Environment Week 2026

This year's Environment Week focuses on the renewable energy installations in Alcoy, Gandia and Valencia. "UPV: generating knowledge, renewing its energy" is the chosen slogan. It will be celebrated with a range of activities from 9 to 13 November.

The Valencia campus is the "photovoltaic heart of the UPV", according to this website. This is because it is spearheading the energy transition at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV).

A total of 21 buildings on the campus have photovoltaic systems on their roofs, covering just over 5,000 m2 of installed area and generating 2,368 kWp.

This commitment to solar energy is reflected in the growth in electricity generation: figures show a rise from 24,730 kWh generated in 2021 to 1,404,101 kWh in 2026, based on data available up to October.

At the Gandia campus, solar power boosts marine and environmental research. The solar installations on this campus supply the teaching buildings with electricity with minimal environmental impact. Production is optimised by leveraging the high levels of solar radiation along the coast.

The photovoltaic panels are located on the lecture block and on the roof of the CRAI building, with a total installed capacity of 1,050 kWp. In 2023, 32,123 kWh were consumed; this has now risen to 148,213 kWh.

On the Alcoy campus, solar energy is integrated into the historic urban environment, combining cutting-edge technology with respect for heritage. Optimal self-consumption has been achieved, adapted to the energy efficiency of the surroundings. The installation is situated on the Carbonell building, has a capacity of 27.44 kWp and has generated around 25,000 kWh annually since it came into operation in 2021.

Optimising energy efficiency

In addition to generating clean energy and reducing CO2 emissions, the installation of photovoltaic systems improves the energy performance of buildings. This has certainly been the case with the buildings on the Politècnica's campuses.

"Generating our own renewable energy not only directly reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, but also optimises the energy efficiency of the three campuses. This massive advance in photovoltaic infrastructure reaffirms the UPV's commitment to sustainability, aligning us with the firm objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030," explains Débora Domingo, Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development of Campus.

Commemorative events

The events to mark this week begin on Monday 9 November at 11 am in the hall of the Central Library. The photographic exhibition "Let's Save the Four Seasons", by Pablo Benedito – a Valencian photographer and graduate in Telecommunications Engineering from the UPV – will be inaugurated. You can view the exhibition until 15 November.

On Tuesday, 10 November at 1.00 pm, in the Rectorate, the Rector will present the "2025 Environmental Award". The award has been presented to the Research Institute for Nanophotonics Technology and to the environmental liaison officer for the Electronic Microscopy Service, Mercedes Tabernero Mendoza. The award recognises their commitment to environmental management, their excellent audit results, and the involvement and participation of the members of their units.

Furthermore, one of the aims of this week is to understand the opinion of the university community regarding the activities of the Environmental Unit and evaluate its communication efforts. For this reason, completing this survey comes with a prize. You can collect it in Gandia on Tuesday 10 November; in Alcoy on Wednesday 11 November; and at the Valencia campus on Thursday 12 November. You can check the times and locations via this link.

If you are unable to attend, you can also collect your gift from the Environmental Unit in Valencia and from the student unions in Alcoy and Gandia until the end of the year, or whilst stocks last. Finally, on Thursday 12, EMTRE will once again be visiting the Valencia campus with the 'Environmental Roulette'. You can play at the entrance to the Student Union.