Cardiff Metropolitan University invests £18m in net zero campus
Cardiff Metropolitan University has received an £18 million low-cost loan from the Welsh Government to accelerate work to decarbonise its estate.
The funding from the Digarbon programme for higher education and college decarbonising, follows £6.2 million awarded to the university in December 2025.
The investment, subject to a full technical assessment, will fund additional low carbon heating systems; expanded solar generation; energy efficient lighting; and building upgrades across the estate, Cardiff Met said. Together, these measures will significantly reduce carbon emissions and strengthen the resilience of the University’s estate, it added. The next phase of improvements will remove gas heating from several building and increase onsite renewable energy generation, along with battery storage to reduce reliance on the energy grids.
Graham Lewis, Chief Officer for University Environments, said:
With fewer than 1,200 working days left for organisations committed to net zero by 2030, this funding allows us to move faster at scale. This next phase is about building on the work to date and strengthening our energy resilience for outcomes that are better for our finances, our carbon footprint and our local communities.”
The funding will also build on the university’s “Halve the Half” initiative, which over two years has delivered a 33% reduction in gas use, a 10% cut in electricity use and a 20% reduction in water consumption – in turn saving more than £1.8 million without major capital works.
President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Professor Rachael Langford said:
This significant investment is a strong endorsement of the progress Cardiff Met has made on its decarbonisation journey, and of our ambition to continue leading on sustainability in higher education.”
Gbenga Adenaike, Digarbon Programme Manager added:
We are committed to supporting Welsh Government to help the public sector meet its ambition to be net zero by 2030.This further funding will enable both Cardiff Metropolitan University and Bangor University to progress vital and exciting projects even further. Digarbon has proved very popular and demand for the support has consistently outstripped supply, and with ongoing programmes in place, these organisations are well placed to quickly adapt and expand their activities to meet additional funding opportunities as they occur.”
Cardiff Met was recently ranked first in Wales and top ten in the UK in the People and Planet University League 2025/26.
The Digarbon scheme, funded by the Welsh Government and delivered by Salix Finance, supports the Welsh Government’s ambition for the public sector to reach net zero by 2030.
Round 3 of Digarbon announced
The Digarbon fund is now launching its third phase, providing £10.2m of loan funding in the 2026/27 financial year, to support heat decarbonisation; energy efficiency; renewables; and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The award will be subject to agreement by the incoming government, and any work on bids is at the risk of the institutions.
Digarbon is available to existing non-domestic buildings owned by eligible Welsh further and higher education institutions and buildings on leases over 10 years long. Organisations will be able to apply up to 25 June.
Kevin Holland, chief executive of Salix Finance, said:
The loan programme gives the education sector a real opportunity to improve the places where people learn and work every day. It means warmer buildings in winter, cooler spaces in summer, and healthier, more comfortable environments for students, staff, and guests. By cutting heat demand and investing in low-carbon solutions, organisations can make a genuine difference to people’s day-to-day experience while also moving closer to net zero.”
The first round of Digarbon received applications for a combined value of £33m – exceeding the £20m of loan funds available from the Welsh Government. The second round made available further loan funding of £15.3m. Salix Finance is holding information sessions on Digarbon Round 3, with details available on its website.
