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We’ve hit another milestone at Berkeley Homes’ Woodberry Down development as we took delivery of the 800kW air source heat pumps (ASHP), which will extract heat from the air and supply heating and hot water to the development, and crane lifted them to the roof of Block A1.

On the day of delivery, we had a full team present on site including our Project Manager, Stan Cullen, along with Lifting Operations Manager, Catalin Morosanu, and MEP Manager, Chris Way, from Berkeley Homes.

The heat pumps weighed around 4.5 tonnes and anti-vibration mounts were placed securely underneath each of the units before they were lifted into the air to place on the building. The anti-vibration mounts are to help reduce noise and vibrations, they absorb the sound and vibrations from the heat pump’s to reduce damage and wearing out.

“The installation of the air source heat pumps will be a big contributor to low carbon homes and help to lower the energy costs for the residents,” said Stan Cullen.

“We are looking forward to our next milestone which will be the commissioning of the systems, flushing of the Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) pipework and the gas going live into the Energy Centre in a couple of months.”

Discover more about the project here.

The joint venture behind the £200m Yorkshire Energy Park has welcomed a new investor to its Board.

Vital Energi is a decarbonisation, energy generation and distribution company, operating across the UK. Its portfolio of work includes major city district heating schemes and energy generation and management schemes at hospitals and universities.

Vital will take a lead on the development’s energy strategy as part of the park’s vision to become one of the first zero carbon business parks in the UK.

The energy and technology business park received its formal decision notice in late 2020 following East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Planning Committee approval in 2019. The flagship development is also a designated tax site as part of the Humber Freeport and is anticipated to create over 4000 jobs, across a range of sectors.

The joint venture has also appointed Andrew Reynolds as its Project Director, tasked with bringing the scheme to fruition.

Chris Turner, Chair of Yorkshire Energy Park, said:

“The Board is delighted to welcome both Vital Energi and Andrew Reynolds to the Yorkshire Energy Park project as we reach a crucial part of the project, with works due to start on site in the new year.

“Vital is a leader in modern energy solutions that support the decarbonisation ambitions of the UK. I’m looking forward to seeing their team apply this expertise to the Yorkshire Energy Park.

“Having spent a decade as Development Director at Hines, along with several other senior roles across the UK, Andrew also brings a wealth of experience to the project bolstering our existing team.”

Based at the former Hedon aerodrome site to the east of Hull, strategically located within the new Humber Freeport, the 212-acre Yorkshire Energy Park will consist of:

• An energy centre, battery storage and primary substation, providing on-site energy and off-site energy for export;
• A tier 3 data centre and disaster recovery suite;
• A mixture of space for businesses, including incubator space for start-up businesses and SME growth;
• A National Centre of Excellence for education, training and research facilities and associated on site, short stay accommodation;
• An outdoor building material and testing facility;
• New sports facilities for the community; and
• 45 hectares of green space, protected for 150 years as an ecologically enhanced area for protected species.

The delivery of the park will kickstart the economic future of the Humber region with over £200m inward investment anticipated. The target of 80% local labour through the construction period, along with the creation of trainee, graduate and apprenticeship opportunities will also ensure considerable social return on investment.

Andrew Reynolds, Yorkshire Energy Park’s Project Director said:

“The Humber is uniquely positioned to drive the growth of the North and become a global leader in combating climate change, and Yorkshire Energy Park will further contribute to this vision.

“With the first tranche of tenants set to be announced imminently, Yorkshire Energy Park will be one of the first projects nationally to take advantage of the Freeport benefits, attracting inward investment and creating highly skilled careers for future generations.

“I am looking forward to meeting residents and local stakeholders over the coming weeks.”

Vital Energi are working with York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on a multi technology energy project which will see Bridlington Hospital on course to become one of the most sustainable NHS sites in the UK.

Vital Energi have installed air source heat pumps and solar PV systems to significantly reduce Bridlington Hospital’s carbon emissions. The energy efficiency of the hospital will be improved through the installation of energy conservation measures, including thermal insulation and modifying air handling units to reduce energy consumption. The energy project also includes the optimisation of the heating and hot water systems across the hospital estate which will both reduce energy usage and improve the performance of the new heat pumps.

Currently, the hospital’s heating and hot water is generated by 20-year-old gas fired boilers and a gas fired CHP system.  The project will see the CHP being de-commissioned and one of the boilers removed to make way for the installation of a 600kW air source heat pump system which will be capable of supplying 100% of the heating and hot water demand of the hospital.  When coupled with the new 750kWp solar PV system, the heat pumps will provide zero carbon heat generation at the hospital.

The solar PV system, which combines over 1,600 panels both ground and roof mounted, will be capable of supplying 100% of the electricity demand of the heat pumps, meaning at times 100% of the heat demand of the hospital will be met via a 100% renewable source.  The solar PV will also provide a proportion of the hospital’s electricity requirements too.

