TU Dublin launch Sustainable Energy Action Plan
Technological University Dublin has announced a comprehensive TU Dublin Sustainable Energy Action Plan 2025 aimed at advancing its energy decarbonisation strategy across five main campuses - Aungier Street, Blanchardstown, Bolton Street, Grangegorman, and Tallaght, alongside several satellite sites.
The report highlights significant progress to date, including a 26% improvement in energy efficiency since 2009 and a 19% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 energy related emissions, which are currently over 8000 tCO2e from a 2016-2018 baseline of over 10,000 tCO2e. However rising energy demand from new facilities and increasing student numbers pose ongoing challenges.
A detailed opportunity evaluation identified high-impact measures such as district heating expansion, energy storage, and improved building management systems. Additional initiatives include PV solar installations, shallow and medium retrofits, space optimisation, and behaviour change campaigns.
Projects have been prioritised into short, medium, and long-term timelines based on cost-effectiveness and carbon reduction potential. Immediate actions will focus on metering improvements, lighting upgrades, and BMS optimisation, while medium-term plans include geothermal exploration at Grangegorman and decarbonised district heating at the Blanchardstown campus.
TU Dublin's Head of Decarbonisation Rosie Webb says:
"TU Dublin’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan sets out a clear, evidence-based pathway to decarbonise our campuses, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while improving energy security and resilience. By embedding sustainability into how we generate, use, and manage energy, we are turning our academic ambition into measurable climate action, assisting us to prioritise investments, access funding and deliver measurable economic, environmental and social benefits.”
TU Dublin’s Climate Action Roadmap excludes deep retrofits until after 2030, aligning with its Climate Action commitments. These measures will accelerate progress towards the university's long-term sustainability goals.