Heat network to set bar for decarbonising heat

The Leeds-registered heat network developer is creating the system with support from anchor customers Bradford University, Bradford College, and Bradford Courts. The latest investment includes £20m of investment from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund. 

A heat network supplies heat from a central source (or several sources) to buildings via underground, water-filled pipes, which removes the need for gas boilers in buildings. According to 1Energy, heat networks can use a wide-range of heat sources, and can change sources over time.

Pivotal to the Bradford development is an 8MW air source heat pump manufactured by Fenagy and supplied by Pure Renewables, who have also led on the system design.

Marissa Granath, Project Director for the Bradford Energy Network said the footprint of the heat pump installation, including pumps and compressors, will be around 400m².

Over the next two years, 1Energy will build and commission the energy centre, which will contain the heat generation plant required to meet the company’s customers' heating demands