Geothermal energy plan for university buildings

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.

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