Public sector to benefit from half a billion in government funds

The government has announced over half a billion pounds in new Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding to help public buildings and businesses across the UK cut their energy costs and carbon emissions.

The £557 million package will support projects to upgrade schools, hospitals, pools and other facilities with energy efficient technologies like heat pumps, solar panels, and insulation.

Some of the organisations receiving funding include Bath NHS Trust, which has been awarded over £21 million to decarbonise three buildings. Loughborough University will get more than £2 million to replace gas boilers with cleaner heat pumps at its Olympic-size swimming pool.

Surrey County Council is among 19 local authority sites set to benefit, with £5 million to cut emissions at libraries, nursing homes and community centres.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is also providing £27.5 million for businesses to reduce their energy use and emissions. Glass manufacturer Pilkington UK plans to consolidate operations at a single upgraded furnace, while paper company Sofidel will switch a boiler to run on green hydrogen.

Energy minister Lord Callanan says the investments will both slash energy bills long-term and ensure progress towards the UK’s net zero targets.

“By allocating over £557 million today, we are standing steadfast behind our public sector and local businesses, providing the help they need to make the switch to cleaner, homegrown energy. This will not only help cut bills in the long term, but ensure we keep reducing our emissions – having already led the world by halving them since 1990.”

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Cara Charles-Barks says:

“We are beginning to make great strides to reduce our emissions, through initiatives such as decommissioning our entire nitrous oxide manifold and a sustainable travel plan.

“This grant is therefore invaluable. It will enable us to make these essential changes in the coming years and will have a positive impact on the environment and the experience of being in hospital. We know that getting this right will be better for the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, the people we work with and the people in our community.”