Lancaster University has reached a major milestone in its sustainability efforts this spring 2026 by regularly generating 100% of its own electricity for the first time.
This achievement is driven by a new 11 MW solar farm located on Hazelrigg Lane, which began producing energy in late 2025. The installation, situated near the university’s existing wind turbine, is the second east-west orientated solar farm in the United Kingdom. It also features a 50kW agrivoltaics field demonstrator, which is the first of its kind in the country and serves as a research facility to study how land can be used for both energy generation and agriculture.
The project is part of a larger, long-term effort to reach net zero emissions, an ambition that gained momentum after the university declared a Climate Emergency in 2020 following advocacy from the Lancaster University Students’ Union. Between 2005 and 2025, the institution has reduced its energy-related carbon emissions by 58%, falling from 25,900 to 10,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The university is working with Vital Energi, a company based in Blackburn, to deliver its ongoing Net Zero Energy Project. Supported by over £21 million in funding from the UK Government’s Green Heat Network Fund, this broader initiative includes the construction of a large-scale heat pump array and the expansion of the campus district heating network. Once fully operational, these upgrades are designed to cover 95% of campus buildings and virtually eliminate the use of gas on site.
Combined, the university’s wind and solar infrastructure produce enough electricity to power approximately 2,800 homes annually. These renewable assets, along with the heat pump array and expanded district heating, are expected to help the university meet its target of reaching net zero emissions from electricity and heating by 2030.
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