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We recently visited the Newington estate in Southwark, where we joined Southwark Council, ICAX Ltd, residents connected to the network, and the Tenants and Residents Association, in planting 5,000 daffodil bulbs across the estate.

Contracts Manager, Mark Pocknell, who is overseeing the project, said:

“We’re committed to bringing social value to places where we deliver projects, and so last week we joined Newington residents and planted 5,000 daffodils across their estate. It was a really enjoyable day – we were lucky with the weather and it only took around 2 hours to plant all the bulbs.

“I’d like to thank everyone who got their hands dirty, and I can’t wait to see the results of our hard work in the spring.

We’ve been working on a ground-breaking project to decarbonise the borough by retrofitting water source heat pumps into existing heat networks across the Newington, Consort and Wyndham estates, which will provide over 2,000 properties with a more resilient, efficient, low carbon heat supply.

The Consort and Wyndham estate heat pumps are fully installed, coupled with their buried pipework from the 120m deep bore holes back to the estate’s energy centres. The penultimate installation at Newington estate is due to be complete around March 2022 which will then see all three of the Southwark estates using heat pump technology to provide heat to all the homes connected to the existing networks.

Bristol’s heat network will enter a new stage of decarbonisation when the Castle Park heat pump begins generating low-carbon heat and we’re delighted that the new year has brought a series of major milestones.

The project team have so far installed the abstraction platform, which is responsible for the intake of harbour water, thermal store and, most recently, the delivery of the 32-tonne packaged plant room which will house the water distribution pumps, which circulate low carbon hot water from the water source heat pump within the energy centre.

The Castle Park project represents a significant investment and is being delivered in partnership between Goram Homes, Bristol City Council and Vital Energi and will supply 3MW of green heat into the network which already supplies heating and hot water to 1,000 properties.

The 3MW water source heat pump will take water from the nearby floating harbour and use it to generate low-carbon heat and hot water for the residents of Bristol via the existing Bristol heat network.

As part of the heat pumps development, people enjoying the north side of the park may notice warm air being ejected away from the energy centre. This is due to the installation of Dry Air Coolers which allow the heat from the pump to be dissipated into the air while the energy centre is being built. The scaffolding will be erected on the 28^th Jan 2022, with the units being delivered and set up on the 31^st Jan 2022. The units will be fenced off in the park and the warm air will be ejected away from the energy centre towards the north of the park. They will be there for approximately 6-8 weeks in total.

More information on the Bristol City Council’s heat network can be found on their Energy Service website.

Take a look at the progress pictures here

The 3.75km district heating extension in Barking and Dagenham is not only helping to decarbonise the borough but is also bringing employment and training opportunities for local young people who want to join the “Green Workforce”.

Our most recent appointment sees Barking and Dagenham College student, Priscilla Boateng, join us on placement as a Trainee Site Manager. The placement is part of a social value agreement between Vital Energi and B&D Energy, (wholly owned by Barking and Dagenham Council), which will see us invest in local people and the local economy whilst delivering the project.

Vital Energi’s Managing Director – Heat Networks, Ashley Walsh, commented: “We’ve been working hard to create a greener borough through the installation of an extensive district heating network, and thanks to the council’s giving back initiative, we’re delighted to welcome local college student Priscilla on board, who will be a great asset to the team.”

Trainee Site Manager, Priscilla Boateng said, “I’m really grateful for the fantastic opportunity that Barking and Dagenham Council and Vital Energi have provided me with. I’m looking forward to working on a large-scale project close to home that will have a positive impact on the entire community through the decarbonisation of the borough.”

Vital Energi will also be appointing an apprentice on the project as part of their commitment to hire 20 apprentices in 2021 and further support the growth of the green economy

Councillor Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing, said: “I’m pleased to see the expansion of B&D Energy’s district heating network is now well underway. This is another fantastic step in our journey to becoming the green capital of the capital and demonstrates our commitment to decarbonising the borough for the benefit of local people. Not only does this support our vision for a greener borough for all, but it will also mean residents can benefit all round from this excellent work.”

