The investment follows an investment of £80.6 million earlier this year and will be accompanied by £2 million to a project in Portsmouth to harness heat from a local reservoir.
Loughborough funding
Vital Energi in the East Midlands will receive £19 million to sleeve excess heat from the Newhurst Energy Recovery Facility (ERF).
The network will connect a new build development and buildings on the west side of Loughborough University. The company has said that connections to other educational institutions across the region are expected in the future.
Nick Gosling, chief strategy officer at Vital Energi, said: “The Newhurst heat network is a great example of sustainable innovation, transforming waste into warmth and having a positive environmental impact across the community.
“Many education institutions have set extremely tight deadlines for reaching their net zero targets and we are excited to be working on a project which will help move so many important organisations towards a greener future.”
Encyclis, part-owner and operator of Newhurst ERF, has welcomed the news.
Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Encyclis, said: “Energy recovery facilities like ours are important community assets which not only perform an essential public hygiene function by processing residual waste but recover energy and other resources that contribute to the circular economy. Harnessing heat from our operations as the cornerstone source for heat networks enables decarbonisation for the communities close to our facilities.
“This is a key part of Encyclis’ commitment to the circular economy. We are working to continually expand the sustainable benefits we provide, enabling progress towards a low-carbon society. The Newhurst network represents exactly the kind of partnership approach that is necessary to make this happen and we are delighted to be moving forward as part of the solution.”
Birkenhead funding
Wirral borough council in Birkenhead has received £887,000 in funding to start capturing heat from a wastewater treatment plant. The £41 million network is intended to connect 21,000 homes that will be built over the next two decades.
Councillor Tony Jones, chair of the economy, regeneration and housing committee for Wirral council, said: “The development of a new heat network for Birkenhead, likely to be powered using a Water Source Heat Pump, underpins our wide-reaching regeneration plans for the town centre and is a clear example of Wirral looking to embrace green investment opportunities, promote sustainable regeneration and develop infrastructure in line with the challenge of rapid decarbonisation.”
The Green Heat Network Fund
Projects supported by the GHNF are expected to save more than 248,000 tonnes of carbon over the next 15 years.
Minister for energy consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “The funding for these three fantastic projects will not only support the communities they serve, but also contribute to our clean power by 2030 mission, ensuring Britain has greater energy security.
“By investing in new, greener heat networks, we are helping more homes and businesses across England benefit from cleaner heating – leading to lower energy bills.”
Ken Hunnisett, programme director of delivery partner Triple Point Heat Networks, added: “Harnessing waste heat that would otherwise be lost is a valued approach to enhancing energy security while reducing our dependency on non-renewable heating sources.”
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