The hospital’s energy related carbon emissions will be reduced by over 50% compared to current operations, and as the national grid continues to decarbonise electricity generation, these savings will increase further.

Tunde Oyeledun, the Trust’s Energy Manager, said:

“I am excited to see the range of energy efficient solutions being delivered to advance the Trust’s position on its path to net zero and reinforce its commitment to achieving its carbon reduction target.”

The project received £4.7m grant funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which is administered by Salix Finance on behalf of the Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), formally part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to replace old gas (oil and coal) powered heating and hot water systems with low carbon systems whilst reducing the heat requirement through energy efficiency measures such as increased insulation. The funding was secured through the combined efforts of the Trust and Vital Energi teams working together to submit a complex application within an extremely challenging timeframe.

DESNZ, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Vital Energi are delivering the project through the Carbon and Energy Fund Framework, which has been specifically created to fund complex energy infrastructure upgrades for public sector organisations.

Lee Podger, Client Relationship Manager with the CEF, said:

“The CEF has been working with the Trust for over eight years, initially with the procurement of new low carbon energy facilities at the Trust’s sites within York and Bridlington. The project at Bridlington is set to be a landmark scheme, which will provide valuable insight into how existing NHS estate can be transformed into efficient low carbon assets.”

We are aware of the effects rising energy prices have had on the UK and have been working to find new and innovative ways to help our customers in these difficult times.

As heat tariffs were set to rise, we wanted to do everything in our powers to make that increase as small as possible and have taken the decision to absorb a percentage of the residents’ unit charge to deliver a reduction to our customers on the Yarn Street development.

By making refinements to the fuel input costs, and reducing profit, we have been able to lower costs to 30% less than the standard variable tariff for gas.

We understand that many people will still struggle to heat their homes and will continue to work with clients, customers, and partners to provide any assistance we can.

Gemma Dyson has been instrumental in building the team behind the successful bids for many of Vital’s innovative decarbonisation projects.  As such, she has a keen interest in how the low-carbon energy sector is evolving, what challenges it faces and how we can best help our clients achieve substantial and rapid decarbonisation.

We sat down with Gemma to find out why there’s a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the UK’s journey to net zero…

Name: Gemma Dyson

Job Title: Proposals Manager

Department: Pre-Construction Team (also known as the “Work Winning Team!”)

What changes have you noticed since you joined Vital Energi?

Well I’ve been at Vital for more than 4 years now and every day is different – so it’s safe to say there have been lots of changes!! But the most obvious thing would be the size of the Pre-construction Team.  It’s gone from five members to 20, and this reflects the growth of the industry and the ambition from all sectors to achieve net zero.

The technologies have noticeably changed.  Most of our energy centre jobs used to be centred around CHP engines, but now they struggle to achieve the decarbonisation our clients need, we’re seeing more renewable led projects such as heat pumps and solar PV coming to market.  There’s also been a big increase in energy efficiency projects through frameworks such as Non-Domestic Energy Efficiency (NDEE) and Re:fit.

What are your proudest moments in this Industry?

It would be easy to say winning a big bid, but they’re always team efforts, so I’d have to say that the growth (and strength) of the work winning team over the last 4 years is probably my biggest achievement. (It’s not just down to me, of course, but I like to think I’ve played my part!)

As a growing business, we’re always trying to do things differently, so we have recently added specialists to our team in specific areas such as solar PV, where we’ve gone from installing small rooftop installations to multi-megawatt solar farms in the space of a few years.  It’s a never-ending process, so we must keep evolving to make sure we have the best expertise deliver what our clients need.

We’ve also just recruited our first Zero Carbon Apprentice to the work winning team, Harvey Hudson. Harvey is part of the first cohort of apprentices Vital Energi have employed and is 16 and has already wowed us with his passion and enthusiasm. With individuals like Harvey around, the future is bright! But we’ve got to keep promoting our sector and encouraging young people from diverse backgrounds into it.

There seems to be the appetite for decarbonisation from most areas of society, from the public to the Government.  Is this being backed up by funding and legislation?

The UK Government has one of the most ambitious carbon reduction targets in the world. It has already provided some strong funding for the development and delivery of projects and there are more initiatives in the pipeline which should ensure these essential projects come to fruition.

You came to Vital from a Social Housing background.  Do you have a view of how this market is reacting to the need to decarbonise?

They are one of the sectors which will face the biggest challenge because they have their own zero carbon agendas, but they’re also constrained by price and affordability. Most importantly, they are driven by fuel poverty, which is only increasing, especially given the recent hike in wholesale gas prices.  In short, we need to make sure that that the green heat supplied to social housing is affordable to residents.

