Lancaster University Unveils Net Zero Energy Center

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Colleges and universities need a lot of energy for lights, computer centers, and the heating and cooling of their many dormitories, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and administrative buildings. The college where I matriculated about a hundred years ago used to rely on bunker oil — the stuff that has powered merchant ships for generations — to generate steam for heat. I’m embarrassed to think of how much crud my beloved alma mater has pumped into the atmosphere since 1769.

Lancaster University on the Irish Sea north of Blackpool in the UK has done a great deal to mitigate its carbon footprint. It is one of the UK’s leading institutions for higher education and research, with a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. As a pioneer in renewable energy, Lancaster strives to minimize its environmental impact while delivering world class education and groundbreaking research.

In 2020, Lancaster University declared a Climate Emergency and pledged to become net-zero by 2035. Since then it has achieved a considerable reduction in emissions from electricity and heating emissions which are now 50% lower than they were in 2005. It has made significant progress with projects such as the Lancaster Campus District Heat Network, funded by a £560,387 grant from the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES), whose purpose is to ensure that infrastructure is “heat pump ready.”

A new £17 million 52-acre solar farm funded by the university, consisting of more than 17,000 solar panels, is nearing completion on land owned by Lancaster University. That solar farm will generate enough energy to meet the needs of about 2,800 houses each year. It also includes a comprehensive landscaping scheme which will use hedgerows and woodlands in the area to present a more scenic view for those using the walking trails nearby and to support biodiversity.

The new solar farm will house a bespoke facility for research and teaching across disciplines, from plant science to control system engineering. It will also include a 50 kW agrivoltaics demonstrator project that will enable the production of crops and electricity from the same land area. The first field demonstrator in the UK, it will be comprised of an area of solar panels that track the sun, and an area of vertical panels.

Lancaster University Net Zero Energy Center

Last month, Lancaster University announced the beginning of construction of its new Net Zero Energy Center located on the outer edge of its campus. The Net Zero Energy Center is part of a renewable energy project designed to eliminate the use of almost all methane gas to heat its Lancaster campus. The Net Zero Energy Center is being delivered by local renewable energy company Vital Energi.

The groundbreaking ceremony highlighted the progress Lancaster University has made toward reaching its ambitious Net Zero Energy Project. In a press release, the University said the new center will house an innovative array of state of the art air and water source heat pumps with a total capacity of  7 megawatts, together with a 1 megawatt e-boiler capable of generating up to 39 GWh of low carbon heat, enough to heat 95% of the buildings on the campus. The center will also include 1,500 cubic meters of thermal storage that will supplement the new heat supply and help ensure consistent heat during peak times of the day.

A visitor facility will be incorporated into the design of the new energy center. It will feature an educational meeting room for visitors from the University and other universities, local schools, and community groups with an interest in sustainable energy and specifically in heat pump technology. To carry the heat across campus, 6.5 kilometers of district heating piping will be installed to increase the network’s coverage from approximately 65% of buildings to 95% of buildings. In total, 247 buildings and properties will be connected to the district heating network, which will supply them with low carbon heat and hot water. The project is expected to be complete in early 2027.

Lancaster University vice chancellor Professor Andy Schofield led the event at the site of the new energy center, bringing together members of the University community including the project team, researchers, the contractor, and suppliers. Schofield said: “As Lancaster University continues to build on the success of its historic sustainability projects, the new Net Zero Energy Center, expanded heat network, and solar PV farm are all crucial steps in fulfilling the University’s commitment to reducing energy related carbon emissions from electricity and heating to net zero by 2030 and aim to be net zero from all other emissions by 2035. The ongoing projects, delivered by energy partners Vital Energi, exemplify Lancaster’s forward thinking approach, ensuring that future generations can benefit from a cleaner, greener campus while continuing to support groundbreaking research in renewable energy.”

Vital Energy Provided The Know-How

Vital Energi provides its clients with a comprehensive range of energy related services, systems, and solutions. With over 30 years worth of experience, it is able to design, install, operate, and own decentralized energy generation and multi-utility network distribution projects, including some of the UK’s largest and longest established district heating networks. As well as owning its own assets, it provides tailored energy management technology to manage, measure, and reduce energy consumption. Vital Energi installs the latest renewable and low carbon technologies, from heat pumps and solar PV farms to battery storage and waste heat recovery. These solutions provide long term cost benefits for clients across a broad range of sectors, including healthcare, education, industry, commercial, and both newly built and existing residential structures.

Lancaster University has been awarded more than £21 million of funding from the UK Green Heat Network Fund, which is being matched by the University to develop the Net Zero Energy Center. Scott Lutton, the regional director for Vital Energi, said, “The new energy center, utilizing air and water source heat pump technology, will save 2,700 tons of carbon annually, making  a significant contribution to Lancaster University’s journey towards carbon neutrality. As part of this project, we have worked closely with Lancaster University and AECOM to engage and raise awareness of the benefits of the energy center with the Lancaster University community through career events, outreach, and skills development initiatives. Additionally, Vital Energi, the University, and AECOM have committed to creating 42 local jobs, 73 UK-wide positions, and providing 12 apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, further strengthening our ties with the wider Lancaster community.”

What better way to teach tomorrow’s leaders about sustainable technologies than to incorporate them into the learning experience? Colleges and universities that fail to do so are shortchanging their students, faculty, and local communities. The only way to lead is from the front. The rest of the world of higher education should take a cue from what Lancaster University is doing and making sustainability a central part of their educational activities. A benefit the University did not highlight is that heat pumps can heat and cool. Pay for one; get two. You would think everyone would be signing up for that deal!