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After two years in development, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust are well on their journey to net zero now the multi-technology decarbonisation scheme at The Christie Hospital has gone live.

Delivering over £1m in annual energy cost savings and reducing the site’s carbon footprint by around 1,000 tonnes a year, this is a key project in the Trust’s sustainability aspirations, and puts them a step closer towards achieving the NHS target of net zero by 2040.

The project was part funded by an £8m grant through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) to support the installation of a self-funding fully integrated energy solution comprising a unique blend of renewable technologies.

Vital Energi have installed two air source heat pumps, 640 solar panels, which have been installed on roofs across the hospital to generate independent electricity for the site, and a 2MW battery energy storage system (BESS), where excess electricity can be stored for use at a later time.

As well as enabling the site to maximise the use of onsite generation and help the hospital avoid import electricity at the most expensive times, the BESS will provide flexibility during times of high demand and help create a smart grid from which the local community will benefit.

Energy efficiency measures have also been installed, including the upgrade of 3,000 lights to LED fittings, the replacement of aged steam infrastructure heating distribution with modern high efficiency low temperature hot water distribution, and optimisation and upgrades to the existing Building Energy Management Systems (BMS).

The project was delivered through the Carbon and Energy Fund Framework (CEF), which has been specifically created to facilitate energy infrastructure projects for public sector organisations.

Berkeley and Peabody are transforming the site of the former Arsenal Football Club home into a new, vibrant neighbourhood called Lombard Square, and the project recently completed a major green milestone.

The installation of the Phase 1 district heating network is now complete. This is a section of the district heating spine which has been installed up to the boundary of the Lombard Square development and will be connected to the heat network as part of the next phase.

When complete, the 17-acre development will be made up of 1,913 apartments, retail, commercial, community spaces and a biodiverse park, all served via 1km of district heating network.

The Vital Energi team installed the highly insulated district heating pipework which will serve a total of 8 blocks around the development.

Click here to read more about the project, where Vital Energi are also designing and building the Energy Centre that serves the whole development and are supporting Berkeley in reaching their sustainability goals through the installation of ground source heat pumps, which will extract water from aquifers below the surface via 140m deep boreholes.

Vital Energi has been awarded the design and build and operation and maintenance contracts for Notting Dale Heat Network by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to develop a renewable heat network at the Lancaster West Estate in North Kensington, supporting the estate’s transition to carbon-neutrality by 2030.

The design and build contract involves the implementation of eight block substations and two heat supply energy centres, located at Camelford Walk on the roof of Kensington Leisure Centre, which will be taken from the initial design concept through to construction by Vital Energi. They will also design and install 1,000 metres of new district heating, which will serve renewable heating and hot water to hundreds of homes.

The installation of the heat network will help to prevent 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Currently, the entire network is fed from two gas boilers, one of which is the Camelford energy centre which will be stripped back to the brick to make way for the brand-new green energy centre which will be split across two levels. As part of the heat network system, the energy centre will house the new plant, including two 1MW electric boilers.

The energy centre will also have upgrades made to the external layer, co-designed with residents by award-winning architects Tonkin Liu, which will match the external of the 50m3 thermal store. The “Energy Tree” located at ground level will provide thermal energy storage to improve network operation. The installation of these renewable technologies will serve heating and low temperature hot water to over 750 properties on the development.

“Leaving a lasting impact on communities is high on the agenda for Vital Energi. To date we have employed a local resident on the project, funded several summer holiday activities for local people, and we aim to carry out a number of social value initiatives to educate local residents about the benefits of heat networks, and bring climate change awareness to the younger generation”, he added.

Sustainable energy solutions developer Vital Energi has supercharged its operations, opening new offices in Newcastle and Swansea and expanding the scale of its presence in Glasgow, Scotland. The expansion comes as the result of a growing pipeline of energy generation, networks and storage solutions worth £2.5 billion.

