New Brownlee Centre heat pumps power University’s net zero drive
Last updated on 6 September 2024
New electrically powered heat pumps at the Brownlee Centre are being switched on as the University ramps up activity to support its net zero goals.
The new pumps replace the previous wood pellet and oil boilers and are the final step towards electrifying the Brownlee Centre and the rest of the Bodington complex.
The installation of the pumps means that the centre, along with the rest of the Bodington complex, are now fully electrified.
Work on the site has been ongoing throughout 2024, as part of collaborative net zero work between Sustainability and Estates.
The move from the previous primary heat sources to an all-electric heat pump solution will save the University around 58,850Kg and 2,610Kg of direct and indirect CO2 per year, respectively.
The project is part of the university’s Net Zero Delivery Plan, which sets out how we will deliver reductions of more than 35,000 tonnes of CO2e per year by 2030.
The bulk of emissions reductions will be driven through changes to the way we heat and power our buildings.
This requires changes to our building infrastructure to reduce the amount of energy that we use and ensure that the energy we do use is from renewable sources.
The Estates team’s engineering section have worked with specialists VWG Group to complete the project since February this year.
A successful funding application by the team to the Government’s Salix fund was also key in delivering the project.
Salix is a government-owned organisation that delivers funding schemes to help the public sector reduce their carbon emissions in line with the UK’s 2050 net zero target.
David Oldroyd, Interim Deputy Director of Development said: “This major work is an important step towards us significantly reducing annual emissions from our estate.
“Several more projects are already underway, with more planned, that will enable us to reach the targets outlined in the Net Zero Delivery Plan.
“Thanks to our contractors, VWG Group, who worked efficiently and quickly to get this work completed before the start of the new academic year.”
Staff and students can find out more about our Net Zero Delivery Plan, and what they can do to support the Climate Plan, at the Climate Plan Sharepoint Hub (University login required).
