Climate plan: Energy transition 2020-2030
Climate change necessitates drastic measures. Ghent University has committed to becoming CO₂-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. This means a near-complete transition to renewable energy, a halt to the further use of fossil fuels, and a significant reduction in energy demand. Several decisions being made today must already take this transition into account, particularly regarding infrastructure that will be in use for decades.
Objectives
UGent is committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and is making this ambition concrete for the next 10 years, with the following objectives (Board of Governors 28/6/2019):
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UGent will reduce total CO₂ emissions from building heating and electricity supply by 2030, in line with the targets of the European Green Deal.
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Energy consumption will be reduced annually by 2.5% through more efficient use of space and energy.
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From 2019 onward, UGent will build and renovate without the use of fossil fuels.
Achieved Milestones
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Structural vision "UGent Imagines 2050", including a renovation plan for UGent’s existing building stock.
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Fossil-free buildings: i-Gent on the Ardoyen campus and The Core on the UZGent campus.
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Fossil-free renovations of Paddenhoek, Rectorate 1, and Home Fabiola, and the fossil-free construction of the new S11 building are in the planning and/or execution phase.
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In-house green energy production using PV panels.
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Three wind turbines from Luminus on the Melle campus (leased land), supplying green electricity to UGent.
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Purchase of 100% green electricity.
Actions 2025–2028
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Link the roadmap of "UGent Imagines 2050" to the targeted CO₂ reduction.
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Design the transition to fossil-free campuses in campus development plans.
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Translate legislation under the European Green Deal into concrete projects and processes.
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Energy investments to improve energy efficiency and switch to green energy, in accordance with regulations.
Where do we stand?
How many square meters of our total building stock are already fossil-free?
More information
More information about our achievements and what you can do can be found on the webpage energy.