University of Kent Partners with Siemens to Halve Carbon Emissions and Modernize Campus by 2030

University of Kent Partners with Siemens to Halve Carbon Emissions and Modernize Campus by 2030

(IN BRIEF) The University of Kent has partnered with Siemens Smart Infrastructure to reduce its campus scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, as part of its broader goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Following a detailed energy audit, the university will implement measures including LED lighting upgrades, enhanced building management systems, and renewable energy generation, with Siemens providing a flexible financing package to fund the initiative. This partnership underscores the university’s commitment to sustainability and modernizing its estate to combat climate change effectively.

(PRESS RELEASE) ZUG, 11-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Kent (UoK) has announced a strategic partnership with Siemens Smart Infrastructure to implement a comprehensive carbon management plan aimed at reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030. This initiative marks a significant step in the university’s broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions, with scope 1 and 2 emissions targeted for net zero by 2040 and scope 3 emissions by 2050.

A Roadmap for Decarbonization
The plan, developed following an Investment Grade Audit (IGA) to assess the university’s energy performance, will focus on both the Canterbury and Medway campuses, which collectively serve over 19,000 students. Key measures include the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting across all buildings, upgrades to building management system controllers, enhanced metering systems, and space optimization to maximize energy efficiency. Once implemented, these measures will help the university generate 675 MW of renewable energy annually.

“This partnership with Siemens demonstrates the critical role collaboration plays in addressing the challenges of decarbonizing campuses,” said Faye Bowser, Vice President Higher Education Vertical at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “By leveraging modern technology and digital solutions, we can transform existing infrastructure to meet net-zero targets while also reducing costs and improving energy management. I look forward to seeing the University of Kent lead the way in sustainability within the higher education sector.”

Sustainability at the Core of UoK’s Mission
The University of Kent established an ambitious emissions reduction target in 2021, committing to cut scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030, using 2018-2019 as the baseline. This partnership with Siemens is integral to achieving that goal and reflects the university’s determination to place sustainability at the heart of its operations.

Acting Vice Chancellor Georgina Randsley de Moura emphasized the university’s commitment: “Sustainability is a core priority for us at the University of Kent. Our partnership with Siemens is central to embedding carbon reduction into every facet of our operations. By bringing together the talent and ingenuity of our staff, students, and wider community, we are building an estate fit for the future and creating tangible impacts in the fight against climate change.”

Innovative Financing for a Greener Future
The project will be funded through a flexible financing package from Siemens Financial Services, which allows the university to begin repayments only after the upgrades have been delivered. This innovative funding model ensures the necessary improvements can be implemented immediately, accelerating the university’s decarbonization efforts.

The University of Kent’s collaboration with Siemens highlights how forward-thinking partnerships can drive impactful, sustainable solutions in the higher education sector, setting a benchmark for others to follow.

Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI) is shaping the market for intelligent, adaptive infrastructure for today and the future. It addresses the pressing challenges of urbanization and climate change by connecting energy systems, buildings, and industries. SI provides customers with a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio from a single source – with products, systems, solutions, and services from the point of power generation all the way to consumption. With an increasingly digitalized ecosystem, it helps customers thrive and communities progress while contributing toward protecting the planet. Siemens Smart Infrastructure has its global headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. As of September 30, 2024, the business had around 78,500 employees worldwide.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company’s purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.

In fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €75.9 billion and net income of €9.0 billion. As of September 30, 2024, the company employed around 312,000 people worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

Media Contact:

Maike Wagner
Siemens Smart Infrastructure
+41 79 448 9214
maike.wagner@siemens.com 

SOURCE: Siemens