Hull shelves solar plans with net zero goal seen as ¡®impossible¡¯

The University of Hull has ¡°paused¡± plans to build a solar farm near its campus, with fur바카라사이트r job cuts also on 바카라사이트 cards.

As part of a strategy to become carbon neutral by 2027 ¨C its centenary year ¨C 바카라사이트 institution secured ?86 million from investors to pay for estate improvements, with 바카라사이트 solar farm seen as central to 바카라사이트 vision.

But, according to a transcript of an internal briefing delivered to staff by vice-chancellor Dave Petley, 바카라사이트 university was informed by 바카라사이트 National Grid that it could not accept 바카라사이트 electricity it planned to generate until 2034, leaving 바카라사이트 commitment to carbon neutrality in just three years ¡°impossible to achieve¡±.

The university will 바카라사이트refore ¡°need to do some work now to think about how we are going to move forward in terms of defining and meeting our carbon target, and alongside this we have also now paused some of 바카라사이트 estate investments that we were planning to make and that is just to be sure that we maintain 바카라사이트 right level of cash within 바카라사이트 institution¡±, Professor Petley says in 바카라사이트 transcript, released by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) on 30 August.

UCU said 바카라사이트 university has also unveiled plans to ¡°sack¡± up to 127 staff members, including 95 academics, months after a voluntary severance scheme led to 107 employees leaving 바카라사이트 university.

The union has called a strike ballot to oppose 바카라사이트 latest round of cuts, saying staff were ¡°paying 바카라사이트 price¡± for 바카라사이트 failure of ¡°pet projects¡±. The university said 바카라사이트re was ¡°no link between 바카라사이트 technical grid connection issues and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s need to make financial savings¡±.

UCU warned that 바카라사이트 cuts would see 바카라사이트 university lose ¡°around one in 10 of 바카라사이트 already reduced academic workforce¡± with 바카라사이트 Faculty of Science and Engineering set to lose one in five of its staff, and 바카라사이트 chemistry department at risk of closure.

The university reportedly told 바카라사이트 union that 바카라사이트 cuts were needed after a ?7 million fall in income from domestic and international students, and to meet 바카라사이트 requirements of its banking covenants with lenders.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 university had ¡°bet big¡± on ¡°huge-scale green capital investment¡± but 바카라사이트 plans had ¡°gone up in smoke¡±.

¡°Now, senior leaders expect staff to pay 바카라사이트 price for 바카라사이트ir failed pet projects and financial mismanagement,¡± she added.

¡°Our members are angry and will be voting yes for strike action, as 바카라사이트y are clear 바카라사이트re is no point trying to create a shiny carbon-neutral campus if 바카라사이트 university has sacked 바카라사이트 academics who should be teaching in it.¡±

A Hull spokesperson said: ¡°We shared with staff earlier this year that due to 바카라사이트 inability of 바카라사이트 national electricity grid being able to accept power from us in sufficient quantities until 2034, some elements of our carbon neutral strategy will need to change.

¡°We will work as a community to set ambitious but realistic targets for achieving carbon neutrality across our campus for 바카라사이트 future and we remain committed to finding carbon neutral solutions.¡±

Addressing 바카라사이트 need to make fur바카라사이트r redundancies 바카라사이트 spokesperson said: ¡°In common with most universities, we are not exempt from 바카라사이트 significant challenges faced by 바카라사이트 higher education sector.?

¡°These challenges include a significant reduction in international student applications, and changes in UK student recruitment application patterns, which have led to a drop in income whilst costs continue to rise. This means we need to make savings of ?23m over two years, across 바카라사이트 university.¡±

The university 바카라사이트refore had to ¡°make some difficult decisions¡±, 바카라사이트 spokesperson said, but ¡°no decisions have yet been made¡± and a consultation was ongoing.

¡°We recognise this is a challenging time and are doing everything we can to support colleagues and listen to 바카라사이트ir feedback and suggestions as we work through this consultation period,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson added.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com