Sustainable development of KIT's infrastructure

Investment Plan for Photovoltaic expansion at the KIT Campus North

KIT has set itself the goal of a climate-neutral supply of the KIT Campus North by 2030. As an essential part of achieving the goal, photovoltaics (PV) will be successively installed on suitable buildings in order to generate renewable electricity and to partially cover the electricity demand at KIT.

Photovoltaics will be incorporated as standard for new buildings and roof renovations in the future. A model process was developed for adding PV-plants to existing roofs to ensure an efficient and standardized implementation.

In September 2023, the KIT executive board approved an investment and expansion plan for PV at the KIT Campus North developed by the service unit Facility Management. Infrastructure funds of 1.8 million euros are allocated for the years 2024-2026. From 2024 onwards, at least 1 MWp (megawatt peak) of photovoltaics will be installed on the KIT Campus North every year.

After the KIT will have taken over the developer role for the city campus of KIT a corresponding financing and installation plan for PV will be decided by the KIT executive board.

Expansion of LED lighting

At KIT, LED expansion is consistently integrated as part of construction work and building maintenance. In order to accelerate the LED expansion, additional funds of 1.3 million euros are currently being invested on the KIT Campus North as part of a short-term expansion plan following approval by the Executive Board.

Expansion of cold water network

In order to increase resource efficiency and climate protection, the cold water supply of the KIT Campus North is gradually converted from a decentralized, building-specific supply to a central cold water supply using available subsurface geothermal energy. The next expansion stage of the cold water infrastructure has been approved by the Executive Board and the required investment funds amounting to 6 million euros have been made available.