Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Sustainable Energy & Solar Panels
At Leeds Beckett University, we’re committed to creating eco-friendly energy systems across our campuses, reducing our carbon footprint, and leading by example.
Currently, we have solar panels installed on six buildings across both campuses, including our newest addition: a state-of-the-art solar panel system atop the Rose Bowl. You can spot solar installations on buildings like the LSA and CSS across our Headingley and City Campuses.
Solar Panels and Air Source Heat Pumps
We consume the energy we generate, with Headingley Campus having an air source heat pump in the Caedmon and CSS buildings this generation helps us move our heating load away from gas, making significant progress in reducing our carbon emissions. Moving forward this should increasingly become the case.
For instance, the 144 new solar panels on the Rose Bowl are our most efficient installation to date. These panels alone can reduce carbon emissions by 7.9 tonnes annually—a meaningful step towards addressing the Rose Bowl’s total annual emissions of 480 tonnes.
In the future you may start to see us starting to replace some of our oldest panels on the roof of the sports halls and tennis centre as well as creating new ones. Since 2014 the efficiency of solar panels has advanced significantly. The panels on the Rose bowl are rated at 425 watts per panel, our oldest panels only 250w.
Real Impact: Energy Savings and Carbon Reduction
This investment not only reduces our environmental impact but also delivers measurable results:
- The new system is expected to generate 40,830 kWh of electricity per year—enough to power 15 homes for an entire year.
- This reduction in grid reliance saves the equivalent carbon emissions of planting 363 trees annually.
- Financially, it’s also a smart choice, saving the university an estimated £10,507 in its first year alone by reducing the energy we buy from the national grid.
Leading by Example
By investing in renewable energy, Leeds Beckett University is proving that sustainability can be both achievable and profitable. These efforts support our goal of reducing Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions from purchased electricity), as the national grid still generates 50% of its energy from non-renewable sources.
We’re proud to show that making sustainability a priority can deliver real change—not just for our university, but for the planet.
