SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Energy efficiency in our buildings

Lincoln University's commitment to energy efficiency in all new construction and major renovations is demonstrated through mandatory project standards that ensure projects meet, and often exceed, typical energy-efficiency requirements.

These mandatory project standards, which substitute for a formal policy, are formally governed and reviewed. While the University does not subscribe to or certify projects through the Green Star system, our standards, aligned to Level 4 Green Star standard, are designed to achieve the high-performance outcomes found in such frameworks.

This commitment is exemplified by the Waimarie, the University’s new Science Facility, which was designed and built to Green Star standards. It features high-efficiency measures such as all-electric systems, heat recovery, a centralised ground-source heating and cooling plant, and a 208kWp DC solar array for on-site renewable energy generation.

By adhering to these rigorous principles, the University demonstrates a clear strategy to significantly surpass the minimum New Zealand Building Code (H1 Energy Efficiency) requirements for building performance. The Lincoln University Sustainability Plan under Campus Environment - Green Infrastructure provides more detailed information. 

Higher energy efficiency targets

In 2024, 742,054kWh of renewable energy was generated on campus at Lincoln University. To support the delivery of sustainable energy consumption, the University’s High Voltage (HV) electrical upgrade was completed in 2024 at the Ivey, Glasshouse and New Halls Substations.

The campus heating upgrade made significant progress in 2024 with installations across the campus, including all the main buildings.

In 2024, Lincoln University generated 742,054 kWh of renewable energy on campus. This generation comes from its network of roof- and wall-mounted solar arrays on buildings like the Waimarie Science Facility and the RFH building. This existing on-campus generation is a key component of the energy mix. This capacity will significantly increase with the construction of the Lincoln University Energy Farm (a 1.5 MWp agrivoltaic installation) scheduled for completion in 2026.  

The Decarbonisation Project involves the conversion of the old coal-fired steam network to 100% electrification using a campus-wide roll-out of distributed heat pumps and induction boiler heaters. In 2025, the University decommissioned the coal boiler, making the campus fossil fuel-free for heating and drastically cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing energy consumption

Lincoln University has a cohesive and future-focused energy efficiency and decarbonisation strategy. Our approach to reducing overall energy consumption is documented in our Sustainability Plan, where we outline that we conduct energy reviews to pinpoint areas of energy inefficiency and plan to reduce our energy load through better management practices and strategic technology adoption. Crucially, our Heating Infrastructure and Plant Decarbonisation Plan is the major driving force, setting the goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 by enabling the decommissioning of our coal boiler and removing other high-carbon emission assets on campus. This necessary infrastructure reset allows us to better leverage future energy technologies—such as solar, wind, battery, gasifier, and anaerobic digestion—and serves as a significant first step toward carbon neutrality while resetting our sustainability credentials. We maintain transparency through key strategies like quarterly reporting on renewable energy sources.

Local community outreach for energy efficiency 

Lincoln University provides effective programmes for the local community to learn about the critical importance of energy efficiency and clean energy through its State of the Land initiatives. These events, which engage industry, farmers, and the wider community, are designed to educate attendees on the vital role these strategies play in sustainability and economic resilience: 

• Exploring Our Energy Future: This event, featuring Sam Elder (Orion), directly addressed New Zealand’s strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards renewable energy. The program underscored the necessity of clean energy innovation for meeting national climate goals and securing a sustainable future. 
• Farming for a Fossil Fuel Free Future: Featuring Dr. Shannon Page, this program provided practical examples of the importance of clean energy and efficiency in agriculture. It demonstrated that by embracing renewable sources (solar, wind, bioenergy) and adopting efficient practices (electric machinery, optimising water management), farmers can significantly reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint, mitigate climate change, and create more resilient, sustainable food systems. 
• Case Study Leadership: The panel on the University’s own transition from coal to renewable energy served as a tangible case study, allowing the community to learn about the practical benefits of infrastructure efficiency and environmental stewardship. 

By focusing on climate mitigation, economic resilience, and sustainable food systems, these programme successfully frame the shift to energy efficiency and clean energy as a collective necessity and a strategic advantage beyond the campus. 

100% renewable energy pledge 

Lincoln University’s commitment to 100% renewable energy is a major institutional goal tied to its broader climate commitments and is centrally driven by its Heating Infrastructure and Plant Decarbonisation Plan.

The University made a significant first step by securing funding from the Government's Clean Powered Public Service Fund, enabling the decommissioning and deconstruction of the coal boiler by early 2025. This decisive action eliminated the University's single largest source of direct fossil fuel use. The ultimate climate commitments guiding these renewable efforts are the goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and becoming carbon zero by 2050. 

To actively increase its own supply of clean power, the University is undertaking major projects, notably constructing the Lincoln University Energy Farm. This facility will be the first in New Zealand to demonstrate high-value agrivoltaics—a system that maximises land use by growing high-value horticulture crops alongside commercial-scale solar energy generation. This entire process, which is detailed in the Decarbonisation Plan, serves to reset the University's sustainability credentials and position it to better leverage future clean energy technologies. 

Energy efficiency services for industry

Lincoln University provides valuable direct services to local industry through its State of the Land programme, which hosts workshops and discussions focused on energy efficiency and clean energy practices. By holding events on sustainable farming, renewable energy options, and agricultural innovations, the University demonstrates its commitment to equipping local industries with the knowledge and tools needed to improve energy efficiency. Facilitating these workshops and fostering collaboration between academia and industry allows Lincoln University to play a crucial role in supporting the transition to cleaner energy practices within the local business community. 

Policy development for clean energy technology

Lincoln University actively informs the New Zealand Government's clean energy and energy efficiency policy through its academics' direct advisory roles and foundational research. For instance, Professor Anita Wreford contributes crucial technical expertise as an active member of the Agriculture/Forestry Technical Advisory Group for the Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. Professor Wreford's input is essential for credibly defining clean energy and energy efficiency investments within the agricultural sector, thereby aligning financial markets with national climate goals and mobilising capital toward the transition. 

Complementing this, Associate Professor Dr. Hamish Rennie leverages his practical government advisory experience, including his current role as a member of the Severe Weather Recovery Review Panel (2023-2025), to ensure that Lincoln's research directly informs related coastal, water, and climate adaptation policy, linking energy resilience to broader adaptation strategies.  

Furthermore, Professor Wanglin Ma provides the necessary evidence base by co-authoring influential 2024 papers, such as a systematic literature review on factors influencing the adoption of "Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices" (CSA) and an article on "Climate-Smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future," which directly informs government policy on the effective incentives and strategies needed to promote the adoption of clean energy and energy-efficient technologies at the farm level.

Assistance to low-carbon innovation

Lincoln University provides robust support for start-ups fostering a low-carbon economy, anchored by initiatives like the Lincoln University Energy Farm. This facility, even while under development, is strategically designed to serve as a critical platform for demonstrating innovative energy solutions, particularly agrivoltaics. By showcasing the feasibility and effectiveness of these low-carbon technologies, the University actively assists emerging companies in the clean energy sector with their development and implementation, thereby accelerating the transition to sustainable practices in agriculture and beyond.