To deliver current and future work, Vital Energi’s 760-strong workforce will increase by approximately 50%, adding 400 new green jobs over the next five years. As well as new offices and the Glasgow expansion, the firm’s Blackburn headquarters has undergone a major refurbishment to modernise the office space and increase seating capacity by a third.

This expansion marks the next step in Vital Energi’s pathway to not only develop and deliver energy assets but also be the asset owner. Through strategic collaborations, the company continues to strengthen its ability to develop, deliver and own energy infrastructure and generation assets that benefit local communities across the UK.

In addition to educating and training the green workforce of the future at its £2 million state-of-the-art training facility in Blackburn, Vital Energi also invites industry organisations to learn from their experts, addressing the need to train, upskill, and reskill the UK’s workforce in line with the country’s net zero ambitions.

The company’s expanded presence will enhance collaboration with public sector organisations across the UK, from Scotland to London, delivering large-scale projects that tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. Vital Energi’s expertise in decarbonising diverse sectors – from universities and hospitals to airports and industrial facilities – has already connected over 100,000 homes and buildings to sustainable heat networks.

Vital Energi is proud to announce its commitment as a Gold Patron of Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone. This partnership highlights Vital Energi’s dedication to supporting local communities and helping young people unlock their potential in the Blackburn and Darwen area.

As a Gold Patron, Vital Energi will help fund the Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone’s, enabling the organisation to continue offering vital services and programmes to young people, including free membership, free entry and a free hot meal for all 5,000 members.

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone provides a safe and inspiring environment for young people aged 5 to 19 (and up to 25 through the Youth Hub), focusing on three key pillars: skills and aspirations, cohesion, and health and well-being.

“We are delighted to become a Gold Patron of Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone,” said Gary Fielding, Chairman at Vital Energi. “

“We believe in investing in the future, which means supporting our community’s young people. Through this partnership, we hope to help create opportunities and share how the renewable energy sector can support in providing education for the young people of Blackburn and Darwen.”

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone plays a crucial role in the local community. It offers a wide range of activities and personal development programmes that empower young people to lead healthier, more fulfilled lives. With Vital Energi’s support, the Youth Zone will continue to provide these valuable services.

Vital Energi’s Gold Patron status reflects its broader environmental, social, and governance strategy, which focuses on contributing to sustainable, positive change in its communities. This partnership with Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone aligns perfectly with their goal of empowering the next generation.

Vital Energi are working with speciality chemical manufacturer, Solenis, to reduce the carbon consumption at its Bradford site through a new 17-year partnership to upgrade and operate the site’s energy centre, futureproofing the site’s production capabilities.

Solenis is always looking for ways to run its sites more sustainably, enhancing growth while decreasing environmental impact.

Vital Energi will upgrade the existing combined heat and power (CHP) system and install two new efficient steam boilers. A new control system will be installed to ensure efficient and reliable energy generation.

Once the construction process is complete, Vital Energi will operate and maintain the energy centre under an Energy Services Agreement (ESA). This agreement is targeted to optimise availability and energy use guaranteeing the projected carbon and financial savings for the next 15 years and setting the foundations for further carbon reduction initiatives.

Key members from Solenis, Vital Energi and consultancy JRP Solutions, who supported Solenis, came together to mark the start of the ground works on site. They were joined by local councillor, Sarah Ferriby.

David Calder, Site Manager at Solenis added, “Entering into a partnership with Vital Energi is an important step for Solenis on our journey towards Net Zero and ongoing sustainability for the site.”

Our award-winning net zero apprenticeship programme is enjoying its most successful recruitment year so far, with new starters joining the Vital family.

The new apprentices arrived for their first day in the industry and will split their time between studying at college and working on multiple projects and departments across our business where they will gain valuable insights into the cutting-edge technologies and strategies that are shaping the future of energy.

Mrs Stokes continues, “In addition to addressing the skills gap, we want to cultivate the next generation of leaders in this rapidly evolving industry, equipping them with the skills and experience necessary to complete our transition to a net zero economy.  I’m pleased to say I think I’ve already met several of these leaders in the first 3 years of this programme and we are all extremely excited to see the impact these young people have on the industry over the coming decades.”

