The new WSHP will power the university’s Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability buildings, replacing existing gas boilers – and, together with campus existing green energy infrastructure, achieve carbon zero in these spaces.
Submerged in the River Thames, the 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 is expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 258 tonnes without removing vast quantities of water from the river.
The system is scalable to allow the university to extend in the future similar heat pump systems across the Campus and the wider Royal Docks. It is part of the long-term partnership with Siemens, which is supporting the university’s transition to net zero by 2030.
The strategic partnership, which was formed in 2022, has already seen Siemens deploy a variety of decarbonisation technologies, including solar PV, Building Management Systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the university campus. In addition, Siemens is using its Building X technologies and data analytics to allow UEL to better understand its energy consumption and drive research and enterprise programmes.
The partnership is providing a replicable blueprint for sustainability. As well as saving the university over £500,000 per year in utility costs and reducing emissions by over 1,000 tonnes annually, the partnership has driven a range of successful green employability, enterprise and research initiatives. These include student internships, MSc sponsorships, hackathons, and the creation of a ‘Living Lab’ for training and research on sustainability.
This project 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.
Building X is Siemens's digital building platform designed to digitalise, manage, and optimise building operations. It aims to enhance user experience, increase performance, and improve sustainability. Building X integrates various applications and services, including energy management, security management, and building automation, to create a unified data environment that enhances accuracy and efficiency.