Aston Uni breaks ground on £40m energy centre

Work has started on a major project at Aston University that will overhaul campus heating systems and bring net-zero targets within reach ahead of schedule.

The £40.1m Carbon Neutral Energy Centre is the first project to break ground under university plans to modernise infrastructure on campus, boosted by a £35.5m grant from the UK government’s public sector decarbonisation scheme.

Under the proposals, existing heating systems will be replaced with ground and air-source heat pumps, with a “low-carbon” district heating network also set to be established.

Gas equipment in the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute and Aston Day Hospital will also be removed, with these buildings connected to the new energy centre, with insulation improvements also set to boost thermal performance in the main building.

A spokesperson for Aston said the scheme was a “milestone moment in Birmingham’s green industrial future”, which would support the city’s innovation ambitions at the £4bn Knowledge Quarter scheme.

“This project is a major milestone for Aston University, underpinning our commitment to environmental stewardship and energy resilience,” said Craig Jones, Aston University interim chief executive officer.

“The new Carbon Neutral Energy Centre will significantly improve how we power and heat our campus. We are proud of our teams and grateful to our partners as we move forward in delivering this transformational project.”

Drift Services Group is the principal contractor for the project, responsible for drilling and test pumping the entire borehole network, with company director Richard Lane adding that the project would have a “lasting impact” on the university’s net zero ambitions.

When completed, the energy centre will provide a 90% drop in direct and indirect carbon emissions compared to a 2005 baseline, allowing the university to hit specific net zero goals two years ahead of schedule.

Lloyd Ross, senior policy advisor for public sector decarbonisation at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said: “This £35.5 million grant from the Department to Aston University through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is a testament to not just the university’s ambition but also the shared confidence in the ability for them to deliver and achieve net zero by 2028 – two years earlier than planned.

“Delivering through local partnerships and incorporating the wider community into the project through continued knowledge and information sharing demonstrates how Higher Education institutions like Aston can be trailblazers for their communities and public assets on their decarbonisation journeys.”