Keele University welcomes local council to share learnings from sustainability projects
Members of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council visited Keele this month to learn more about the University’s groundbreaking research into climate change and renewable technologies.
The group included key figures from the Council's sustainability and transport departments, such as Cllr Trevor Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling, and Dave Adams, Executive Director of Sustainable Environment.
The visit featured a tour of key sustainability sites at Keele, including the University’s Low Carbon Energy Generation Park and the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) project. The group also learned more about other pioneering initiatives such as HyDeploy – a pilot trial which saw hydrogen blended into the University’s gas supply to evaluate the potential of this low carbon fuel source – and the HyDex programme, which is designed to support and foster the creation of a new hydrogen economy in the Midlands.
Julian Read, SEND Programme Manager, said: “It was great to welcome our local council to share our experience and discuss potential collaboration opportunities. It is vital that businesses, local authorities and educators come together to share knowledge, resources and ideas to help address the impacts and causes of climate change.
“Since we started our sustainability journey Keele has become sector-leading in environmental education, as well as conducting world-leading research into environmental sustainability. We’re keen to share our experiences with other organisations to help advance their sustainability journey.”
Cllr. Johnson, pictured fifth from left above, said: “Today’s visit has been a wonderful opportunity to see the breadth and depth of the sustainable energy research being undertaken at the University.
“What we have learned today will help steer our own sustainable energy plans.
“Sustainability is high on the Council’s agenda: we are members of the Staffordshire sustainability Board, along with nine other councils and, together, we aim to reduce the county’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, or before.
“We want to endorse the work being carried out by the University and will work collaboratively with them wherever we can to tackle the wider sustainability challenges facing us all.”
Find out more about sustainability at Keele - keele.ac.uk/sustainability
The SEND project (ref. 32R16P00706) is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme, and is available to ERDF eligible companies. The project is also receiving funds from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
HyDEX is funded via the Research England Development Fund scheme, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
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