Ahead of AUDE’s 4th annual Big Conversation event this week we are delighted to announce that ENGIE has joined us as a Business Partner member. ENGIE will be the Main Sponsor of the Big Conversation and the wider ENGIE team will join us at Hull University on Friday 7 February.

ENGIE is the world’s number-one independent power producer and as a low-carbon energy and services group, has the vision of leading the zero-carbon transition. With the climate emergency the vital challenge of our time and many universities signing up to the Sustainable Development Goals Accord, and using AUDE’s Sustainability Leadership Scorecard to monitor and prioritise their efforts in this field, AUDE are pleased to partner with ENGIE. It is also timely, as we will debate “Can we achieve net zero carbon in our estates” at the Big Conversation. Karl Limbert from ENGIE will join the plenary session, led by Jonathon Porritt the eminent environmentalist, broadcaster and writer.

ENGIE are already working in partnership with universities in the UK and US, including a first-of-its-kind $1.2 billion, 50-year public private partnership with Ohio University, to manage, operate and optimise the university’s utility systems and reduce energy consumption by 25% within 10 years. ENGIE have significant experience in the UK Education sector through delivering energy infrastructure, estate regeneration and total facility management services at over 250 establishments.

This includes landmark placemaking and regeneration schemes with Kingston and Leicester universities; providing low carbon heating to Aston, Newcastle, Reading, Solent and the Bloomsbury Colleges; student accommodation refurbishments such as Orient House and Robinson College; and facilities management services at Sheffield, University of Edinburgh and the National Maritime College of Ireland.

ENGIE also funds and collaborates with a number of our universities on research projects, including Project Green SCIES (Innovate UK); Smart Local Energy Systems(with Keele) and on Green Ammonia toHydrogen with the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).  ENGIE actively supports the Industry Advisory Boards (IAB) of research organisations such as the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) (Midlands Innovation Universities) and the Supergen Energy Networks Hub.

Jane White, AUDE’s Executive Director said: “Our university members will benefit from ENGIE’s global approach and experience in delivering energy efficient and smart building solutions, including energy procurement, infrastructure and optimisation; the transformation of buildings through regeneration and the provision of services such as facilities management, green mobility, smart buildings technology and renewables. Our first co-operative venture will be a member event on 23 April titled ‘University Challenge: Carbon Zero’, exploring how we can embrace a lower carbon, more efficient and increasingly digital world. Our members can learn more about ENGIE, their UK and global work in higher education on our website." 

Andrew Troop, Partnership Development Manager for Higher Education at ENGIE, said: “ENGIE are proud to be collaborating with AUDE and its members, as they are at the forefront of the efficiency and effectiveness agenda. We look forward to working with estate teams to support them in their zero-carbon transition and delivering world-class facilities that best serve students and staff.”