First customers join Solihull town centre energy network
Progress continues on new low-carbon network to deliver heat and hot water for fraction of cost while reducing energy output and emissions.
Earlier this month, we reported on a new low-carbon energy network to benefit the residents of Solihull. The project is fast gathering steam (sorry), with the first customers now signed up to receive low-carbon and low-cost heating and hot water, and construction work about to get under way.
Heating networks are big thing at the moment. For all we might be keen to reduce carbon emissions in the places we live and work, decarbonising the heating system of an individual building can be very expensive and disruptive. That’s why an energy network can be so beneficial, with existing buildings and new developments able to benefit from a single low-carbon heat generation facility, with minimal disruption. What’s more, economies of scale make the process highly cost-effective. https://infotec.news/2024/03/29/interview-central-heating-for-cities/
Dr Rebecca Gater (Principal, Solihull College & University Centre), Jacob Harley-Beckett (General Manager, Tudor Grange Leisure Centre) and Cllr Andy Mackiewicz (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Planning, Solihull Council). Photo courtesy of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
That’s evident in Solihull, where the first phase of customer agreements have now been signed for the new Solihull Town Centre Low Carbon Energy Network. Using low-carbon solutions such as air source heat pumps, this network will generate energy at a new, centralised facility next to Tudor Grange Leisure Centre. A system of underground pipes and cables will then distribute this energy to individual buildings, providing heat for radiators and other heating systems, as well as hot water.
Customers who have signed up to the new system in this first phase include Solihull College & University Centre, Tudor Grange Academy, The Core Library and Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.
Solihull Council is working in partnership with Vital Energi Ltd to deliver the ambitious scheme that aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions while also cutting fuel bills and future-proofing business and consumer energy needs.
As part of this long-term solution, customer agreements and individual contracts will be managed by Solihull Energy Limited, a new energy services company (ESCo) set up and owned by Solihull Council. The independent company is overseen by a board of directors comprised of senior council officers and reports to a shareholder panel of elected councillors.
Initial funding for the network has been provided through the government’s Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and the West Midlands Combined Authority, alongside investment by Solihull Council. The scheme is projected to repay this investment over time.
Site investigations and ecological surveys for the project were undertaken in March, and planning permission for the energy centre has been granted. Now that contracts are signed, work is expected to start shortly with the first phase connected to the network as early as next year. The town centre network is the first of its kind in Solihull but it is hoped that similar initiatives will follow.
Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Planning at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, says: ‘It’s wonderful to have our first set of trailblazing customers on board and I’m grateful for the confidence and patience they have put into this scheme. Once connected, they’ll all benefit from a highly efficient and affordable new fully managed heat supply service, while significantly cutting their carbon emissions. It’s a win-win for everyone. Moving away from natural gas and other fossil fuels also provides customers with greater energy price resilience in the future.
‘The real beauty of this scheme is that it can expand through subsequent phases to meet growing demand and link into new buildings and developments. As we progress with the scheme, we anticipate signing up many more customers who will be able to see the obvious benefit it can provide.’
Dr Rebecca Gater, Principal of Solihull College & University Centre, adds: ‘We are thrilled to be an initial partner in this groundbreaking heat network project. This collaboration with Solihull Council and other local stakeholders marks a significant step towards achieving our strategic ambition of becoming net zero by 2030. By utilising air-source heat pumps, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also setting a precedent for sustainable energy solutions within our community. We are proud to be part of this revolutionary initiative and look forward to the positive impact it will have on both our college and the wider Solihull area.’
Dr Peter Rock, Chair of Tudor Grange Academy Trust, says: ‘The Tudor Grange Academy Solihull is proud to be a partner with Solihull Council as part of this exciting initiative. The Heat Distribution Network, in addition to the LED lighting, which has been installed recently, and the electricity produced by the new solar panels will reduce our carbon footprint to a negligible level.’
Jacob Harley-Beckett, General Manager at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, says: ‘We are extremely proud to be part of Solihull Council’s exciting initiative. It means we are able to reduce our carbon emissions for environmental and financial sustainability, so that our leisure facility can be enjoyed for years to come.’
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