This year’s new starters take our total number of apprentices across the business up to 56, accounting for roughly 8% of our workforce.  All level 3 graduates of the net zero apprenticeships scheme have progressed onto a degree-level apprenticeship.

If you’d like to learn more about our net zero apprenticeship programme, click here.

We believe in treating customers fairly and that everyone has the right to accessible heating. External market research has highlighted a gap in customer care within the heat network market, revealing that many customers are unfamiliar with district or communal heating systems, and they are often unclear on where to find support if needed.

That’s why we’ve created Vital Community Energi, a resource where customers can see exactly where their energy comes from, understand how their bill is calculated and to give customers access to information through a dedicated website, tailored guides, and multiple communication channels.

This customer focussed approach builds on Vital Energi’s established strengths of project funding, project feasibility, design responsibility, asset ownership and the optimisation of low-carbon energy projects. Through our Energy Services Company (ESCo) solutions, we help partners reduce operational and financial risks while promoting long-term energy savings and enhanced environmental sustainability.

Key benefits of Vital Community Energi:

Heat Trust Compliance – Developed in line with Heat Trust Scheme Rules, Vital Community Energi ensures above all, that customers are treated fairly. It helps you prepare for regulation by providing clear and effective customer engagement strategies.

Risks Mitigated – The risks of operating your heat network are mitigated and managed. We will allow you to concentrate on your day-to-day activities, taking full responsibility for managing fuel procurement, developing robust revenue streams, offsetting capital costs, providing metering billing services and ensuring the system performs optimally over its lifespan.

Dedicated Customer Website – Customers can benefit from the dedicated website, which can be translated into 104 languages, has a dynamic FAQ section and secure login area, enabling customers to access tailored information and support.

Enhanced Customer Journey – A seamless user journey is created with bespoke onboarding collateral, a suite of educational animations and multiple communication channels, to ensure your customers have a great experience of living on a heat network.

If you would like to discuss how Vital Community Energi and our complete energy solutions can help your scheme get ready for regulation, please get in touch.

Vistry Group, the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s development partner for the Hepworth Place scheme in Walthamstow, has partnered with Vital Energi to deliver a long-term, sustainable energy solution for residents of the new development. Vistry Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of affordable mixed-tenure homes.

Set within the historic grounds of Walthamstow Town Hall and Fellowship Square, Hepworth Place will benefit from a 25-year Energy Services Company (ESCo) contract with Vital Energi, covering 433 homes, with 50 per cent being affordable in partnership with One Housing Group. The Fellowship Square development also includes commercial units, ensuring energy efficiency, cost savings, and a seamless customer experience for all residents.

Providing an energy system that is both sustainable and future-proof, Vital Energi will ensure that residents’ heating and hot water needs will be met through an advanced district heating system powered primarily by efficient air source heat pumps (ASHPs).

Vital Energi are working with Southwark Council to deliver a £6.95m project which will see 2,175 properties across the Newington, Wyndham and Consort estates receive sustainable, low-carbon heat from pioneering water source heat pump project.

The project makes use of the existing district heating network, but 3 retrofitted water source heat pumps will replace gas boilers as the primary heat source which will deliver a large carbon reduction across the estates and improve the air quality locally.

Heat will be taken from locally drilled bore holes where the water is naturally warmer and then run through the heat pumps to further increase temperature, before it is pumped out to customers This is an extremely efficient and reliable way of producing heat.

Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Planning & Transport and Cllr Leo Pollak, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “In Southwark we’re working with residents, businesses and anyone else who can help, to try and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Sitting alongside our commitment to plant 10,000 new trees, and our ongoing investment in renewable energy, this is exactly the sort of innovative and ground breaking project that will help us achieve our goal. 

“We are delighted to be working with Vital Energi, and will be checking in with residents living on the three estates, to see how they are getting along with their new, cleaner, green heating supply.” 

The project is due for completion in 2021 and when the heat pumps are in operation resident’s energy supply will be transformed over night to a low carbon renewable source.