Education and research in the field of renewable sources of energy in the Centre Of Sustainable Development And Energy Savings WGGIOS AGH in Miekinia

Abstract

The Centre of Sustainable Development and Energy Savings of the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection of AGH University of Science and Technology in Miekinia conducts research and educational activities in the field of renewable sources of energy, geothermal heat pumps especially. Growing interest in using the renewable energy sources (RES) is reflected upon the interest in such a discipline of studies. Many people declare intention of studying RES. This is a modern discipline, opened at AGH University of Science and Technology in 2003 as the first in Poland. Since 2012, when the Centre was open ca. 8000 people (including students, pupils, local governments and communities) were educated here. Not only geothermal energy is a main focus attention field. In the Centre other renewable sources of energy are also researched. This include solar energy (both photovoltaic and thermal), solid fuel boilers and wind energy. The Centre is heated by heat pumps with ground sources which are simultaneously use by students for practice and measurements. There are didactic heat pumps with temperature and pressure sensors and electric meters to be used by students during measurements. The Centre is in disposal of self-constructed Thermal Response Test device for thermal parameters measurements. In a stand for testing ground-source brine heat pumps for central heating and hot domestic water preparation research are conducted on the COP heat pump efficiency in accordance with the PN-EN 14511 standard. The Centre works on the prototyping of new, innovative heat pumps.