UK news update November 2022

Renewable geothermal energy to be supplied by former coal mine • Shropshire Council explores feasibility of new heat network • £40 million to be invested by private energy company to build UK’s largest heat network • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from the UK

Former coal mine could act as renewable heat source to heat local homes and businesses 

Amid the European energy crunch, and the UK government’s accelerated ambitions for heat networks, a feasibility study for a new innovative heat source has been commissioned. The aim is to supply the newly built local heat network in Dawdon with locally sourced, low-carbon geothermal heat from a decommissioned coal mine in the outskirts of the village.

Once operational, should the feasibility be successful, heat pumps will extract heat from the old coal mine and feed directly into the recently built heat network. The system will supply a range of premises, including over business, 1500 local homes, and several nearby greenhouses used for local food production.

When the mine closed in the 1990’s, pumps were shut off, and the mine consequently got completely flooded. However, the water in the mine continuously absorbs warmth from the earth and will have increased its temperature, to approximately 19-20 degrees, when reaching the surface. Through the use of heat pumps the temperature will then be further increased to 55/60 degrees, sufficient to be supplied to nearby homes and businesses.

The entire process will produce close to zero carbon emissions and provide the local heat network with a steady supply carbon heating and hot water supply. Once operational, should the feasibility be successful, the system will supply a range of premises, including business, 1500 local homes, and several nearby greenhouses used for local food production.

Read more in article from The Northern Eco

Read more in article from The Guardian

West Midlands could get its first heat network in Shropshire Council

As part of a general drive to decrease carbon emissions and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030, Shropshire Council currently explores the feasibility of a local heat network. The feasibility study will outline the pros and cons of the establishment of a new network on the northern edge of Shrewsbury in Shropshire Council.

The scheme would be supplied by recovered heat from the council’s existing local Energy-from-Waste plant (EfW), which harvests energy from non-recyclable residual waste which otherwise would be sent to landfill. The energy recovery facility is operated by the council’s contractor Veolia and currently produces electricity equivalent to approximately one third of the county’s demand.

Through the establishment of a new heat network, Shropshire council aims to further increase the energy output and environmental benefits of Veolia’s existing Energy-from-Waste power plant at Battle in Shrewsbury. Once completed, the scheme would supply and reliable provision of low-carbon heating and hot water for buildings such as care homes, Shrewsbury Sports Village and other public buildings.

Read more in article from Shropshire Live

Read more in article from Shropshire Council

Energy company invests over £40 million to create the UK’s largest heat network 

To further accelerate the race towards net-zero a new low-to-zero carbon heat network beneath will be built underneath the streets of Bradford. While many similar networks are powered by natural gas, which is less carbon intensive than many alternatives yet remains fossil, this new development will be using efficient air source heat pumps.

As heat pumps use electricity as input, rather than natural gas, there will be no emissions at site. Total emissions will reflect the energy mix in the electricity grid, which in the UK is largely renewable. Once completed, the scheme will contribute to the district’s ambition of reaching net-zero by 2030 and reduce annual carbon emissions by 8,000 tonnes.

In the first phase of the construction, some 30 major buildings will be connected, focusing on an east-west stretch running between the University of Bradford in the western parts of town to the Crown Court in the eastern parts of the town.

In the second phase of the construction, the heat network will later be expanded to cover even more areas of the to, potentially reaching connections as far north as Foster Square retail park and as far south as Park Road.

Once completed, the network will supply green heat and hot water to a multitude of civic buildings, including City Hall, the Law Courts and the Alhambra Theatre. Also new developments such as Bradford Live and One City Park could be connected, and any building near the network will be offered to connect throughout the construction phase.

Read more in article by The Telegraph & Argus

Read more in article by The Telegraph & Argus 

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