Peterborough Keys Academies Trust (PKAT) has been awarded nearly £35,000 from the Government’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero to help its five schools within its Trust to become carbon zero.

It comes as over £2 million worth of grants have been awarded to 15 recipients of the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund in in the East of England.

Dr Ian Young, chief executive officer of PKAT, said: “This is a significant milestone in supporting our energy strategy and also our commitment to carbon zero within our schools at Peterborough Keys Academies Trust.”

Ian Rodger, director of programmes at Salix Finance, said: “The Low Carbon Skills Fund enables public sector organisations to develop a heat decarbonisation plan and conduct feasibility studies and design works for future decarbonisation projects. 

“Most of the buildings in the public sector still rely on fossil fuel-based heating and expert skills are required to identify and plan how these heating systems can be replaced, ideally at the end of their working lives.”

He added: “Starting with a robust heat decarbonisation plan and then developing feasibility studies and detailed designs for future projects will put organisations in a strong position to take the next steps in decarbonising. 

“This includes enabling them to develop detailed project proposals that will help them to apply for any future grant funding for capital decarbonisation measures, or alternative sources of finance.

“This means organisations can think more strategically and be better prepared for future.”

Mr Howard Nelson, chief finance and operating officer at Peterborough Keys Academies Trust (PKAT), said: “It is fantastic to have received funding to help lower our carbon emissions.

“One of the most significant obstacles to achieving the UK’s 2050 Net Zero objective is transitioning the heating of buildings to a low-carbon model.

“The majority of our buildings still depend on fossil fuel-based heating systems, necessitating the expertise to identify and plan for the replacement of these systems, preferably as they approach the end of their lifecycle.

“This funding will help us get specialist and expert advice to facilitate heat decarbonisation efforts throughout our school properties.”

 

There are currently five schools within the Peterborough Keys Academies Trust.