Project Dates

Start: 2023

The Story

Founded in the 15th century, the University of St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. Today, it is focused on the future, with a bold commitment to become net zero by 2035. This ambition is being realised through collaboration between students, staff, and the local community, all working together to create meaningful change.

A key piece of the puzzle is Eden Campus, the University’s centre for innovation and sustainability. Located on the site of a former paper mill, the campus is being transformed into a vibrant ecosystem supporting a wide range of creative and practical responses to global challenges. One of the flagship initiatives is the Green Hydrogen Accelerator facility, where applied research and industry partnerships are driving innovation in hydrogen production, carbon capture and utilisation, and sustainable chemical manufacturing.

What makes the facility truly distinctive is its access to two live industrial sources of sustainable carbon: a biomass energy centre, which heats over 50 University buildings, and a whisky distillery. Both produce carbon dioxide as a natural byproduct, which researchers plan to capture and repurpose. This captured carbon can be combined with green hydrogen – produced from the splitting of water and powered by the onsite solar farm – to create clean, sustainable chemicals (also known as ‘Power-To-X’).

Eden Campus is a hub of diverse sustainability research and innovation. It features a specialised battery facility where scientists are developing next-generation technologies, including sodium-based and improved lithium chemistries, to make energy storage cleaner and more efficient. The campus also hosts the UK’s first land-based prawn farming system. Powered by renewable energy, it uses a circular approach by recycling waste to support aquaponics and generate heat and power, creating a humane and environmentally responsible model for seafood production. These initiatives illustrate the diversity and depth of sustainability focused work taking place at Eden Campus. From energy systems and chemical innovation to aquaculture and battery research, each project plays a role in shaping a future where low-carbon solutions are not just imagined; but actively developed, tested, and scaled. Eden Campus stands as a living example of what’s possible when academic excellence meets real-world impact.

Success Factor | Hero Moment

In January 2024, the University secured a £2 million philanthropic gift to support the development of its Green Hydrogen Accelerator facility at Eden Campus. This forms part of a wider £4 million commitment from public and University sources, marking a significant step forward in advancing low-carbon research and innovation.

Submitter

University of St Andrews