dr. Aja Ogboo Chikere.

In addition to Hu, the students working on the project comprised Carlthan Fadey Anak Rojo, Gilles Earl Spencer, Marcus Lai Poh Juan, Carl-Mats Isaac Bayang, Gan Ting Yu, Koh Say Kit, Allan Shearer David, Loh Chang Sheng, Kavin Chelvan Sylvestyne Kathiravan, Tay Chuan Zhi, Alvin Lau Siew Nam, Valerie Chin, Kee Kia Wei, Sia Chun Wan and Micheal Chew Kah Lim.

Associate Professor Lenin said he was glad to see the students working so enthusiastically and expertly on such an industrial-grade project. He remarked that, in doing so, they are contributing to the future of the university and are being actively involved in the research activities at its campus.

Associate Professor Lenin added that the Green Energy Electrical Park (GEEP) established at Curtin Malaysia with a RM250,000 grant from the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) will, in collaboration with staff and students, spearhead the continued research and development of green energy at the university.

Echoing Associate Professor Lenin’s sentiments, Associate Professor Lim said he believes that students should consistently be provided platforms to apply their knowledge and skills so that they will graduate job-ready and be committed to serving society and the communities they live in.

The IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch has, since 2016, been carrying out its signature ‘Light Up Borneo’ community engagement project involving the construction of hundreds of portable solar lamps and distributing them to rural villages that have no electricity supply.

Villages that have benefitted from the project are Long Wat, Long Panai, Long Sobeng, Long Luyang, Uma Akeh, Senadin Jaya, Kampung Api-Api, Long Puak and Pujut Corner, where close to 1,000 lamps have been distributed. Several hundred more have been earmarked for villagers in Bario, Pa’ Dalih and Long Selawan this year.

The project is also aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy and instilling an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among rural students. It is hoped that such initiatives will inspire them to pursue further studies in STEM-related fields at Curtin Malaysia and other universities in the future.

Students installing the solar panels.

The completed solar farm next to the soccer field.

Associate Professor Garenth Lim and Ir. Pieter Pottas (standing 3rd and 4th left) with students and staff.