Case Study: Barnsley Council achieves future‑proofed infrastructure and advances carbon neutrality by 2040 with Ameresco

Infrastructure Project Future Proofs City and Advances Goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2040

Barnsley Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and set a target to be carbon neutral by 2040, facing the challenge of decarbonising a large public estate and replacing aging coal‑fired heating plant. To achieve this, Barnsley Council partnered with Ameresco to deliver a broad suite of measures — including BMS controls, CHP installation, air‑source heat pumps (ASHP), solar PV, LED lighting, HVAC upgrades and building fabric improvements.

Ameresco implemented a two‑phase, £4 million programme across 400,000 m2: Phase 1 replaced coal boilers with a new CHP and gas system (including a new gas main and AHU refurbishment), and Phase 2 delivered ASHPs at six sites, solar PV and multiple energy conservation measures plus a BMS upgrade, funding support via PSDS/Salix, full project management and site handover training. The work delivered estimated annual energy savings of 2,085,537 kWh, cut CO2 emissions by 529 tonnes per year, created local construction jobs and was completed within 12 months with no operational disruption.

Barnsley Council

Robert Frost

Cabinet Spokesperson