Coventry University begin work slashing emissions

Following the receipt of a £13million grant to help hit its target of being net zero by 2030, Coventry University has begun work installing hundreds of new solar panels across campus.

The grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, was awarded in February 2024 and will also cover the cost of double-glazed windows and a connection to the Coventry district energy network.  

Almost 800 panels will be installed across university buildings, equating to around the same coverge as around 90 typical domestic  solar installations.

Selina Fletcher, Head of Sustainability and Environment at the University, said: ‘After much planning we can now start to see the results – we will immediately be able to see a carbon reduction as the solar panels start to generate energy and reduce our emissions. This is fantastic news for the university and showcases the first of many actions to put sustainability at the heart of what we do, benefiting our students, staff and the wider community.’

Work is also underway to connect 11 of the University’s buildings to the city’s existing district energy network which will allow the exiting gas boilers to be switched off.

The network is a 6.6km underground heat system that transports waste heat from the city’s municipal incinerator to major public buildings, reducing carbon emissions from heating by 25%.

The project is due to be completed in April 2026 and will is expected to save 95 tonnes in carbon reduction per year on campus once everything is installed as well as providing a real-life case study for students to see climate change mitigation in action.

Overall, the works are expected to help the university avoid grid electricity costs of more than £100,000 per year and generate zero-carbon electricity for internal consumption.