When completed, the £10m heat network will connect 15 different sites, over 8,000 homes and deliver 12,000 tonnes of carbon reduction per annum.*  The heat network will be powered by a new energy centre which will house two 1.5MWe combined heat and power engines and 27MW of backup gas boilers which will provide added resilience as well as contributing during peak demand.

Blackburn with Darwen Council have set a target of being carbon neutral by 2030 and as part of this ambition, will be working with Vital Energi on a new heat decarbonisation plan which will investigate ways in which the council can lower the emissions from their estate.

Vital Energi will produce the plan which will inform the council’s transition to being carbon neutral by 2030 and inform an application for funding to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

David Wilkinson, Vital Energi’s Design Director for Pre-Construction, commented, “This is a fantastic opportunity to be working on a project with some of the area’s best-loved and most-iconic buildings. The mix of premises make this project interesting, with some originating from the mid-1800s and others only approximately 10 years old.”

The council has chosen 13 of their buildings for the project and Vital Energi have undertaken in-depth surveys to identify the best options which could reduce carbon emissions by hundreds of tonnes per year. Buildings include:

• 10 Duke St, Blackburn
• Blackburn Central Library
• Blackburn Market
• Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery
• Blackburn Sports & Leisure Centre
• Blackburn Town Hall
• Darwen Leisure Centre
• Darwen Town Hall
• Blackburn Enterprise Centre
• King Georges Hall
• Witton Park Arena
• Darwen Town Hall
• Darwen Library & Theatre

Vital Energi have dual trained their first crop of welders in the essential skills of both arc welding & oxyacetylene welding needed to deliver small & large diameter district heating pipework.

Whilst steel district heating mains are predominantly welded using Arc welding, pipework of 100mm or less must use differing methods due to the wall thicknesses of the steel pipe work. Oxyacetylene welding is a preferred method for this for pipe sizes 100mm and below, and the number of trained operatives in this area has dwindled in recent years, alongside the overall number of welders in the UK declining by a quarter over the last five years.

As welders with the necessary skills are no longer available in the numbers required, Vital created a training programme at their £2m training academy to upskill their existing workforce with the necessary skills.

Ashley Walsh, Vital Energi’s Managing Director of Heat Networks explains, “Oxyacetylene welding has been in decline, as a skill, for a while, which is worrying as we believe Heat Network Zoning will see a significant increase in the amount of district heating being installed, and this is a necessary skill for successful delivery.  If this continues it will create a skills gap which will be a genuine barrier to the UK delivering heat networks and meeting its net zero targets.

“The only way to address this is for organisations to take responsibility and train employees in the essential skills they will need to deliver heat networks to the high standard required for what is an essential part of the UK’s energy infrastructure.”

The training sees Vital’s employees undertake a 6-month training course under the guidance of an experienced welding tutor and, after passing practical exams at an independent UKAS testing house, become accredited to perform oxyacetylene welding.

Mr Hutchinson continues, “There has been some outstanding work done to create high standards for the industry, such as the Heat Network Code of Practice and the work being done through the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme, but this will only have an impact if operatives have the skills necessary to deliver a quality install and we are confident that graduates from our training course will have these skills.”

The first graduates from the project are now working to install major heat networks throughout the UK and we look forward to expanding the training to more Vital Energi employees.

Ashley Walsh is Vital Energi’s Managing Director for Heat Networks and has been instrumental in delivering some of the UK’s largest district heating projects, including the Queens Quay, Liverpool Waters and Leeds PIPES.  David Wilkinson, our Design Director sits on the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme Steering Group and has decades of overseeing the design of major UK heat networks and energy centres.  Both sat down with us to discuss the key considerations for delivering heat networks and if you’d like to see the conversation, click here.

Applications for our next intake of apprentices are now open!

We’re holding two open days during National Apprenticeship Week where students and school leavers are invited to our Blackburn headquarters. They’ll be able to see the offices and facilities, and chat to current apprentices and staff to gain insight into not only the different apprenticeships on offer, but what it’s like to work at Vital Energi.

