Barnsley Council Targets Carbon Neutrality by 2040

Barnsley Council embarked on a multi-phase project to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The comprehensive approach is set to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 529 tonnes and deliver over 2 million kWh in energy savings, while future-proofing the Council’s infrastructure and optimising energy efficiency.

Local Partnerships provides support to users of the Re:fit framework nationwide.

Client Context  

Barnsley Council serves the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, providing a range of local government services for the borough, which has a population of 244,000

Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, the Council set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2040. To support this goal, the Council deployed the Re:fit framework across a multi-phased project, Local Partnerships exclusively provides support to users of the framework nationwide.

Project Delivery

The project was completed in two phases. Phase 1 involved replacing existing coal fired boilers with a new combined heat and power and gas fired system. In Phase 2, decarbonisation of heat was prioritised. Air source heat pumps were installed across six sites with solar PV and multiple other energy conservation measures. The project covered an area of 400,000 square metres.

Project Outcome

Energy efficiency measures, in addition to renewable energy generation, will support the Council’s target of carbon neutral by 2040.

There will be an annual reduction of 529 tonnes of CO2 emissions, with annual estimated energy savings of over 2,085,5370 kWh. Upgrades to infrastructure and equipment will also future proof all sites.

Client Feedback

In 2019, Barnsley Council called a climate emergency in response to the government’s wish to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. We’re hoping the Council to be carbon neutral by 2040… As part of the decarbonisation of our public assets, which is 2% of the boroughs, we’ve got £4.3 million of government funding. We (implemented) infrastructure upgrades at multiple sites with a range of solutions that have cut down on the Council’s energy usage.

Councillor Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson, Regeneration and Culture, Barnsley Council

Appendices

• Ameresco case study: Barnsley Council
  • Barnsley Council

Find out more about Energy Performance Contracting (previously Refit)

The Local Partnerships’ Re:fit framework and programme is a procurement initiative for public bodies wishing to implement measures to improve energy efficiency.
Find out more here

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