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Manchester’s new Tower of Light structure has been officially switched on, marking a milestone in the development of the city’s new Civic Quarter Heat Network. 

Owned by the Council and built by Vital Energi, the focal point of the Civic Quarter Heat Network is the 40m Tower of Light, which will be lit up every night. The tower will be a striking new landmark in the city centre and be the most visible manifestation of the network, which will provide heating and electricity to some of Manchester city centre’s most iconic buildings. The network, which will go live early next year, will help them to reduce their carbon emissions and support the city’s transition to zero carbon by 2038.

Using low carbon power generated in an energy centre located underneath the railway arches by Manchester Central, the network will serve the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Central Library, Heron House, Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester Town Hall and Town Hall extension buildings via 2km of underground pipes.

And the network will also have the capacity to connect to other buildings in the vicinity – both existing and future, whether public or private-owned – helping them to reduce their carbon footprints too.

Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment for Manchester City Council, said:

“The Civic Quarter Heat Network is a trailblazing system which demonstrates Manchester’s determination to cut our carbon emissions.

“As a Council we are committed to playing our full part in limiting the impacts of climate change as the city strives to become zero carbon by 2038 – at least 12 years ahead of the national target.

“It’s a complex challenge but ambitious projects such as this network show that we are taking action to rise to it. As well as looking beautiful, we hope that the Tower of Light will be a beacon for this kind of work.”

The network has an efficient combined heat and power engine which captures and re-uses heat created as a by-product of producing electricity. Although initially fuelled by natural gas, there are plans to further reduce its carbon footprint as alternative measures and fuel supplies become available including the use of biomethane and the potential introduction of hydrogen into the fuel mix in 2024

The project received Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) funding, which is delivered by Triple Point Networks Investment Management on behalf of the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Ken Hunnisett, Project Director for Triple Point Heat Networks, added:

“The Heat Network Investment Project has awarded more than £250m to projects across England and Wales and while we love them all equally, few if any are as breathtakingly beautiful as Manchester’s magnificent Tower of Light which seems destined be one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks and an icon of its ambitious net zero strategy.

“Many congratulations to everyone involved with the project on the achievement of this latest milestone.”

The Francis Crick Institute in King’s Cross is now connected to a cogeneration plant and district heating network, installed by Vital Energi, which is supplying heating and hot water to over 500 homes across Somers Town in Camden.

The institute is receiving a low carbon power supply through a private wire network to support the essential research being undertaken at the facility.

Designed and delivered by Vital Energi, the Somers Town Heat Network, which has been operational since 2015, provides heat and hot water to the residents.  It comprises a combined heat and power (CHP) unit which generates electricity. The CHP’s power supply has been directed through a private wire network to the Crick, allowing the Institute to benefit from their own decentralised electricity supply.

The Vital Energi team had to ensure there was no vibration during the works to avoid impacting the sensitive scientific equipment and experiments taking place within the building. They made the decision to hand dig a lot of the elements within a confined space over 2 floors deep (4m), which took nine months to complete.

The project presented a number of issues when the team began digging, as they had to overcome logistical issues working around two live Victorian gas mains, and dismantle a buried steel frame which was used to support the foundation wall during construction in 2010.

The location of the installation, close to Euston Station and St. Pancras International Station, presented challenges too. The area involved removal and reinstatement of cobbles, working on busy highways and walkways, and dealing with the congested existing utilities in central London.

Lee Downes, Project Manager at the Francis Crick Institute, said:

“We are proud to have contributed to the funding of this project as part of our partnership with Camden Council, helping cut borough emissions and transition to a low carbon future. The implementation of this scheme was tricky to coordinate with seven organisations working together in a sensitive environment. We’re very pleased with the outcome.”

Simpsons Malt’s net-zero ambitions took another big step forwards today when the 12MW electric boiler completed its 360-mile journey from Norway to their Tweed Valley Maltings site.

The electric boiler will be coupled with the three 6MW biomass boilers and the combined system will reduce their carbon emission by 25,000 tonnes per year. This accounts for up to an 80% overall reduction on what is the largest malting site in the UK, with the capacity to produce 260,000 tonnes of malt per year.

With 90% of the site’s malt production destined for distilleries, Simpsons Malt plays a crucial role in the Scotch whisky supply chain and, by decarbonising its operations, the company is not only meeting its own sustainability targets, but also contributing to the net zero ambitions of its customers.

Warren Spiers, Preconstruction Director for Vital Energi explains, “This is a huge investment by AMP Clean Energy and Simpsons Malt which demonstrates their commitment to sustainability but also sets a benchmark for the entire food and drink industry. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, with an innovative commercial solution, Simpsons Malt is paving the way for a more sustainable future. Their efforts highlight the importance of reducing carbon footprints in traditionally high-emission sectors, showcasing that environmental responsibility and business success can go hand in hand.

“The impact of Simpsons Malt’s decarbonisation efforts extends far beyond their own operations. As a key player in the food and drink industry, their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions serves as an inspiring model for others to follow. By prioritising sustainability, they are not only contributing to a healthier planet but also influencing positive change across the industry.”

