UEL & Siemens Partner to Cut CO₂ Emissions with Thames Power
It is predicted that universities across the UK emitted 18 million tonnes of CO₂e in 2021, making up 2.3% of the UK’s total.
To tackle this mass amount of emissions, universities, governments and companies need to collaborate.
The University of East London (UEL) and Siemens are partnering to help reduce emissions across campus, helping to reach the goal of net zero.
How is Siemens making UEL more sustainable?
UEL is extending its strategic partnership with global technology company Siemens in a contract that will see the business design and installation.
A Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) has been designed to help power its net zero campus of the future.
The new WSHP is set to be the largest fitted at any university and will power the university’s Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability buildings.
The WSHP is set to replace existing gas boilers and, together with campus existing green energy infrastructure, achieve net zero in these spaces.
The strategic partnership was formed in 2022 and has already seen Siemens deploy a variety of decarbonisation technologies including solar PV, Building Management Systems and EV charging infrastructure across the university campus.
In addition, Siemens is using its Building X technologies and data analytics to allow UEL to further understand its energy consumption and drive new research and enterprise programmes.
UEL has reduced its CO₂ emissions and carbon-producing energy consumption more than any other modern London university already and by 2026 will achieve the lowest emissions per student in the UK — putting it on track to achieve its 2030 net zero targets.
"London is leading the way in the fight against climate change, and projects like this pioneering partnership between the University of East London and Siemens are key to our city’s transition to a greener, more sustainable future.” Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says.
The partnership is set to save the university more than £500,000 (around US$650,000) per year in utility costs and reduce emissions by more than 1,000 tonnes annually.
The collaboration is also set to drive a unique range of successful green employability, enterprise and research initiatives including student internships, MSc sponsorships, hackathons and the creation of a ‘Living Lab’ for training and research on sustainability.
Power from the River Thames
The new WSHP will be submerged in the River Thames.
This closed-loop system will use a series of pipes to extract natural heat from the water in the Royal Albert Docks, providing a cost-effective heating system which will reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 258 tonnes without removing vast quantities of water from the river.
“By harnessing the power of the River Thames to heat university buildings, this initiative demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can drive real progress towards net zero,” Sadiq says.
“It not only reduces carbon emissions but also sets a powerful example of how London’s institutions can embrace cutting-edge, clean energy solutions to build a better, fairer and greener city for all Londoners."
The system is scalable, allowing the university to extend similar heat pump systems in the future, across the Campus and the wider Royal Docks.
The Royal Docks and campus make up the only Enterprise Zone in London, it is also part of the long-term partnership with Siemens, which is supporting the university’s transition to net zero by 2030.
UEL Vice-Chancellor & President, Professor Amanda Broderick, says: “We are committed to driving forward sustainable innovation that not only reduces our environmental impact but also creates a living laboratory for the next generation of climate leaders.
“This Water Source Heat Pump demonstrates how universities can be at the forefront of the green energy transition, harnessing our natural surroundings to drive real change.
“Through our strategic partnership with Siemens, we are accelerating towards our 2030 net zero targets, delivering cutting-edge solutions that will benefit all the communities we serve, and the planet."
This project directly supports the Mayor of London’s vision for a greener, more sustainable capital, advancing his commitment to cleaner air, renewable energy, and achieving net zero by 2030.
Siemens sustainability
Siemens has already halved its emissions compared to 2019 and plans to achieve a 55% physical reduction in CO₂ emissions from its own business by the end of fiscal 2025.
By 2030, Siemens intends to reduce its emissions by around 90%.
The company is working towards a circular economy, aiming for a 50% waste-to-landfill reduction by 2025 — it has already reduced material sent to landfill by 15% compared to 2021.
Siemens partners with organisations like Boson Energy to develop technologies that convert non-recyclable waste into clean energy, such as hydrogen — supporting local energy security and aligning with circular economy goals.
More than 90% of Siemens' business helps customers with their own sustainability objectives, like the partnership with UEL.
Andrew Smyth, Head of Sustainability for Smart Infrastructure Buildings, Siemens UK and Ireland, explains: “Decarbonising heating systems is a critical step towards achieving net zero carbon emissions. UEL has a fantastic resource in the Thames, right on its doorstep. Harnessing renewable power from the water allows it to take huge steps towards its net zero goals.
“The investment is underpinned by our long-term strategic partnership. And it demonstrates how data-led insights of buildings and energy consumption provide heightened confidence in deploying large-scale renewables technologies like WSHP.
“The programme is setting the blueprint for how sustainability can be a catalyst for fantastic collaboration and innovation between businesses and universities.”
In 2023, Siemens estimates that its technology helped customers avoid 190 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, an increase of almost 25% from the previous year.
To tackle emissions, Siemens, in partnership with BASF, has introduced products like the SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breaker made from biomass-balanced plastics.
These materials replace fossil feedstocks with renewable biomethane derived from agricultural waste, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 270 tons annually.
Through various partnerships, Siemens is paving the way to help everyone reach their net zero targets and sustainability goals.
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