The University of East London (UEL) is extending its strategic partnership with global technology company Siemens.
It is now undertaking a contract that will see the business design and install a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) to help power its net zero campus of the future.
The new WSHP will power the university’s Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability buildings, replacing existing gas boilers.
The closed-loop system will use a series of pipes under the Thames to extract natural heat from the water in the Royal Albert Docks.
The university said this will provide a cost-effective heating system which will reduce annual CO2 emissions by 258 tonnes without removing vast quantities of water from the river. It is also scalable to allow the university to extend in the future similar heat pump systems and part of the long-term partnership with Siemens, which is supporting the university’s transition to net zero by 2030.
The strategic partnership was formed in 2022, and has included a variety of decarbonisation technologies including solar PV, Building Management Systems and EV charging infrastructure, across the university campus.
In addition, Siemens is using its Building X technologies and data analytics to allow UEL to better understand its energy consumption and drive research and enterprise programmes.
As well as saving the university over £500,000 per year in utility costs and reducing emissions by over 1,000 tonnes annually, the partnership has also driven green employability, enterprise and research initiatives, it said.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“London is leading the way in the fight against climate change, and projects like this pioneering partnership between the University of East London and Siemens are key to our city’s transition to a greener, more sustainable future.
“By harnessing the power of the River Thames to heat university buildings, this initiative demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can drive real progress towards net zero. It not only reduces carbon emissions but also sets a powerful example of how London’s institutions can embrace cutting-edge, clean energy solutions to build a better, fairer and greener city for all Londoners.”
UEL Vice-Chancellor & President, Professor Amanda Broderick, said:
“This Water Source Heat Pump demonstrates how universities can be at the forefront of the green energy transition, harnessing our natural surroundings to drive real change.
“Through our strategic partnership with Siemens, we are accelerating towards our 2030 net zero targets, delivering cutting-edge solutions that will benefit all the communities we serve, and the planet.”
Andrew Smyth, Head of Sustainability for Smart Infrastructure Buildings, Siemens UK and Ireland, said:
“The investment is underpinned by our long-term strategic partnership. And it demonstrates how data-led insights of buildings and energy consumption provide heightened confidence in deploying large-scale renewables technologies like Water Source Heat Pumps.
“The programme is setting the blueprint for how sustainability can be a catalyst for fantastic collaboration and innovation between businesses and universities.”
Image courtesy of UEL
