University of York launches geothermal energy project

A project to use geothermal heat to decarbonise a university's campus has been launched. The University of York scheme, which has been allocated £35m in funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will also look at ways to reduce fossil fuel use across the city. Vice-Chancellor Prof Charlie Jeffery said the campus's location on a site of "significant geothermal potential" made it an ideal place for the plan.He said: "This geothermal project is more than just a sustainable energy initiative; it is a living laboratory that will drive research, educate our students and benefit our community."
The initial three-year phase of the project would focus on developing a sustainable heat source to supply the majority of the university's buildings, while also "fostering a new generation of sustainable energy experts", the university said. The next phase of the project would "delve into the potential for on-campus electricity generation and the expansion of heat capacity to benefit the wider York community".The funding came from the government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix Finance.The university said assessment work for the project had been done, with the next phase being the planning process and regulatory approvals.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

9 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

American energy expert's brutal message to Anthony Albanese's government: 'What is wrong with you Australians?'

An American energy expert has delivered a blistering verdict on Australia's energy policy describing it as 'baffling' and potentially disastrous for the nation's economy. During an interview on with Peta Credlin, veteran energy analyst Robert Bryce, who is on a sold out national tour to blow the lid off the true cost of net zero, said the policy was destroying Australia's economic future. 'What is wrong with you Australians? You have natural resources that are the envy of the rest of world,' he said. 'You're the Saudi Arabia of the Southern Hemisphere, you export seven times more coal than you consume and yet you don't want to burn coal. 'You have nearly 30 per cent of the world's uranium and you won't build nuclear reactors. 'You export three times more natural gas in the form of LNG than you consume, and you won't drill for gas. 'I've got no dog in this fight, but it just is incredible to see how bad the policy is here in such a resource-rich country.' Australia's net zero policy aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050 through a transition to renewables, storage, and gas-backup. Mr Bryce warned that Australia's push toward net‑zero was placing a heavy economic strain on ordinary households, as soaring power prices ripple through the economy driving up costs in key industries and inflating prices for everything from construction to groceries. He said earlier this month Victoria used 13 per cent of its gas in three days after alternative energy sources failed to produce the level of energy required to power the state. 'How many warnings do you need before your policymakers wake up and smell the coffee?,' he said. 'Even if you're not serious about climate change - natural gas to nuclear is the way forward.' Mr Bryce said countries around the world were looking to nuclear energy including Poland, France and Germany. 'There's more energy realism in the rest of the world, and unfortunately, for some reason, it hasn't come all the way down under yet,' he said. 'Again, I want the best for Australia. I've got no dog in this fight, but it just is incredible to see how bad the policy is here in such a resource-rich country.' Power bill increases of more than nine per cent have been locked in for some Australian households from July 1 with high demand and network outages blamed for the steep wholesale prices feeding into higher retail prices, along with low levels of renewable energy as Australian governments try to phase out coal-fired power stations. Meanwhile there was a grim warning last week from the boss of Transgrid, Australia's largest electricity transmission provider, that the nation's power grid was dangerously light and needed back-up buffers like coal. Chief executive Brett Redman told The Australian newspaper it was time to prioritise putting more buffer back into the system. 'We've really stripped the system very, very thin,' he said. 'The probability of more and more say failures of units and coal fired generators or unforeseen weather events, you name it, it's going to happen. 'On those days where things go wrong, no one's going to want to hear explained to them how statistically, that seemed very unlikely... even as people are taking cold showers.'

The Sun

11 hours ago

• The Sun

Starmer will slash firms' energy bills amid warnings net zero costs are crippling British industry

FIRMS will be spared billions in green levies as Sir Keir Starmer bows to warnings net zero costs are pricing British industry out. The PM will today unveil a ten-year Industrial Strategy that slashes electricity bills for more than 7,000 energy-intensive businesses. 2 Manufacturers in sectors like steel, chemicals and automotive will be exempt from green taxes that have helped drive UK power prices to some of the highest in Europe. The changes - coming in from 2027 - will knock up to £40 per megawatt hour off energy costs, cutting some firms' bills by up to 25 per cent. Sir Keir hailed the plan as 'a turning point for Britain's economy and a clear break from the short-termism and sticking plasters of the past'. He said: 'In an era of global economic instability, it delivers the long term certainty and direction British businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people's pockets as part of the plan for change.' The move follows warnings from industry bosses that spiralling costs were driving investment abroad and threatening thousands of jobs. Officials insist the price cuts won't cost taxpayers a penny - with funding coming from reforms to the energy system and new revenue raised by linking the UK's carbon pricing scheme to the EU's. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the plan would 'ease energy costs', 'upskill the nation' and 'put more money in people's pockets'. A second scheme - the British Industry Supercharger - will boost discounts on network charges from 60 per cent to 90 per cent for the most energy-hungry firms starting in 2026. Ministers also pledged to speed up grid access for new investment projects under a separate Connections Accelerator - part of the wider strategy - which will go live in 2025. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said British industry had been 'held back' for too long by soaring bills and 'volatile' gas markets. Business groups welcomed the announcement but urged the government to move fast. CBI chief Rain Newton-Smith said the plan sent 'a positive signal' but added the UK must keep 'a laser-like and unwavering focus' on staying globally competitive. Keir Starmer's deranged drive for Net Zero with eco-zealot Ed Miliband is a threat to UK's national security- here's why 2

