Scheme:
Phase 1 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
Technologies used:
Solar PV
Region:
South East
Client type:
Higher education institution
University of Reading
Key information
Estimated savings
£423k+
Annual financial savings
£3.3m
Total grant value
377
Annual carbon savings tCO2e*
Working with Salix
Decarbonising the University of Reading’s Campus
As part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), launched in 2020 by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industry (BEIS) and delivered by Salix, the University of Reading has been awarded £3.3 million to implement several initiatives across their estate which will significantly reduce carbon emissions.
In addition to the PSDS, the university also benefitted from the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF). The LCSF was used to provide an additional internal and external resources to support the delivery of the main grant. The funding allowed the university to undertake a number of feasibility studies for future heat decarbonisation schemes.
The university announced its Sustainability Vision at the beginning of 2021 which centred around a goal of becoming net-zero by 2030 (significantly earlier than industry-wide targets) and surpassing its target of a 45% reduction in carbon emissions.
The funding will allow for the implementation of technologies that work to decarbonise heat and increase renewable energy supplies. A focus on decarbonisation of heat is a crucial part of the current UK green agenda in addition to the University of Reading’s goal of becoming the ’greenest’ university in the country.
We have the ambition to become one of the greenest universities in the world and the carbon savings these projects will achieve will help move us closer to that end goal.
Technical overview
- Focus on low carbon heating across campus
- Redesign of heating in key buildings to avoid waste
- Reduce the heating demand and decarbonise the heat input using a smaller pump to save cost and optimise energy efficiency
- Using the Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) allowed for additional internal procurement, energy analysis and sustainability resource
Future Plans
The University of Reading plans to continue decarbonisation efforts in line with its new environmental strategy by looking at:
- The decarbonisation of heating sources
- Increasing renewable energy supplies
- Continuing to reduce energy wastage where opportunities arise
- Reducing and capturing business travel emissions
July 2021
*tonnes of Carbon Dioxide, calculated using Green Book emissions factors for electricity published by the government.
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