How new decarbonisation funding is helping Swansea University build a cleaner, smarter campus
Digarbon 2 powers campus upgrades
Swansea University is quietly transforming the way energy is used across its campuses. It is cutting carbon, modernising buildings, and laying the foundations for smarter, more efficient spaces for the thousands of students, staff and researchers who use them every day.
We recently had the chance to visit the university to see progress first-hand and meet the teams leading the next phase of low-carbon upgrades.
Swansea University is one of the successful applicants for Digarbon 2 funding, securing further investment to build on work already underway and accelerate its journey towards net zero.
“Swansea University’s commitment to decarbonisation is clear the moment you step onto campus. The scale of work underway and the thought being given to both people and place is genuinely impressive. These projects show what’s possible when ambition, partnership and long-term planning come together.”
Together, these new investments are helping the university strengthen the resilience of its estate while balancing innovation, heritage and environmental responsibility.
Seeing smart energy in action at Bay Campus
Our visit began at Swansea University’s Bay Campus, where funding from the Wales Funding Programme has already delivered widespread LED upgrades. Walking through teaching spaces and shared areas, the impact of the changes was immediately visible.
Many rooms are now fitted with intelligent lighting systems that respond to external daylight levels and occupancy. Lights dim automatically when less light is needed, switch off when spaces are empty, and activate only in the areas where people are sitting – all controlled through a central smart system.
Sustainability manager Teifion Maddocks explained how the technology fits into a wider vision for the campus.
He said: “This is linked to an overall strategy for smart buildings – making sure they are as efficient as possible across the estate. It used to be the case that switches were left on all day. Now, in these locations, there aren’t switches to worry about at all.”
Our group also visited the Engineering Building, home to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The structure has a unique history – originally built from former BP tanks that were later gifted for use in higher education. While the building has retained its industrial character, it is now set to benefit from the next phase of LED upgrades.
Looking ahead, Teifion highlighted the university’s ambition to think about energy generation and use across the whole site.
He said: “We’re looking to generate more energy on campus and distribute it to buildings that need it more.”
Beyond the buildings themselves, discussions also focused on the future of the wider Bay Campus estate. The university has recently acquired land alongside the current campus and is considering how best to improve sustainability and accessibility while protecting the surrounding environment.
Teifion added: “We need to think carefully about how our work benefits, or at least does not infringe upon, the ecosystems around us. We have sand dunes and salt marshes with numerous species, and there’s real opportunity to make this a safe and thriving habitat for them.”
Balancing heritage and innovation at Singleton Campus
The visit continued at Singleton Campus, the university’s historic parkland site set within former Victorian grounds overlooking Swansea Bay. Developed over more than a century, the campus includes a mix of buildings dating from the late 1800s through to the mid-20th century, including four listed buildings such as the former Singleton Abbey, the library first built in 1937, and the Wallace Building completed in 1955.
For the university, decarbonising this campus brings a unique set of challenges. Introducing modern, low-carbon technologies must be carefully balanced with protecting the character and integrity of historically significant buildings.
Rather than viewing this as a barrier, the estates team see it as an opportunity to innovate sensitively – finding solutions that improve energy performance while respecting the site’s heritage.
From fabric-first measures to low-carbon heat
Through Digarbon 1, a £11.47 million programme, Swansea University is already delivering fabric-first improvements across buildings including the Faraday Building, Union House, the Energy Centre and the Margam Building. This includes upgrades to building envelopes, alongside air handling units and connections to a district heat network.
The newly awarded Digarbon 2 funding, valued at £7.23 million, allows this work to go further. Planned projects include further upgrades to the Energy Centre’s heating systems and additional fabric improvements to Union House that were re-phased from the earlier programme. Together, these measures will include cladding, LED lighting and the decarbonisation of heat – repairing and enhancing existing buildings while introducing more efficient technologies.
“Salix funding schemes are essential in helping these interventions happen. They give us a clear roadmap towards greener energy and allow us to plan improvements in a structured, meaningful way.”
Making sustainability visible
Alongside reducing carbon and improving building performance, the university is keen to make its sustainability work more visible – helping students, staff and the wider community understand what is being done and why it matters.
The aim is not only to upgrade infrastructure, but to raise awareness of climate action in practice, showing how change happens through steady investment, careful planning and collaboration.
Strong partnerships driving progress
The Digarbon scheme, funded by Welsh Government and delivered by our teams at Salix, supports public sector organisations across Wales to work towards a net zero public sector by 2030. Swansea University is one of four higher education institutions to secure funding in this round.
“Salix is proud to partner with the Welsh Government to deliver this vital loan funding, marking a major milestone on Wales’ journey toward net zero.
These projects represent real, measurable progress to create a more sustainable future and to reduce energy costs.”
Swansea University is one of several organisations across Wales to secure support through Digarbon 2, joining higher and further education partners including Coleg Cambria, Bangor University and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Together, these projects represent a significant step forward in decarbonising public sector estates, from teaching and research spaces to community-focused facilities used every day by students, staff and local residents.
We’ll be telling the stories from across the projects over the next few months – sharing the challenges, solutions and vision behind the work.
