Lessons learnt, lessons taught

Five academies in Lincolnshire receive decarbonisation improvements thanks to significant government funding and trust internal funds.

We’re joining The Priory Federation of Academies Trust to celebrate the completion of its latest large-scale capital decarbonisation works.

Informed and enabled thanks to funding delivered through both the government’s Low Carbon Skills Fund and Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the works offer a fantastic example of funding schemes working in tandem to achieve extraordinary results.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme portion of the works saw eight fossil fuel boilers replaced at five of the trust’s sites. Trust energy experts are now monitoring results from this pilot project to inform future works across its multi-academy estate. 

Background

Driven by a net zero 2040 target, trust representatives first recognised the need for a plan to inform decarbonisation activity back in 2017. By 2018, trustees had approved the generation of a heat decarbonisation plan, which would move to provide actionable steps to reduce its 3,000-tonne footprint in annual carbon emissions.

Trust-funded works in the early days included the replacement of 11,000 individual light fittings with LED units across 12 sites. This piece of work was directly attributed to a reduction of £140,000 in annual energy bills and 200 tonnes of carbon. Acting in this manner, early works offered a demonstration of positive outcomes in both fiscal savings and carbon reduction, which has supported consistent backing from trustees when it comes to similar works.

However, what soon became clear was that the task ahead was far too large in scope to be entirely self-funded through the trust’s own means. 

Jim Kirby, internal energy consultant for the trust, said: “Integral to the plan was developing the funding because it quickly became apparent the trust could not solely fund the transformation.”

Funding the plan

To support in the generation of its heat decarbonisation plan, which would allow the prioritisation of capital works, the trust was able to secure £14,400 in funding through Phase 1 of the Low Carbon Skills Fund. This funding was used for an energy audit across 12 sites which then provided crucial support to the trust’s heat decarbonisation plan. 

Jim added: “The audit reports provided crucial, detailed information for later projects specifically targeting value for money.

“The audits identified additional work from improved insulation, upgrading of heating and hot water systems and controls – including gas fired boilers – and additional solar, all of which would help to reduce energy demands.”

Now empowered with a plan of action to inform next steps, the trust applied for Phase 3a of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme when it was first launched in 2021. 

The capital works

The trust was awarded £1,700,422 in funding through the scheme, which enabled the quick acceleration of the decarbonisation plans for its estate. This funding enabled upgrades at five of its sites: Lincoln Academy, LSST Academy, Ruskin Academy, Waddington Redwood Academy and Witham Academy. 

Jim said: “This two-year project was the largest energy project ever attempted by the trust.”

The works saw the replacement of eight fossil fuel boilers with 12 air source heat pumps, plus accompanying energy efficiency measures. Additional solar was also installed to supplement the increased electrical demand, together with two batteries associated with the move away from gas to electricity-run technologies.

Lincoln Academy is a secondary school with more than 950 students aged from 11-18. Works here focused on the sports centre where the gas-fired boiler used to heat the water for a swimming pool was removed and replaced with five air source heat pumps. 

Accompanying measures included the installation of variable speed drivers (which adjust motor speed in line with actual demand, rather than running at full speed all the time), a building management system, heat recovery and a solar array. 

Additional solar was also installed at the Keyworth Centre, which hosts Lincolnshire School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), Priory Apprenticeships and the trust’s professional development team.

LSST Academy is a secondary school which has more than 1,700 students aged from 11 to 18. The works at this site focused on the replacement of fossil fuel boilers in favour of two air source heat pumps.

Energy efficiency measures included a building management system, heat recovery systems and both a solar array and associated battery storage. 

Ruskin Academy is a secondary school with 1,400 pupils aged from to 18. The works at this site focused on the replacement of ageing boilers in favour of two air source heat pumps, a building management system, heat recovery and solar PV.

Waddington Redwood Academy is a primary school with 300 pupils aged from four to 11. Works at this site focused on the removal of a gas boiler which was replaced with a single air source heat pump. Accompanying works included a building management system, ceiling insulation, variable speed drivers, heat recovery and solar PV.

Witham Academy is a large, all-through school with more than 1,000 students on roll aged from two through to 18. Works at this site removed both fossil fuel boilers in favour of two air source heat pumps, introduced building management systems, variable speed drivers, heat recovery and solar PV. 

Looking ahead

An important part of the transition to these new, low-carbon technologies is the assessment and reflection to ensure they are functioning as intended. So, too, is the training of staff to equip them with the knowledge and experience to troubleshoot any issues that may come up. 

Having overcome a few teething issues, the trust remains committed to continuing to implement its heat decarbonisation plan and to supporting its staff through the transition away from familiar, dated equipment like boilers.

Jim said: “This is a new technology for the trust, so it has been a learning curve, but we are supported by excellent contractors – mostly local – together with a comprehensive warranty package.”

With more work to do across their 13-academy estate, the trust is closely monitoring the data and outcomes from projects delivered so far to ensure the correct prioritisation is given to future works.

Jim said: “The combined data will help to define our future thinking and action to ensure we put money into the right areas, ensuring maximum value for the public money we are spending – from wherever the source.”

Ned Jordan, programme coordinator at Salix, said: “I am very excited to see what the trust achieves next!”

To read more about the positive outcomes that the project has had for staff and students, read our news story.

About the Low Carbon Skills Fund

The Low Carbon Skills Fund provides grants to boost decarbonisation skills and unlock decarbonisation across an organisation’s estate. It provides grants to public sector organisations to engage the specialist and expert advice and skills required to create a robust heat decarbonisation plan to prepare for heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency capital works.

We deliver this scheme on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with Phase 5 projects due to complete by 31 March 2025.

Read more about Phase 5 of the Low Carbon Skills Fund on our website.

About the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

Launched in 2020, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provides grant funding to public sector organisations to deliver capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects within public sector non-domestic buildings, including central government departments and non-departmental public bodies in England. We deliver this scheme on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with Phase 4 due to launch later this year.

Read more about Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme on our website.