Latest Industry News: Edition 45

Grant to Replace Gas Boilers with Green Heating Solutions

To aid decarbonisation and sustainable energy initiatives, the UK government have provided a grant worth ￡21.6m to the Royal United Hospital (RUH), located in Bath.

If planning permission is accepted, the city hospital will implement four air source heat pumps (ASHP) to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

An ASHP is a system designed to extract heat from the outside air and transform it into energy to heat buildings and provide hot water. The process involves heat being transferred into a fluid refrigerant, which then passes through a compressor. The compressor raises the fluid's temperature, and the heat is transferred into the central heating system.

The benefits of ASHPs include being highly energy efficient – with capabilities of up to three times more efficient than gas or oil boilers, reduced energy bills, and improved carbon footprint.

RUH will implement ASHPs to replace the hospital's outdated heating systems. If plans proceed, construction is expected to begin in 2026, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 25% annually and supporting RUH’s objective of reaching net zero emissions by 2030.

Coal Mine Transformed into Europe’s Largest Battery Storage Project to Decrease Grid Dependence

A former coal mine in Coalburn, South Lanarkshire, is set to be transformed into Europe’s largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This ambitious project, led by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), will repurpose the site to store renewable energy and significantly reduce dependence on the electricity grid.

The facility will harness excess energy from wind farms, storing it in batteries and discharging it during periods of high demand or low renewable generation.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are advanced devices designed to store energy generated by renewables like wind and solar, enabling energy to be used in times of low generation. Using intelligent software and algorithms, these systems optimise energy production by determining the best times to store or release power.

The benefits of BESS include improved renewable energy usage, reduced reliance on the grid, a smaller carbon footprint, and long-term cost savings.

The Coalburn site will be built in two phases and is expected to store enough energy to power three million homes.

Sustainable in the Sky: The Future of Green Air Travel

In 2025, Heathrow Airport is set to allocate ￡86 million to airlines as part of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive programme, marking an increase from ￡71 million in the previous financial year. This initiative highlights the growing emphasis on SAF, a promising solution for promoting greener air travel and reducing aviation's environmental impact.

SAF is an alternative fuel created from non-petroleum feedstocks, such as cooking oil, municipal waste, waste gases, and agricultural residues, that significantly reduces emissions from air transportation.

Aviation negatively contributes to climate change. Not only do aeroplanes burn fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, but they also produce non-CO2 effects which can contribute up to twice as much to global warming as the CO2 emissions from aircraft themselves.

The advantages of SAF are significant. When compared to traditional jet fuel, SAF has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle. It offers the aviation industry a practical and safe alternative energy source, which is nearly chemically identical to conventional jet fuel, meaning there is no need for modifications to aircraft or fuelling infrastructure.

SAF can cut emissions by as much as 80% throughout its lifecycle, with the possibility of achieving a 100% reduction in the future as technology advances.

Driving Towards a Sustainable Future: BT Group Sets Record with UK’s Largest Commercial EV Fleet Order

On the 9th of January 2025, BT group disclosed its ambitious sustainability initiative by placing the largest ever commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleet order within the UK. This supports the telecommunications company’s goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2031.

The transition to EVs offers numerous advantages over traditional petrol or diesel vehicles, including cost and energy efficiency, zero tailpipe emissions, and lower maintenance costs.

By 2026, BT Group’s EV fleet will nearly double in size, reaching approximately 8,000 vehicles. This expansion builds on their current fleet of 4,300 EVs, which already plays a critical role in lowering emissions.

To support this growth, the company has partnered with leading manufacturers, including Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and Renault, to source the new vehicles over the next two years.

This fleet marks a significant step forward for BT Group, which is also working towards achieving netzero emissions across its supply chain and customer operations by 2041.

2024: The Year of Clean Energy Dominance

2024 marked the UK’s greenest electricity year to date, with a record-breaking 58% of electricity supplied from low-carbon sources, according to a new analysis from Carbon Brief.

Wind and solar generation reached an all-time high last year, and over the past decade, the UK has reduced its electricity generation from coal and gas by more than half, while simultaneously doubling its renewable energy output.

However, despite this progress, fossil fuels remain prevalent. In 2024, polluting fossil fuels, which are driving the climate emergency, still accounted for 29% of the UK’s electricity and were the largest single source of power when considering all gas-powered generation, compared to 26% from wind.

The report suggests that to achieve long-term sustainability goals, policymakers need to ensure coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors, develop grid infrastructure, expand renewable capacity, and phase out gas.

Solar Park Set to Transform Energy in Nottinghamshire

Elements Green, a solar and energy storage developer, has proposed the development of the Great North Road (GNR) Solar and Biodiversity Park, a transformative project near Newark-on-Trent. If approved, the park is set to generate 800MW of electricity, enough to power 400,000 homes, effectively meeting the energy demands of all households in Nottingham.

The project is currently in Phase 2 of consultation, which began on the 9th of January and will run until the 20th of February 2025. This phase invites local stakeholders and residents to provide feedback, ensuring the development aligns with community needs and values.

If constructed, the GNR Solar and Biodiversity Park will become a key renewable energy project in the UK, showing how large solar farms can provide power, reduce carbon emissions, and support biodiversity.

The GNR Solar Park would also enhance UK energy security and help reduce household energy bills, contributing to the effort to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), it has the potential to generate more than 50MW of electricity.

Subscribe and follow to keep up with the latest industry news and innovation within the renewable and sustainable sector.