We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver a new project for Newport City Homes which will see us install 7.5km of district heating pipework to replace the original heat network which was installed in the early 1970’s.

The existing system experienced a series of leaks in early 2023 which saw significant disruption to heating and hot water supplies. The association pledged to carry out a full review of the performance of the district heating system at the time and has now announced a substantial programme of pipe replacement work to improve performance for the local community.

Sonia Furzland, Executive Director of Operations at Newport City Homes, said: “We’re pleased to announce this substantial investment in the Duffryn district heating system to upgrade the pipework and improve heating and hot water performance to more than 1,000 customers.

“We’d like to thank our customers for the substantial support and patience during the leaks we experienced earlier this year, and over the last few months as we have carried out this urgent review. We hope this gives the community assurance that we are taking action in response to the issues we have seen.”

Work to upgrade the Duffryn district heating system is expected to begin in Autumn 2023 and take a number of months.

The Duffryn heating system is supported by over seven kilometres of pipework which runs underneath the ground. This includes underneath main roads, NCH homes and privately owned homes, and it was originally put in place during the 1970s. Work will take place in planned phases to minimise disruption of supply to the community.

Ashley Walsh (Managing Director of Heat Networks) at Vital Energi added:

“For nearly 50 years this scheme has provided heating and hot water to the people of Duffryn and this upgrade will safeguard this essential service for decades to come, making the heat network more reliable and more efficient.  We are delighted to be delivering 7.5km of pipework on the project and also look forwards to working with the local community on some exciting community engagement projects.”

 

Mohammad Basid, one of our Building Services Engineering apprentices based in London has been with Vital for over a year. He tells us about his journey so far; what he has learnt, what he gets upto in his current department, and his goals and aspirations for the future.

Currently based at our Energetik Heat Network project in Enfield, Mohammad started his apprentice journey in September 2021 and has gained a wealth of knowledge working across our business units.

“It’s been a great experience so far,” said Mohammad. “I have been with different departments and learned more about what Vital do as a business. I started with metering and billing for the first three and half months, where I learnt about the V-Pro system we use, and how the engineers install meters in people’s houses which taught me a range of things from simple electric works to interacting professionally with customers”.

Mohammad recently visited our Blackburn office, where he learnt how to build our vTherm°e HIUs.

“I learnt so much more about HIUs and how to fix common issues as well as how to conduct major works in plant rooms, such as changing valves and bellows. I gained a lot of knowledge as I was always working with an experienced engineer!”

“I’m currently learning about project management on the Energetik project based in Enfield from Senior Project Manager, Philip Kyriacou, and Project Manager, Colin Miller. I assist them with authorising permits, daily diary arrangements, filling in daily labour sheets and assisting sub-contractors when they need help. So far, it has been a great experience learning about management and the different roles and responsibilities that come with it, as well as providing solutions to keep up with what is required of a main contractor.”

Mohammad assisted with a site visit too, where investors, employees from Energetik, and councillors from Enfield Council were able to learn about and see the project progress.

“I had the opportunity, alongside Philip and Colin, to show them around the site, explain what is happening and talk about the progress of the project. It was a great experience because it was good to hear their perspective on the project, especially the people who are going to be using the building when finished.”

“What I really like about my apprenticeship is that I am learning a broad range of skills which will widen my career opportunities. On top of that, we have a fantastic college in Liverpool, with amazing facilities and teachers, where we get to stay for a week roughly every 5 weeks. I really love that aspect because we get to experience a different city and it is a nice break from working in London. Adding to that, I am a massive Liverpool fan, so it is a bonus for me as I get to go to some games at Anfield when I am there!”

“My goal is to complete this apprenticeship and achieve the best grade possible. In the future, working my way to management is an aspiration of mine, even though it will come with challenges, it will be very rewarding. I am thankful for having great role models such as Philip and Colin to learn from!”

If you know anyone who would be interested in joining Vital’s net zero apprenticeship programme, click here and keep an eye out for applications opening later this month.

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West and Shirley, visited the Solihull Energy Network to see how the project is helping to reduce the town’s carbon emission by 1,070 tonnes during Phase 1.

During the visit, the MP toured the new energy centre, joined a discussion on local energy ambitions and chatted to one of the apprentices supporting the delivery of the scheme.

The visit forms part of a wider programme of engagement events, which showcase how heat networks can help towns and cities deliver more affordable and resilient sources of energy and heat to their buildings.

The network will supply well-known local landmarks, including, but not limited to:

• Solihull College
• Tudor Grange Academy
• Tudor Grange Leisure Centre
• The Core

When complete, the project will feature a low‑carbon energy centre powered by rooftop air‑source heat pumps, which draw warmth from the ambient air and store it in 100,000‑litre thermal vessels.  This heat is then distributed through a 5km underground heat network.

The energy crisis means the UK’s first direct wired solar farm developed to power a hospital will generate far greater savings than could have been predicted. It went live in October last year and is expected to produce a fifth of Morriston Hospital’s energy consumption every year.

Even during the winter months there have been days when it has generated enough to power the entire hospital – and on occasions with electricity to spare to export to the National Grid. This is despite only operating during the shortest days of the year.

