Three major public buildings on Liverpool’s waterfront are to slash carbon emissions by joining a heat network driven by energy from canal water.
Under the plan, an extended pipeline will connect Georges Dock building, the Cunard building, and the Museum of Liverpool, part of National Museums Liverpool (NML), to Peel Group‘s Mersey Heat Network.
The newly opened Mersey Heat Energy Centre is already supplying the Liverpool Waters site, Torus’ Hartley Locks development, the Titanic Hotel and the Tobacco Warehouse apartments.
It uses water source heat pumps to extract energy from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to power a network of heating pipes.
The project is the latest in the Liverpool City Region’s five-year carbon action plan and journey to reach net zero. The Combined Authority has recently secured an additional £35m to decarbonise dozens of other public buildings from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.
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Cllr Anthony Burns, Liverpool City Region cabinet member for net zero, and Councillor Liam Robinson, cabinet member for innovation, joined representatives from Ener-Vate and contractor Vital Energi to mark the launch of the Mersey Heat Energy Centre last week.
Burns said: “Building a cleaner, greener future isn’t just about meeting targets – it’s about improving people’s lives. The Mersey Heat Energy Centre is a fantastic example of how we can use our region’s strengths and ingenuity to cut carbon, lower energy bills, and support jobs in the industries of the future.
“I know the scale of the challenge we’re facing – but also the scale of the opportunity. Projects like this show that we’re serious about hitting our target to be net zero by 2035, at least a decade ahead of the rest of the country, and that the Liverpool City Region is leading the way.”
Robinson added: “The launch of the Mersey Heat Energy Centre is a landmark moment in Liverpool City Region’s journey towards a cleaner, greener future.
“It is a visible example of how we are leading the way on low carbon infrastructure, protecting historic buildings, cutting emissions and creating long term green value for our communities.
“Liverpool has long been a leader in climate action, and this project reinforces our commitment to achieving net zero. It’s not just about infrastructure, it’s about creating a legacy of sustainability that benefits our communities, our economy, and our environment.
“I’m proud to see this vision and investment come to life, creating jobs in the emerging green economy. I want to thank all the partners involved for helping Liverpool take another bold step towards a low carbon future.”
Private homes account for the majority of carbon emissions, while public buildings are responsible for 13% of the total. Together, the city region’s six local authorities and the combined authority own more than 600 buildings that emit almost 77,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
This year, the North West secured almost £117m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Wave 4 – more than Greater London and the biggest national award.
The Combined Authority plans to use the recent award of £35m – the biggest single project in the country – to retrofit energy-saving measures in dozens of public buildings including historic town halls, art galleries, libraries and leisure centres. A variety of measures will replace fossil fuel heating in each building with low carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps and solar panels.