Telegraph

12 hours ago

• Telegraph

Starmer slashes net zero charges to save Britain's factories

Net zero taxes will be slashed for thousands of manufacturers as Sir Keir Starmer scrambles to save British industry from crippling electricity costs. As part of the Government's long-awaited Industrial Strategy, the Prime Minister is to cut power bills by up to 25pc for some 7,000 'electricity intensive' manufacturers, including car makers, aircraft factories and chemical plants. From 2027, they will no longer have to pay the net zero levies that are normally added to their power bills, such as the renewables obligation, the feed-in-tariff and capacity market charges. This will be paid for by financial reforms to the energy market and a raid on companies that burn natural gas, through higher carbon taxes, the Government said. However, the support was at risk of being diluted on Sunday as Iran's threat to cut off a vital oil and gas supply route in the Middle East risked sending energy prices around the globe soaring. It comes after repeated warnings that British manufacturers are labouring under the highest industrial electricity prices of any developed country, with output down by a third since 2021. Sir Keir's announcement was welcomed by manufacturers, including Derby-based Rolls Royce, as a 'giant and much needed step forward'. The Prime Minister said: 'This Industrial Strategy marks a turning point for Britain's economy and a clear break from the short-termism and sticking plasters of the past. 'In an era of global economic instability, it delivers the long term certainty and direction British businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people's pockets as part of the plan for change. 'Our message is clear – Britain is back and open for business.' The Government said its new support scheme is expected to save qualifying firms about £40 per megawatt hour (MWh). That would bring their costs closer to EU competitors. According to data from the International Energy Agency, UK businesses paid an average of £258 per MWh for power in 2023 compared to £218 in Italy, £178 in France and £177 in Germany. Companies in the US paid just £65 on average. At the same time, support for traditional heavy industry businesses – such as steel makers, glass blowers and chemical producers – will also be beefed up further, meaning their savings will likely be even greater. These firms already benefited from the so-called 'British Industrial Supercharger', which exempted them from various charges on their power bills. But from next year, their discount on network charges will be increased from 60pc to 90pc. The Government said the changes would cost an estimated £2bn over four years, or about £500m a year. But a spokesman insisted that it would not be paid for via extra charges on households, either through bills or taxes. Instead it will be raised via energy market reforms such as changes to contracts for difference – subsidies used to support wind and solar farms – and higher carbon prices, which are levied on businesses for their carbon emissions. However, with the support targeted at electricity prices, companies that use gas are likely to foot at least some of the bill through the higher carbon pricing that ministers have announced. A spokesman for the business department added that 'energy market reforms' will also pay for the changes, including longer subsidy agreements with wind farms – aimed at bringing the overall cost for power down. The changes would not mean lower funding for renewable energy schemes, the spokesman added. Under the long-awaited Industrial Strategy, a centrepiece of Labour's economic plans, Sir Keir has also announced billions of pounds of extra support for key industries, investment in skills training, reduced red tape, higher research and development spending, and changes to migration and visa rules to attract 'elite global talent'. This will see the British Business Bank's war chest for investment increase to £25.6bn, the Government said, with billions more ploughed into 'sector plans' for advanced manufacturing, clean power, creative industries, digital industries, and professional and business services such as law firms and consultants. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: 'The publication of an Industrial Strategy – one with automotive at its heart – is the policy framework the sector has long-sought and the Government has now addressed. 'The number one priority must be addressing the UK's high cost of energy, enabling the sector to invest in the technologies, the products and the people that will give the UK its competitive edge.' Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, one of Britain's biggest manufacturers, said: 'The UK Government's Industrial Strategy commitment to support our world-leading aerospace and nuclear industries shows long-term strategic foresight.'