The £5.7m solar farm was built thanks to a loan scheme set up by the Welsh Government to decarbonise the public sector by 2030, and is repayable on an invest to save basis. It is estimated that the hospital has already saved an estimated £120,000 in electricity bills since it was switched on in November, and is projected to save 1000 tonnes of carbon and £500,000 per year in bills when fully operational. It has already produced 30,000 kWh surplus energy that’s been sold back to the energy grid at a profit to the hospital.

Visiting the 4MW project on Brynwhillach Farm, which is linked to Morriston by a 3km private wire, Minister for Climate Change Julie James said:

“We want our energy to come from community owned and locally run renewable energy sources in Wales. This will ensure our supply is resilient, reliable and reasonable for both our planet and our pockets.

“We have bold ambitions to decarbonise the public sector by 2030. Morriston Hospital – which depends not only on the powers of its staff, but also the energy hungry machines to keep their patients alive and well – have blazed the trail in their switch to renewables, which makes sense both financially and to the health of the people of Wales.

“Our addiction to fossil fuels is proving harmful, volatile and no longer viable. In Wales we will continue to accelerate our investment in renewable energy and energy efficient measures such as those adopted at Morriston hospital, and call on the UK Government to support a socially just transition to Net Zero as we respond to the climate emergency.

“The IPCC have rung the clarion call for our planet, now we must listen and respond to the science.”

Chair of Swansea University Health Board, Emma Woollett, said:

“I am delighted that the solar farm’s performance has already exceeded our initial expectations. The health board’s aim is to reduce its carbon footprint and maximise opportunities to use renewable energy sources.

“The solar farm will play an important part in achieving that aim, but there is also an additional benefit in terms of cost savings. It is not only lowering our electricity costs every day, but on some days covering 100% of our electricity needs.

“With the current volatile situation with energy prices, this really shows that the investment and the long-term thinking on behalf of the health board has paid off.”

Since being switched on, the 10,000-panel solar farm has produced enough energy to power 190 three-bedroom houses for a year, or to boil almost 200,000 kettles.

The four megawatt farm was anticipated to reduce the hospital’s electricity bill by around £500,000 a year. But with world energy prices spiralling, the actual savings could be almost double that figure.

A few years back, Swansea Bay University Health Board was awarded £13.6 million, on an invest-to-save basis, to bring down its energy costs and reduce its carbon footprint by around 5,000 tonnes a year. The money was awarded through Re:Fit, a national programme, supported by the Welsh Government. Following an extensive selection process, the health board selected Vital Energi as its partner.

Phase one, a range of energy conservation measures at Morriston and Singleton hospitals and other health board premises, was completed last year at a cost of £7.7 million. The solar farm, developed on a 14-hectare site at a cost of £5.9 million, comprised the second phase.

Swansea Bay’s Assistant Director of Operations, Des Keighan, said the hospital previously used around 20 gigawatts of electricity a year.

“The first phase of energy saving measures reduced the hospital energy demand to 16 gigawatts a year,” he said.

“The solar farm will reduce the need to import energy from the grid by a further four gigawatts over the course of a year.

“It was expected that over the winter months the solar farm would contribute electricity, but that the hospital would still need to continue to buy power from the grid every day. What has come as a pleasant surprise is that for a total of 50 hours, the hospital has been entirely powered by the solar farm, and nearly 30,000 kilowatts sold back to the National Grid. This is despite the fact that the solar farm hasn’t been operating continually over the winter.

“It has still been undergoing tests and fine-tuning, and is not due to be completely finished until the end of March. So this additional performance has been even more of a bonus.”

Since October, the solar farm has produced 598,000 kWh (kilowatts an hour) of energy. That is enough to:

• Power 190 three-bedroom houses for a year;
• Boil 196,333 kettles;
• Power 4,496 55-inch TVs or 196 washing machines for a year;
• Drive a Tesla Model Y car 2,103,571 miles.

But it doesn’t end there. Factor in the first phase energy saving measures and the overall drop in electricity demand from October until February at Morriston is nearly 1.5 million kilowatts. That is sufficient to:

• Power 484 three-bedroom houses for a year;
• Boil 500,000 kettles, power 11,450 TVs or 500 washing machines for a year;
• Drive the same Tesla car 5,357,143 miles.

Mr Keighan said the value of the savings was also expected to be considerably higher than expected because the world situation meant energy prices were increasingly so rapidly.

“When this started, electrical prices were around 13p per kilowatt hour (kWh) from the Grid,” he said.

“This morning it was 25p per kWh. That’s not far off doubled, with prices expected to increase over the coming weeks.

“We want to extend the solar farm by installing another 1MW of solar panelling and also install 2MWh battery for storage

“We get two to three pence per kW if we export. And at the moment electricity from the Grid is costing us around 25p a KWh and from April that could be as high as 50p. So using it ourselves makes far more sense and we are trying to secure funding for that, and we hope that will be the next stage.”

Additionally, the solar farm will save around 1,000 tonnes of carbon a year, on top of the 4,000 tonnes saved by the first phase