Richard Lane, director at Drift Services Group, said:
“We are delighted to be delivering these works for Aston University. Drift has deep experience in the design and delivery of groundwater and geothermal borehole systems, and it is a privilege to apply that expertise to a project that will have such a lasting impact on the university’s journey to net zero.”
Work has started on Aston University’s Carbon Neutral Energy Centre which aims to transform how power is generated and used across the University.
It is the first project in the University’s 2025-30 Climate Action & Carbon Management Plan (Link) to modernise the campus’ infrastructure, strengthen energy resilience and accelerate the University’s journey to net zero. The project is supported by a £35.5 million grant from the UK government’s public sector decarbonisation scheme, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and delivered by Salix Finance. Drift Services Group is the principal contractor for the project, responsible for drilling and test pumping the entire borehole network.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the energy centre took place on campus on 31 March 2026. It marked the start of the construction phase and celebrated Aston University’s continued leadership in sustainability and climate action.
The keynote speaker at the event was Councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport at Birmingham City Council. Craig Jones, Aston University interim chief executive officer, Simon Petett, assistant director of programmes at Salix Finance, and Lloyd Ross, senior policy advisor and communications manager at DESNZ, also spoke at the event.
In the new Carbon Neutral Energy Centre, ground and air source heat pumps will replace Aston University’s current gas‑fired system and support a low‑carbon district heating network. Gas equipment in the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and Aston Day Hospital will also be removed, with these buildings connected to the new energy centre.
In addition, insulation improvements to Conference Aston and the main building will boost thermal performance and cut heating demand. Together, these measures will greatly reduce campus emissions and improve energy efficiency, supporting Aston’s wider sustainability goals.
Aston University expects to reduce scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (those from the direct burning of fuels such as gas in heating systems, and indirect emissions, for example from the University’s purchase of electricity, respectively) by more than 90% compared to the 2005/06 baseline. In its 2030 Climate Action Plan, Aston committed to being net zero by 2030 for scope 1 and 2 emissions. The Carbon Neutral Energy Centre will achieve this by 2028, two years ahead of the original target.
Meanwhile, work is also being carried out to meet the University’s target of net zero for scope 3 emissions – indirect emissions that come, for example, from purchased goods, business travel, suppliers’ emissions and waste disposal –by 2040.
The Carbon Neutral Energy Centre and building insulation projects form Aston’s Energy Resilience Programme. This represents a significant step forward in creating a future-ready, low-carbon campus and reinforces Aston University’s commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable innovation.
This programme builds on the success of previous scheme funding, through which Aston delivered a range of efficiency projects. These include solar panel installations, LED lighting upgrades, building management system improvements, and district heat network expansion to Conference Aston and the Aston Business School building. These earlier initiatives have already contributed to reducing energy demand and carbon emissions across the site.
The Carbon Neutral Energy Centre is more than a campus improvement project. It is a core piece of green infrastructure supporting the ambition to create a city-scale innovation district within the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter. The groundbreaking marks a milestone moment in Birmingham’s green industrial future, as the region transitions from industrial powerhouse to sustainable innovation leader. Aston’s commitment to delivering this transformational project is proof of its leadership as a Civic University, deeply committed to delivering tangible improvements for and beyond its campus.
Craig Jones, Aston University interim chief executive officer, said:
“This project is a major milestone for Aston University, underpinning our commitment to environmental stewardship and energy resilience. The new Carbon Neutral Energy Centre will significantly improve how we power and heat our campus. We are proud of our teams and grateful to our partners as we move forward in delivering this transformational project.”
Lloyd Ross, senior policy advisor for public sector decarbonisation at DESNZ, said:
“This £35.5 million grant from the Department to Aston University through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is a testament to not just the university’s ambition but also the shared confidence in the ability for them to deliver and achieve net zero by 2028 – two years earlier than planned.
“Delivering through local partnerships and incorporating the wider community into the project through continued knowledge and information sharing demonstrates how Higher Education institutions like Aston can be trailblazers for their communities and public assets on their decarbonisation journeys.”
Councillor Mahmood said:
“The Energy Resilience Programme is a perfect example of partners playing a transformative role in accelerating local climate action. It is a long-term civic investment that strengthens Birmingham’s resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability for generations to come.”
Hira Raashid, programme coordinator at Salix, said:
“At Salix, we are proud to support major decarbonisation projects by bringing together government funding, technical expertise, and robust delivery assurance. Partnerships such as our work with Aston University demonstrate what is possible—transforming entire estates, accelerating progress towards net zero, and creating models that can be replicated across the wider public sector. As their relationship manager, I am delighted to be working alongside the team on this exciting journey and look forward to supporting the successful delivery of their ambitious plans.”