Metering and billing is an area which shouldn’t be overlooked as it can make a big contribution to both decarbonisation and fuel poverty.  Vital Energi have recently launched the Glass App and at its heart it brings transparency and control to residents.  By giving residents access to smart controls, they can make more informed decisions on how they use their heat and spend their money more efficiently. Glass gives residents the opportunity to understand their own consumption and manage it effectively.

What do you think the next years will bring for the UK’s energy infrastructure?

I don’t think you need a crystal ball to predict more electric vehicles, which brings the need for more charging stations and more renewable generation of electricity through technologies such as solar PV.  The grid just won’t cope without renewables! Renewable energy generation, improved energy efficiency and the electrification of heat are all key features for the future, and I would hope that battery storage, wind and hydrogen will become more affordable and more readily available in the future. Hydrogen is clearly an emerging fuel that is likely to support the decarbonisation of heat which is reinforced by the UK Governments recent launch of the UK Hydrogen Strategy.

The endgame is to maximise decarbonisation and create smarter supply and export of energy through smart grids and I am looking forward to playing my part!

Dedicated to helping the UK achieve its net zero ambitions, we are supporting clients through funding applications and accelerating their journey to decarbonisation.

We’ve worked closely with our clients to navigate them through the PSDS application process and successfully secured £100m worth of PSDS phase 1 funding to deliver projects using the latest technologies to guarantee significant carbon and financial savings.

It’s highly anticipated that further rounds of PSDS funding will be available, so we’ve spoken to Ashley Malin, Vital Energi Solutions Managing Director who highlights the key factors for a successful PSDS application, how we can support organisations through the process, why time is of the essence, and about the highlights of our previous PSDS successes.

What is PSDS and who can apply?
PSDS stands for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is a grant funding initiative from the Government to inject capital into low carbon schemes for public sector organisations, such as schools, hospitals and local councils.  PSDS provides up to 100% grant funding for any low or zero carbon initiatives that meet the eligibility requirements, so if you’re a public sector organisation who wants to implement a scheme to lower your carbon footprint and save some money through solar, heat pumps, connection to a district heating scheme, lighting, BMS upgrades or other renewable technologies, PSDS can provide all the investment required.

Why did the Government develop PSDS?
The aim they have is twofold. One aspect is the decarbonisation of public sector buildings, and the other is to help with the Covid response from the Government, to invest money and generate more jobs within the green industry.

Can PSDS be paired with other funding or private finance?
It can. PSDS can provide up to 100% grant funding for projects that meet the eligibility criteria. There may be projects that will deliver additional carbon savings that would require the support of further investment, and in these cases you can look to take a blended approach between grant funding, private investment or third party finance to deliver the right project.
For PSDS phase 1 there was no cap to the funding – the biggest single grant that Salix, who administer the scheme, awarded was £78.2m, and the smallest was £5,300. This funding is to help everyone within the public sector at any level, whether you’re a school who wants to install LED lighting or a large NHS Trust who wants to completely de-steam their site.

What are the key factors to successfully gaining PSDS funding?
The Government are looking for a balance between carbon reduction and the amount of grant funding required. So, if you’ve got a scheme which will save you a few tonnes of carbon but it costs £50m, then the tonnes of carbon saved per pound invested won’t be substantial and that particular project won’t be as desirable to fund.
The timescales for submission are very short, and the level of interest leads to a large number of applications and an oversubscription for the funding available. Our advice would be to develop your project and complete as much detailed work as you can in advance of making an application. This is an opportunity to make a significant investment into the energy infrastructure on your site, putting you well on the path to net zero carbon.

How can Vital help with the funding application?
We have successfully gained funding for six clients in Phase 1 which delivered over £100m of investment into the public sector. Applications are required to be submitted by the organisation that’s eligible to receive PSDS funding. We can complete all the documentation on your behalf, including the application form and the supplementary details, such as programmes, risk registers, drawings, and you simply approve and submit the application online.

How can I benefit from Vital’s support with my PSDS application?
We have a proven track record of helping new and existing clients gain PSDS funding. Of the £1bn fund, we helped secure £100m for public sector organisations. We have the in-house capability to complete feasibility studies, surveys and data analysis required to develop a qualifying scheme. We have the expertise to optimise the solution to ensure the project has the best possible chance of securing grant funding, and self-deliver the construction, operation, and performance guarantee over the lifetime of the asset.