The open days are taking place on Tuesday 11^th February from 4 – 7:30pm, and Thursday 13^th February from 9:30am – 4pm.

We welcome anyone who is passionate about working on innovative projects that tackle harmful carbon emissions and make a real difference in the world. We’d love you to join us in our mission to protect our planet for future generations.

Our open days involve:

• Touring our state-of-the-art training centre
• Listening to industry experts about the diverse projects we deliver
• Participating in STEM activities
• Connecting with current apprentices to gain valuable insights into life at Vital Energi

There are many apprenticeships on offer, from our award-winning net zero apprenticeship programmes, energy modelling, and finance, to business admin, and HR.

This is truly an exciting and growing industry to be a part of. Not only will you get to work with the latest technologies, and work with industry leaders who are developing groundbreaking tech and IP to transform energy generation and storage, you’ll help different sectors on their transition to net zero. Sectors we work with include healthcare, education, industry, commercial, new build, and existing residential.

As exciting as our projects are, it’s the people who make Vital Energi special and you’ll get to work alongside nationally renowned experts with decades of experience and learn from the very best the industry has to offer.

Our net zero apprenticeship programmes will take apprentices on an energy journey where they will learn and work within the renewable energy and heat network sectors.

We’re delighted to be collaborating with Salford City Council, where our net zero apprentices will complete their curriculum learning.

Allan Milne, Director of Apprenticeships & Employer Engagement at Salford City College Group, said:

“Apprenticeships are an excellent way to launch a successful career in the growing green energy sector. At Apprenticeships at Salford City College, our partnership with Vital Energi ensures that apprentices receive high-quality training from day one, working alongside industry experts on real-world sustainable energy projects. With dedicated support from the college, apprentices gain invaluable skills, achieve industry-recognised qualifications, and build a future-proof career that makes a real impact on the journey to net zero.”

Net Zero Apprentice, Mia Walker, who is on the technical pathway, started her apprenticeship journey last September and has worked across a number of different departments.

“For me, a Vital Energi Apprenticeship has given me the freedom to choose my own path within the company. We are able to experience different disciplines within multiple departments, gaining valuable knowledge from experienced colleagues that offer guidance and room for growth. Whether you have your career mapped out or don’t, there are plenty of opportunities here at Vital.”

If you would like to attend one of our open days, please click here to sign up.

We are delighted that 2024 has seen our apprentices continue their award-winning success, with Senior Apprentice, Leah Hardaker claiming the Campbell Cummings Building Services Apprentice of the Year award at Salford City College’s annual apprentice awards.

Her Manager continues, “Leah is a great example of an apprentice who joined us with the right attitude, making the most of every opportunity and constantly looking for ways to improve and learn.  We’re delighted that she was named as an apprentice of the year and look forwards to great things from her.”

Leah is just one of our apprentices to win an award, with other successes including the CIBSE apprentice of the year, BESA apprentice of the year and the Ken Dale Bursary.

If you’d like to follow in their footsteps and join Vital Energi as an apprentice then you can find out more about our craft, technical and business apprenticeships here. 

We love taking the opportunity to meet youngsters to discuss climate change, the work we do to combat it and the various career paths available in the green energy sector. November was a particularly busy month with our staff getting invited to three schools across England and Scotland to deliver climate education talks.

Our Project Director, Hugh Thompson and Proposals Manager, Gemma Dyson travelled to St John’s Primary School in Blackwood, Scotland to meet a group of 20 pupils aged 9-11 and talk about global warming and ways to join the future green workforce.

Richard Houghton returned to Bolton School, where he had previously studied, to address a lunchtime audience of years 10-13 and talk about careers in electrical engineering. Richard talked about studying for a degree, the importance of the right work placements and the work he does now with 3-D models, diagnosing problems and finding ways to solve them.

