Roofing Boards Advance University’s Push for Net Zero

Magply’s fire-resistant roofing boards have been specified to support a UK top 25 sustainable university advance its goal to achieve Carbon Net Zero from all energy by 2030 and from all emission scopes by 2035.

Some 1,500m² of Magply’s 12mm-thick boards were chosen by renewable energy company Vital Energi for the roof of Lancaster University’s Energy Centre 2.

The magnesium oxysulfate boards were installed by specialist sub-contractor Axis Group to help provide a lightweight, flat surface for the waterproofing of the building at the heart of the university’s investment in further decarbonising its Bailrigg campus.

As part of an adhered bituminous roofing system, the Magply boards were installed over metal roof deck sheets with tapered insulation and waterproofing to form a flat non-combustible surface for the roofing system.

New Energy Centre

Situated on the outer edge of its south-east Lancaster campus, Energy Centre 2 is part of a renewable energy project to virtually eliminate the use of gas to heat the university’s Bailrigg campus.

The energy centre will house an array of air and water source heat pumps totalling 7MW, along with four 250kW e-boilers totalling 1MW generating a projected 39 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of low carbon heat – enough to heat 95% of campus buildings. The centre will also include 1,500m³ of thermal stores which will supplement the new heat supply and help ensure consistent heat during peak times of the day.

A visitor facility will also be incorporated into the design of the new energy centre, featuring an educational meeting room for visitors with an interest in sustainable energy, specifically heat networks.

Push for Net Zero

To carry the heat across campus, 6.5km of district heating pipework is also being installed to increase the network’s coverage from 65% of buildings to 95%. This will be connected to more than 200 properties from the district heat network to receive low-carbon heat and water.

The project is expected to be completed in early 2027.

Scott Lutton, Regional Director at Vital Energy, said: “The new energy centre, utilising air and water source heat pump technology, will save 2,700 tonnes of carbon annually, making a significant contribution to Lancaster University’s journey towards carbon neutrality.”

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