Aston University Secures £35.5 Million Grant to Fast-Track Net-Zero Transformation

Image Credit: Aston University

Aston University has taken a giant leap toward sustainability, securing a £35.5 million grant from the UK Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This game-changing investment will accelerate its mission to become a net-zero carbon campus.

At the heart of this transformation is the development of a Green Energy Centre, set to rise at Aston’s newly acquired Woodcock Street site. This state-of-the-art facility will power the university’s clean energy ambitions and house key institutions like Aston Business School, the Aston Business Hub, and the Aston Integrated Healthcare Hub—making it a cornerstone of both innovation and sustainability.

Once a flagship office hub for Birmingham City Council, 10 Woodcock Street has a storied past. Built-in 2011 as one of the city's largest purpose-built office complexes—spanning over 86,000 square feet—it accommodated more than 3,000 council staff before Aston University took ownership last September. Now, it’s on the brink of a radical transformation, shifting from an administrative stronghold to a beacon of next-generation green technology.

With the Green Energy Centre powered by cutting-edge sustainable technologies, Aston University is fast-tracking its carbon neutrality target—advancing its net-zero timeline by two years, from 2030 to 2028. The impact? A staggering 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, compared to the university’s 2005/06 baseline.

Administered by Salix under the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the grant will reshape the university’s entire energy framework, phasing out fossil fuels in its district heating and electricity network.

Key initiatives include:

• Decommissioning outdated gas boilers in crucial facilities like the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and Aston Day Hospital.

• Upgrading energy efficiency across multiple high-traffic buildings, ensuring the campus operates at peak sustainability.

• Future-proofing the Green Energy Centre with a Zero Carbon 10MW capacity, well beyond its current 8.2MW demand—allowing Aston to expand without compromising sustainability.

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.”

Ian Rodger, director of Public Sector Decarbonisation at Salix, 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.”