Swansea Council illuminates the way forward

LED upgrades and efficiency changes are setting new standards for public sector decarbonisation 

In May 2024, Swansea Council, attended the Journey to a Net Zero Wales event at Swansea University. This event brought together public sector specialists from across Wales to learn about the Welsh Government’s strategy for achieving net zero, and the various funding opportunities available to help them reach this ambitious target.

Held at the University’s Bay Campus, attendees gained valuable insights into funding schemes offered by the Welsh Government Energy Service and Salix. These initiatives could support public sector organisations like Swansea Council in reducing carbon emissions and moving closer to Wales’s goal of a net zero public sector by 2030. For the council, this marked the beginning of a transformative project that would replace inefficient street lighting with energy-saving LEDs.

Swansea Council’s net zero vision

Swansea Council is reporting annually on emissions in line with Welsh Government’s ambition for the public sector to be net zero by 2030. Their plan includes reducing and offsetting carbon emissions across the council’s activities and estate. However, to make a real impact, the council knows that the entire city must work together to reduce its collective carbon footprint, with a shared goal of net zero by 2050.

To achieve these goals, Swansea Council has reviewed its governance and adopted a collaborative approach, working closely with departments across the council and with regional partners.

Progress so far

Swansea Council has already achieved several milestones in its decarbonisation efforts, including a 58% reduction in fossil fuel investments by its pension fund, along with a ambition to reaching net zero by 2030. The council has installed electric vehicle charge points at 12 car parks across the city, sourced all its electricity from 100% renewable sources, and built new super-energy-efficient council houses to a “Swansea Standard” with solar battery storage and air source heat pumps. These efforts highlight the council’s commitment to sustainability, but the work is far from over.

A step towards LED streetlights

One of Swansea Council’s most recent projects focuses on converting the remaining streetlights in the city to energy-efficient LEDs. This project builds upon work completed in 2021, when the council embarked on a larger-scale decarbonisation initiative. By transitioning from outdated lighting fixtures to LEDs, Swansea will maximise reductions in electricity consumption and carbon emissions, making a substantial contribution to its net zero targets.

The decision to replace streetlights was part of a broader strategy to reduce energy usage, lower utility bills, and cut maintenance costs. The new LED fixtures are more reliable and come with warranties for any failures, ensuring a longer lasting and more cost-effective solution.

The council had already converted around 20,000 streetlights since 2012 and installed over 2,000 lanterns under the existing tender. Initially, the team aimed to complete the project in 12 months but has since extended the timeline to 24 months, with completion expected by July 2025. Currently, the project is 40-50% complete, with additional staff members now on board to speed up progress.

Learning and innovation

This LED conversion project is the first standalone initiative Swansea has undertaken with ourselves at Salix, separate from its previous retrofit projects. The council describes this process as simple, with straightforward mechanics and documentation. 

The project’s success is already visible in the council’s progress toward meeting its 2030 targets, with immediate financial benefits evident through reduced energy costs. This project will help the council understand the residual carbon impact that could be achieved once all the streetlights are converted.

A key challenge, however, has been to align the project with the council's maintenance schedule. A council spokesman said: “We couldn’t have a specific timeline as we were working to the maintenance programme, so delays were out of our control. However, once signed off, it became an easy business decision.

“The new system should reduce long-term maintenance costs, and the improvements will positively impact public safety. People feel safer when streets are better illuminated.”

Thinking outside the box: exploring innovative opportunities

Swansea Council’s drive for innovation doesn’t stop with LED lights. The council is actively exploring new, forward-thinking projects aimed at decarbonising various sectors. One of the most promising initiatives is a potential partnership with our teams o develop battery solar schemes, further advancing Swansea's commitment to clean energy.

In addition to streetlight conversions, the council is working on an ongoing retrofit programme to decarbonise its building stock. This includes removing oil and gas systems and replacing them with cleaner technologies such as ground-source heat pumps. Applications are already in place to support these efforts, with Simon and his team assessing the most effective solutions for each building.

 The spokesman added: “We’re not afraid to explore new options. With our retrofit programme in place, we now have a foundation that allows us to consider bespoke projects that align with our net zero commitments.”

A key goal is to break down the silos that often exist between different services.  The spokesman explained: “We’re trying to tie in different services, like fleet and highways, to create a cohesive strategy for decarbonisation.”

Crematorium innovation: a new frontier

One of the most intriguing opportunities that has emerged from Swansea’s drive for decarbonisation is the exploration of the crematorium’s carbon impact. The council’s energy team identified that cremation is a significant contributor to the council’s emissions and decided to investigate how they could reduce the facility's environmental footprint.

Taking the initiative, they reached out to the crematorium team to explore how efficiency improvements, such as heat recovery and equipment upgrades, could help. The team is currently in discussions with their supplier to find the best solutions for reducing energy consumption, with a particular focus on heating.

It was discovered that many crematoriums keep the cremators running throughout the weekend, which uses less gas than heating up the equipment again on Monday mornings. The energy team are now looking into whether they can utilise the funding we administer at Salix to support a heat grant and make gas savings by optimising heating usage. By bringing in a retrofit provider to assess the building’s needs, they hope to identify further efficiencies.

This could be the council’s first standalone project with our teams at Salix in the sector, showcasing Swansea’s forward-thinking approach to decarbonisation. The council says it is open to new ideas, and making innovative projects become a reality. 

Looking ahead

Swansea Council’s journey toward achieving its net zero targets is well underway. From upgrading streetlights to exploring more sustainable practices in the crematorium, the council is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and setting an example for others in Wales and beyond.

By leveraging funding administered from our teams at Salix and continuously seeking new opportunities for innovation, Swansea is accelerating its efforts to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for its residents.