This project has reduced the University’s carbon footprint by 230,000 kg CO₂e per annum. “We still have a lot of work to do to reduce our emissions on campus, but this project is a step in the right direction to reaching our climate goals to be below zero emissions by 2030”, says Dom Haywood, Director of ANU Sustainability. The ANU transition prioritises emissions reduction projects like these to ensure we stop emitting harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to our changing climate.  

Heat pumps, in addition to being carbon neutral, run at 250-300% of the energy efficiency of natural gas boilers reducing their running costs as well as the energy required to maintain thermal comfort for building users. ANU Facilities & Services delivered these projects with the design led by Guy Walpole, Mechanical Engineer in the Infrastructure and Planning team. This was no simple task as each building needed its own unique solution for integrating this new technology. “These projects represent an exciting engineering opportunity for ANU and the region.” says Guy, “We are deploying a range of heat pump technologies for the first time in Australia and demonstrating to the construction sector and the broader community that a clean energy future is achievable”. 

While the gas boiler replacement is set to continue, there are more challenges ahead. This technology is relatively new in a large-scale commercial context and has never been used to transition an entire campus in a climate similar to Canberra. To meet these challenges requires innovation and a multidisciplinary approach to the design and implementation. A challenge that ANU is meeting head on by integrating our skills and expertise in practical solutions with our world-leading research and innovation. 

Installation of these heat pumps is an integral part of a long-term, innovative strategy to decarbonise the campus by establishing large-scale central electric hubs that redistribute thermal load across connected buildings. Central hubs have been found to be the most efficient and cost-effective degasification pathway for the Acton campus. Linking buildings to a central plant powered by renewable electricity means energy can be transferred between buildings or stored to be used at different times of day. It also allows for waste heat from sources like the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) data centre to be captured and redistributed through a thermal precinct. 

Achieving these long-term plans will require collaboration and partnerships across a range of stakeholders. ANU Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program (BSGIP) have joined Below Zero and Facilities & Services to deliver on these ambitious and innovative strategies. The team are currently working on transitioning the College of Science precinct away from gas. This precinct already has a thermal hub sharing energy needs across buildings. Once it’s electrified, it will help the University reduce emissions by around 1500 tonnes per annum, representing 10.5% of the natural gas emissions on Acton campus. Electrification of this existing hub will provide important insights into rolling out further thermal hubs on campus.  

Wondering how you can get involved in a more sustainable future while at ANU? Check out these tips on reducing energy consumption at home and in the office. You can find more ways to get involved with ANU environmental sustainability here and click here join the ANU Green Network, an online resource for ANU staff and students to access and share sustainability activities at ANU.