Barnsley Completes Energy Upgrade Project

The £4million project was in collaboration with cleantech integrator Ameresco and aligns with the city’s plans to be carbon neutral by 2040

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in the north of England has completed a £4m infrastructure and energy upgrade project with cleantech integrator Ameresco as part of its drive to be carbon-neutral by 2040. The project was completed in two phases; the first phase focused on replacing existing coal-fired boilers with a new combined heat and power (CHP) and gas-fired system while the second phase prioritised the decarbonisation of heat.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy company Ameresco added a new gas main to the site and refurbished the existing air handling unit (AHU) for the first phase of the project. For the second phase, the team delivered air source heat pumps (ASHP) across six Barnsley Council sites with solar photovoltaic systems and various other energy conservation measures.

The infrastructure upgrades made are designed to provide Barnsley Council with an annual energy savings of around 2,085,537 kilowatt-hours and reduce yearly carbon emissions by 529 tonnes. The council declared a climate emergency in 2019. The implemented energy efficiency measures, in combination with renewable energy generation, will make significant progress toward helping the council achieve its goal.

“In 2019, Barnsley Council called a climate emergency in response to the government’s wish to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. We are hoping the council will be carbon neutral by 2040,” said councillor Robert Frost. “As part of the decarbonisation of our public assets, which is two per cent of the boroughs, we’ve got £4.3m of government funding. We partnered with Ameresco to implement infrastructure upgrades at multiple sites with a range of solutions that have cut down on the council’s energy usage.”

Construction for phase one began in 2020 and phase two began in 2021 with both reaching completion in 2022. “To truly enhance energy resiliency and combat the climate crisis, it is crucial that we prioritise the implementation of diverse, comprehensive solution sets that combine renewable energy and energy efficiency updates,” said Britta MacIntosh, executive vice president, general manager, West/UK Regions.

“Our work with the Barnsley Council is a prime example of how local authorities should approach infrastructure redevelopment. The completion of this project will benefit the council with energy and cost savings for years to come, making a lasting impact on the local community.”