UNSW has won the Outstanding Commercial Electrification Project at the 2025 Australian Renewable Heat Awards for the completion of Stage 1 of its program to replace gas with electric systems across UNSW campuses.
On 26 August in Sydney, UNSW won the Outstanding Commercial Electrification Project at the 2025 Australian Renewable Heat Awards. The awards, presented as part of the Australian Renewable Heat Conference, celebrate innovation and leadership in renewable heat solutions across industry and commerce. UNSW took out the commercial electrification category for its Stage 1 Electrification Project, switching student accommodation, kitchens, childcare, sports and hospitality facilities from gas to fully electric systems.
The project already prevents around 700 tonnes of carbon emissions every ear, with gas savings projected to reach 155,000 gigajoules annually once the program is complete.
“Electrifying our facilities isn’t only cutting emissions, it’s improving the way our spaces operate,” said Jose Bilbao, Senior Manager, Energy and Utilities at UNSW. “Air quality in kitchens is better, cooking is faster, and our systems are more efficient, using less energy. We’re proud to lead the way in sustainable campus operations.”
The award reinforces UNSW’s position as a global sustainability leader. Earlier this year, the University ranked 12th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings and won Shneider Electric’s Impact to My Enterprise award for its energy and carbon initiatives.
Timothy Beattie, UNSW Chief Property Officer, said, “this recognition confirms that our electrification program is setting a new benchmark for universities and commercial organisations across Australia. It’s a major step towards our target of achieving net zero by 2050.”
The electrification program is central to UNSW’s broader decarbonisation strategy, which includes energy efficiency, renewable power and large-scale campus upgrades. By 2030, UNSW plans to fully electrify all campus operations, providing a model that other institutions can follow.
The Australian Renewable Heat Awards, run by the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP), spotlight projects that demonstrate real-world impact in renewable, heat, electrification and biomass. UNSW’s win in the commercial electrification category highlights the University’s role in driving practical, scalable solutions for a cleaner energy future.