UK news update August 2024

Solihull Council to build heat network • New geothermal energy plant in Stoke-on-Trent • Slough Energy-from-Waste plant commissioned • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from the UK

 

Solihull Council partners with Vital Energi to build heat network

Solihull Council has partnered with Vital Energi to deliver a low carbon heating system for the town centre, aiming to significantly reduce the area’s carbon emissions. The heat network will provide low carbon heat and electricity to public and private buildings via a network of underground pipes and cables. A local energy centre will be built at a central location in the town, near Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.

Vital Energi, recognised for its award-winning PIPES network in Leeds, will manage the project. Councillor Andy Mackiewicz praised the partnership, highlighting the potential of the energy network to provide affordable and sustainable heating while lowering carbon emissions.

The project will be funded by the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and the West Midlands Combined Authority, with work expected to start this summer and the first customers benefitting as early as next year.

Read more in article from Air Quality News

New plans for Geothermal energy plant in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent is moving forward with fresh plans for a geothermal heat plant, following the expiration of previous planning permissions. The city has been pursuing the development of a deep geothermal well for over a decade, with initial government funding secured in 2014 as part of the district heat network (DHN) project.

The proposed site, located off Festival Way in Etruria, was initially designed to include two 4,000-metre boreholes and an above-ground energy centre. Despite £19.75 million in funding, the geothermal plant is yet to be built. However, the first phase has seen 4 km of underground pipes installed in Stoke and Shelton. Gas boilers are set to provide heat for the DHN until the geothermal facility becomes operational.

Star Energy, working with the local council and energy company SSE, is leading the project, which could generate up to 20 MW of heating. The company has recently secured €25 million in funding to support geothermal projects in the UK and Croatia.

The plant will be key to providing sustainable heat for Stoke-on-Trent, helping reduce the city’s carbon footprint and improving energy performance through its district heat network.

Read more in article from Stoke-on-Tent Live

Slough Energy-From-Waste plant begins operations 

SSE Thermal and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are set to begin commercial operations at the Slough Multifuel energy-from-waste (EfW) facility. The 55MW plant will process 480,000 tonnes of waste annually, diverting it from landfills and converting it into energy, supporting the UK’s waste reduction ambitions.

Construction began in May 2021, with Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) overseeing the build and securing a 25-year operations contract. The facility will reuse steam to decarbonize a nearby business, further boosting sustainability efforts.Finlay McCutcheon of SSE Thermal praised the project’s completion, calling it vital to the UK’s energy system. HZI’s Daniel Dreier expressed pride in the successful delivery, highlighting local job creation and advanced engineering techniques.

Slough Multifuel marks a key step toward the UK’s clean energy future.

Read more in article from Let’s Recycle

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