“This is a major step forward in the development of longer-term plans”
Operations manager Martin Rouse at the Vattenfall District Heat Network centre in Castle Park(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The Government has announced it is giving £13.5 million to expand the city’s heat network.
The money will come from the Department of Energy Security’s Green Heat Network Fund and will pay for the District Heat Network to be expanded into the Temple Quarter regeneration zone.
Already, several large student accommodation buildings have been constructed, and new flats and a new secondary school are being built. Ultimately, the Temple Quarter area – which stretches from Redcliffe to Netham Lock and covers all of Temple Meads, St Philips and The Dings – will see thousands of new homes, a new university campus, hotel and conference centre, new school and purpose-built student accommodation for thousands of students.
All those buildings are now expected to be connected to the District Heat Network, which creates hot water and heating piped around an area using latent heat generated from the waters of the Floating Harbour.
The Temple Quarter part of the heat network will bring together the existing networks already at Temple, Old Market and Redcliffe, into one integrated system.
The money will go to the City Leap – a partnership between Bristol City Council and US corporation Ameresco, along with Swedish energy firm Vattenfall.
“This is a major step forward in the development of longer-term plans to serve low carbon heat as widely as possible in Bristol,” said a spokesperson for Vattenfall, which runs the heat network in Bristol.
The trench dug along the side of Malago Road for the District Heat Network pipes reveal the complex web of cables, mains and sewers that cross and run along the A38 in Bedminster(Image: Bristol City Council)
“There are currently 35 buildings connected to the Bristol heat network, supplying enough heat for the equivalent of almost 13,500 homes. Further growth is already underway, with up to four new connections planned within the next year“The project also includes the development of a semi-permanent energy centre, an air source heat pump system designed as a flexible, ‘plug‑in’ solution. This solution will initially provide heating to the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Centre Academic Building, which is already connected to the heat network,” he added.
The scheme will also include an energy centre built on a small site next to the Bath Road Bridge, close to the River Avon, which will ultimately become a contributor to the heat network.
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“Once the Bath Road Energy Centre becomes operational, the semi-permanent energy centre can be relocated and reused elsewhere in the city, offering a practical and adaptable way to deliver low carbon heat where it is most needed,” he added.
The news of the grant from the Government was welcomed by Vattenfall director of the heat networks in Bristol, Dom Barton.
The Vattenfall District Heat Network centre at Castle Park(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
“Vattenfall’s vision is that over half of all Bristolians living, working and learning in the city will be kept warm by the Bristol heat network by 2050,” he said.
“We’re pleased to be awarded this funding as a welcome step closer to connecting the current heat networks in Bristol and expanding them to serve low carbon heat as widely as possible in the city. This is critical infrastructure that will provide reliable low carbon heating and hot water to local homes and businesses,” he added.