IMechE calls for local energy trials on university campuses

The Institute for Mechanical Engineers has called for the government to provide incentives for more local energy trials to be held on university campuses.

In a new report, the body said universities have a number of characteristics that make them ideal for such projects.

“Local energy is evolving fast. With high levels of academic and technical expertise, as well as ownership of large areas of land and buildings, university campuses offer unique environments for trialling new technology,” said Matt Rooney, engineering policy adviser at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

“Universities also have environmentally conscious student bodies who care deeply about climate change and will be enthusiastic to trial innovative technologies and test new approaches.”

Many also have ageing facilities dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, which will require innovative solutions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

The institute pointed to the hydrogen blending trial taking place on Keele University’s private gas network as an example of how they can “lead in the field”.

The report also urged the UK government and devolved administrations to review the planning system to address concerns that local energy projects are being held back by unnecessarily strict regulations.