Salix supporting public sector projects to reduce carbon footprint

on the roof of the Royal Northern College of Music standing next to roof top solar panels., people walking in high visibility jackets together

More than £409 million has been awarded by government under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme helping reduce carbon emissions across England, it has been announced today.

  • Government awards more than £409 million in grants to reduce carbon emissions in hospitals, schools, museums, universities, and other public sector buildings across England. 144 public sector organisations are set to benefit.
  • Measures such as heat pumps, solar panels and insulation will be installed across 144 public sector organisations – supporting the government’s commitment to reduce emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037.
  • Investment is part of £2.5 billion total government spending on decarbonising public sector buildings between 2020 and 2025. 

This funding, initiated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, is being delivered through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is delivered by Salix Finance and provides grants to public sector bodies to fund low carbon heating, renewable energy, and energy efficiency measures such as heat pumps, solar panels and insulation.

The scheme aims to support the government’s commitment to reduce emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared to 2017 levels, as first set out in the 2021 Heat and Buildings Strategy. 

On the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Salix Finance Chief Executive Annie Shepperd OBE, said:

Annie Shepperd OBE

“There is a huge amount of passion and expertise in the green energy sector, and Salix is proud to be supporting the hundreds of decarbonisation projects that have been made possible through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Each one represents the best evidence of government and public bodies working together to achieve great things.”

Annie Shepperd OBE Chief Executive Salix Finance
Ian Rodger

“Every day the vital work that Salix does supporting the public sector’s energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects is driving down our carbon footprint and making public sector buildings better places for people to work in and for the public to use.

"We look forward to working with so many exciting new projects across the country as we start the next phase of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.”

Ian Rodger Director of Programmes Salix Finance

Some of the latest recipients of funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme include

  • Worthing Council has been awarded almost £3 million to support the decarbonisation of six public buildings, including the Grade II listed Worthing Museum and the Connaught Theatre, one of the oldest cinemas in the UK. Each building will be connected to the existing Worthing Heat Network, which uses a pump system to turn heat from wastewater in the local sewer into sustainable energy.
  • Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, which has been granted £10 million to upgrade various buildings at Salisbury District Hospital, including the Spinal Treatment Centre and the hospital leisure centre. Gas fired boilers will be replaced with heat pumps and the energy efficiency of the buildings will be improved.
  • Northumbria University is benefitting from almost £2 million to decarbonise its library, the reception buildings, and the Sports Centre at Coach Lane East campus.
  • Canterbury City Council is receiving more than £600,000 to install an air source heat pump and solar panels in Kingsmead Leisure Centre.
  • Greater Manchester Academies Trust has been awarded over £1 million to install heat pumps, solar panels, and loft insulation at secondary school Manchester Communication Academy.
  • South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded over £8 million to decarbonise the heating of 21 buildings across Warwick Hospital and Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital.

Summaries of how the latest funding awarded will be spent can be found on the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme GOV.UK page.

These projects represent just the latest funding awarded through Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, with the remaining funding for the current allocation round, Phase 3b, continuing to be awarded over the coming months. More than £2 billion has been awarded across over 900 projects to decarbonise the public sector across all phases of the scheme to date.

The next application window to the scheme, Phase 3c, is expected to open to applications in autumn 2023.

22 March 2023

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