The first set of town centre customers are ready to start benefitting from Solihull’s new low carbon energy network.
Phase one customer agreements have been signed to supply heat to Solihull College & University Centre, Tudor Grange Academy, The Core Library and Tudor Grange Leisure Centre. Once up and running, the Council’s new District Energy Network will deliver heat and hot water into the taps, radiators, and heating systems of these connected town centre buildings.
Utilising low carbon solutions, including air source heat pumps, the energy will be generated at a centralised new energy centre, located next to Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, and distributed to individual buildings via a system of underground pipes and cables.
Solihull Council recently announced that it was partnering up with Vital Energi Ltd to deliver this ambitious scheme, which is expected to deliver significant carbon savings while helping to reduce fuel bills and future-proof business and consumer energy needs.
For individual buildings, decarbonising heat is expensive and often disruptive to occupants. A town centre energy network enables existing buildings and new developments to benefit from centrally based low carbon heat generation with minimal disruption and in a cost-effective manner benefitting from economies of scale.
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, made up of senior council officers, and reports to a Shareholder Panel comprised of elected councillors.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Planning said: “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, Solihull College & University Centre said: “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.”
Tudor Grange Academy Trust Chair, Dr Peter Rock said: “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, said: “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.”
The funding required to get this carbon saving scheme off the ground was provided by the government’s Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and the West Midlands Combined Authority alongside the Council’s own investment in the project. Underpinned by detailed financial modelling, the scheme is projected to repay this investment over time.
Early works have already taken place with a series of site investigations and ecological surveys in March. With contracts now signed and planning permission for the all-important energy centre in place, work is expected to get started later this summer and first phase customers could be connected and start benefitting from the network as early as next year.
The Town Centre Energy Network will be the first of its kind in Solihull but could pave the way for similar projects around the borough.
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