Low Carbon Energy Generation Park

Working with EQUANS to help make Keele carbon neutral by 2030

Generating up to 50% of campus electricity

Energy generation is now underway at the new Low Carbon Energy Generation Park on the Keele University campus, marking an important milestone in Keele's journey to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Featuring two wind turbines and 12,500 solar panels, as well as an industrial-sized battery to store the generated energy, the facility is generating up to 50% of the University’s campus electricity requirements from renewable sources, saving around 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Located at the back of the University's Science and Innovation Park, the multi-technology energy park became fully-operational in late 2021, with the official opening of the park taking place in April 2022.

The Park is managed to Europe’s largest Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND), a state-of-the-art real-time energy management system, which optimises the balancing of generation, distribution, demand and storage across the campus. - Clean Energy Scheme Award winners at the Green Energy Awards, 2023 

The Low Carbon Energy Generation park is managed and financed by EQUANS, a leading energy and services company focused on producing and supplying low-carbon energy. In December 2020, Keele signed a 25-year partnership with the organisation, representing part of the University’s response to the climate crisis through the subsidy-free provision of clean, renewable energy.

Our Low Carbon Energy Generation Park

Official opening of the Low Carbon Energy Generation Park (April 2022)

Keele has made an ambitious pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The University was one of the first to declare a climate change emergency in 2019 and is supporting Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in its pledge to become carbon neutral. The energy project also aligns with the Government’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution which highlights the West Midlands as a key area to help drive forward and build green jobs and industries.

As well as unlocking carbon savings, the programme will enable innovative research on the University campus through Keele’s Institute for Sustainable Futures.

The University has already transformed its campus into a unique ‘living laboratory’ replicating a small town, to drive the clean energy transition required to achieve the UK’s ambitious climate change commitments. Landmark projects include:

  • HyDeploy - the first practical experiment in the UK involving blending hydrogen with natural gas
  • Europe's largest Smart Energy Network Demonstrator* - an at-scale environment providing a platform that allows for the research, development and demonstration of sustainable energy solutions