SSE Energy Solutions has initiated a project aiming to cut carbon emissions by 90% at 11 academies within the Harris Federation in South East England.
Supported by funding from the UK Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), the project, valued at £14.3 million, targets significant upgrades in heating systems, building controls, and electrical infrastructure in locations across South London and Kent.
The effort is anticipated to reduce the collective carbon footprint of the Harris Federation by over 38,000 tonnes of CO2, equating to the environmental impact of planting approximately 1.73 million trees.
SSE Energy Solutions says that the updates will see the replacement of outdated gas boilers with more efficient air source heat pumps and the introduction of advanced building energy management systems, alongside upgrades to old electrical setups. Where possible, renewable energy solutions will also be integrated into the academies.
The project not only aims to bring environmental benefits but is also projected to lead to considerable energy cost savings for the academies during its 20-year lifespan.
Grant Widlake, Business Director at SSE Energy Solutions’ Smart Buildings, emphasised the commitment to assisting business customers in cutting energy use, emissions, and costs, noting, “Reducing emissions from non-domestic buildings is critical to accelerating the UK’s transition to Net Zero and as a dedicated business energy supplier, this is a key focus for our business.
“This project with Harris Federation exemplifies our approach to decarbonising buildings – overlaying effective building controls with other solutions like air source heat pumps, solar PV, and battery storage to create substantial emissions reductions.”
Tom Webster, Director of Estates and Commercial at the Harris Federation, highlighted the dual benefits of the scheme, commenting, “The grant we have received from the Public Sector Decarbonisation scheme is a win-win, enabling us to make significant savings over time and thus plough more of our money directly into children’s education, whilst also playing our part in delivering a net zero future.”