Gazing up at the curved glass facade, have you ever seen a building quite like the Sir Samuel Griffith Centre? This isn’t just another university building. It’s a living laboratory showcasing sustainable energy solutions. It also moves away from the brutalist sealed concrete architecture that Griffith University was known for.
The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre building opened in 2013. It was designed to operate independently of the electricity grid. The goal was zero carbon emissions. Griffith University powers the Centre with a 376kW solar array. They also use hydrogen storage technology.
Over one thousand solar panels cover the roof and window shades. On sunny days, these panels produce more than enough electricity. Excess solar energy is stored in over 1,000 lithium-ion batteries. When these batteries are full the extra solar electricity powers a 160kW electrolyser. This electrolyser produces hydrogen at a rate of 2.7 kilograms per hour.
The hydrogen is stored as metal hydrides. The custom-built storage system holds 120 kg of hydrogen. That’s equal to 2 MWh of electricity. The building can run for several days without sunshine using this stored energy.
On cloudy days the hydrogen is released from storage by heating the metal hydrides. Then it generates electricity in hydrogen fuel cells. Two 30kW fuel cells produce electricity from the stored hydrogen.
Researchers at Griffith University developed this solar-hydrogen technology. They wanted to store solar energy long-term as solid hydrogen. This would help remote communities have a sustainable energy supply. The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre is a successful test case of solar-hydrogen technology.
Jayson Blight and Michael Rayner designed the Sir Samuel Griffith Centre. They worked at Cox Architecture at the time. The building has a six-star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. Around 30 percent of the building uses recycled materials. It also uses natural ventilation and grey water recycling. Advanced water collection methods are used as well.
The facade has multi-level verandahs and collaborative activity pods. A tensegrity web structure cantilevers the facade. People on the street can look up into the verandahs.
The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of innovation. It represents Griffith University’s commitment to a sustainable future. It proves that we can create energy-efficient buildings. These buildings can operate independently of the grid using renewable resources.