A grant of £35.5m has been awarded to Aston University from the UK Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to construct a Green Energy Centre
The Aston University net zero campus grant comes from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and is being delivered by Salix.
The grant will support Aston University’s transition to a net zero campus.
The Green Energy Centre will affect how the campus operates
The Centre will be located in a facility on Woodcock Street, and will also be the site of the Aston Business School, Business Hub, and Integrated Healthcare Hub.
The grant will bring Aston University’s net zero target date closer to 2028, where previously it was 2030.
The Centre aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% relative to the 2005/06 baseline through moving away from fossil fuels used in the heating and electricity network. Gas boilers will also be decommissioned in the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute and the Aston Day Hospital.
The Centre will feature a Zero Carbon 10MW Energy Centre, when the University operates on 8.2MW to ensure growth.
“Every breath we take will be cleaner”
Professor Aleks Subic, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Aston University, said: “The ambitious Aston University 2030 sustainability strategy is being realised by establishing the new Green Energy Centre that will enable the University to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2028, two years ahead of our plan. This transformational initiative demonstrates in action a model for how universities can drive environmental innovation while creating spaces where people and ideas flourish. Every breath we take will be cleaner, every space on our campus healthier for the Aston team, students, partners, and community.”
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger, said: “We look forward to working with Aston University and supporting it to deliver its Net Zero carbon emission strategy.
“We have no time to waste when addressing climate change and, at Aston, we can see the vision to create not only a healthier environment in which to work and study but a campus that is well set up for the future.”
Birmingham will see a lot of construction in the near future, as HS2 revealed their newly designed plans for the Birmingham Curzon Street station late last year, including extra parking for bicycles, increased accessibility, more seating areas, easier access between platforms, rainfall capture in planted areas with landscaping, lighting, and paving, external ceramic tiling, a redesigned southern entrance.