Tell us about some of the PSDS successes Vital has supported.
Nottingham University Hospital’s NHS Trust is currently the largest single project that we have supported through the PSDS process, with the Trust successfully receiving £25m of funding from PSDS phase 1. The project involves completely removing the existing coal-fired boiler house and replacing it with a higher efficiency, lower carbon system. In addition, we are installing over 300KW of solar across the hospital estate to generate zero carbon electricity, along with heat pumps to generate low carbon heat. The savings to the Trust are in excess of £2.5m a year and will reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint by an impressive 14,000 tonnes a year.
We’re also in the process of installing battery storage across four other sites where we have secured PSDS funding. These battery storage units can provide a hospital estate with a range of options to lower carbon and reduce energy costs. Effectively, these battery storage units help turn the existing infrastructure into a “smart grid”. It will allow for the optimisation of a combination of energy systems that include solar and heat pumps, to lower energy costs, further reduce the site’s carbon footprint and enable the integration of additional zero carbon generation technology in the future.

Any words of advice for organisations considering applying for PSDS?
Time is key. Early engagement from an energy services specialist like Vital Energi to develop a range of projects suitable for funding under this kind of initiative, and being in a position to make a successful application at the earliest opportunity, is very important. Having a delivery partner is an essential factor in the evaluation carried out by Salix. From the projects we’ve been involved in, public bodies who can demonstrate that their projects are well developed and they have a partner in place to deliver the project on time and within budget, with a recognised route through procurement, are more likely to be successful in securing PSDS funding.

I’m interested in learning more; what’s the next step?
Salix has provided a lot of guidance but there is no substitute to getting in touch and talking through the process with someone with experience and a passion for decarbonisation.

Please contact us for further information or to discuss a PSDS project you have in mind.

Work is continuing to progress well at Northwick Park Hospital.

We’ve mechanically installed the water and air source heat pumps, electrical installation will follow, and we’re working hard to bring 647kWp of solar PV systems across 7 roof spaces to the commissioning phase.

The 2MW battery energy storage system has now been installed, which will maximise the use of onsite generation and help the hospital avoid import electricity at the most expensive times, as well as creating a smart grid from which the local community will benefit. We’re currently installing the HV supply connection and finishing the external finish to enclosure.

In addition, we’ve installed over 5000 new LED light fittings, completed the retrofit and upgrades of existing air handling units and chillers, and the pipework insulation upgrades, so the Trust will benefit from early financial savings and carbon reduction 8 months ahead of practical completion.​​​​​​​

The main energy centre build is progressing extremely well too, and all main items of plant have been delivered to site and are undergoing M&E installation.

Gary McKiernan, Head of Construction, said:

“Our site project team is working extremely well with our client and all supply chains to ensure that the construction phase of the project continues to progress at the pace required to meet key milestones in an efficient and safe manner. There are many challenges yet to come, but I have every faith that the team will embrace these to deliver on time as we head towards commissioning the systems during the spring.”

We’re delighted to be helping London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust on their net zero journey through a fully integrated, self-funding, multi technology energy solution, which will guarantee savings of £1.9m a year for the Trust and significantly reduce carbon emissions at Northwick Park Hospital. 

We’re gaining ground on our project at Northwick Park Hospital where we’re installing a unique blend of heat pumps, battery storage, and solar to support London North West Healthcare NHS Trust’s transition to net zero.

The 200kW water source and air source heat pumps are now in place and ready for commissioning, the 2MW battery energy storage system is connected to the grid ready for configuring, and the 643kWp solar will soon generate electricity and power the hospital site.

Once complete, this self-funding fully integrated energy solution will guarantee savings of £1.9m a year for the Trust and save over 2,500 tonnes of carbon each year. The solution has been designed with the ability to grow too, and the infrastructure is scalable, enabling it to meet the ongoing challenges and opportunities that arise on the Trust’s road to net zero.

Read more about the project here.

We’re thrilled that one of our clients, Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) has been shortlisted for the Alan Clark Award for Local/Community Energy and Vital Energi have been named as a finalist in the Contractor of the Year Category.

Vital Energi have been awarded a place on the new North East Procurement Organisation framework which will be used to deliver retrofit, and decarbonisation works.

The framework has a value of £300 million and will be used to deliver residential and non-residential projects and will include schemes funded by:

• BEIS
• Sustainable Warmth Competition
• Homes England
• Local Authority Delivery Scheme
• Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
• Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
• UK Infrastructure Bank
• SALIX

Gemma Dyson, Proposals Manager for Vital Energi explains, “This framework promises to deliver some truly exciting energy projects which will help public sector organisations in the north east meet their net zero targets. We are delighted to be one of the 20 companies to earn a place on the framework.

“We are on 6 separate lots which will allow us to continue delivering a range of exciting renewable energy technologies such as air and ground source heat pumps, solar PV and battery storage.  These are technologies which we have been successfully installing for years and have seen how they  transform the way we generate and consume heat and electricity. We look forward to competing for projects as they come through the framework and helping a range of organisations on their net zero journey.”

The framework will allow Vital Energi to deliver retrofit and decarbonisation works and services, acting as a “one stop shop” and delivering the complete package of products and services to interested buying organisations.

The framework will run for 4 and a half years and cover projects across the north east of England.