Our third visit involved Design Director, Operations North & Scotland, Lee Moran, who attended St Bede’s in Lytham, where he spoke at a careers provision event and discussed the wide variety of roles and pathways into the future green workforce.

We’d like to thank all the schools who made our staff feel so welcome and the students for their engagement and enthusiasm.

With almost 20 years’ experience in solar energy, Vital Energi’s Pre-Construction Manager, Giles Barker, gives us an insight into how solar technologies can provide organisations all over the world with a bright and sustainable future. 

Why did you choose to specialise in solar?
I first installed solar panels in 2004 during a social housing development project, and really liked the idea of residents being able to save money on energy costs and benefit from free electricity, and properties as a whole being more self-sufficient. I enjoy thinking outside the box to overcome different challenges when improving energy efficiencies, introducing solutions which will truly benefit the client. Solar energy is good for the planet too, so I’m passionate about introducing it wherever I can.

What are the main advantages of using solar?
Using solar energy reduces your dependence on the grid and fossil fuels. It’s a mindset. It also saves you money, a fair amount depending on your system size. It reduces carbon and your carbon footprint, and once installed, it’s low maintenance and there are minimal running costs.  

How does solar benefit the environment?
It’s a renewable source of energy, so it won’t run out, plus it’s environmentally friendly because it doesn’t generate greenhouse gases. Renewable energy technologies help reduce your carbon footprint, meaning you’ll personally be doing your bit for the environment.
 

Can you share any surprising facts about solar? 2 facts!

• 90% of the aluminium frames are produced from recycled materials.
• Installed product prices have reduced by 75% in 10 years approximately.

Do solar panels still work on cloudy days?
Solar panels work all year round. It’s actually radiation from the sun, rather than temperature, heat or direct sunlight, that enables solar PV panels to generate electricity. The most optimum conditions are surprisingly on a sunny winter’s day, because cold temperatures help solar panels convert energy more efficiently.

How does Vital make use of solar panels?
At Vital’s HQ in Blackburn, there are 264 solar panels on the roof which power the fleet of electric vehicles. Many of the company vehicles are electric and there is the facility to charge 22 vehicles at once. So far, the solar panels have powered over 400,000 electric miles, saving 8,000 gallons of fuel, which is really impressive!

Does solar PV work best as a standalone energy source or combined with other technologies?
Solar PV works very effectively both independently and connected to further technologies. It works incredibly effectively with both Air Source Heat Pumps and Ground Source Heat Pumps.

Do solar farms pose an environmental threat?
There is a common misconception that solar farms pose environmental challenges, however when installed correctly, they can have a positive impact on the surrounding land. For example, the land where solar farms are located can be used for active grazing, and the solar panels create man-made shelters for livestock, which stops them overheating during summer months.

Have you introduced any unique techniques to add value to solar projects?
Yes, bee bombing! Not all fields have to be mowed, so I have introduced wildflower meadows to fields where we’ve installed solar farms. The beauty of wildflower meadows is that the flora and fauna grow to roughly the same height as the solar panels, so they don’t affect efficiencies. This of huge benefit to the environment, as the world is short of bees (mother nature’s gardeners), and these meadows provide a feast for them.

What advice would you give to an organisation who are considering going down the solar route?
Listen and take advice from experts and people who have experience in solar energy. Think about how solar can work with other low carbon technologies such as battery storage and heat pumps to provide more significant benefits.  If it’s installed properly, you can reap the benefits for many years.

What kind of solar projects has Vital been involved in?
During my time here at Vital, we have delivered a broad range of solar schemes from freestanding solar farm projects and private wire schemes, to on roof schemes delivered as part of larger projects. It’s fair to say Vital Energi can deliver it all.

If you would like to know more about how you can benefit from solar technologies, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Retrofit and new-build performance

A review of a building’s energy system is essential to understand the changes needed to make it compatible with a lower-temperature district energy system. This, combined with a survey of historical energy consumption, begins to paint a picture of what is necessary, but historical oversizing of heat emitters and antiquated controls systems can actually provide a benefit, as they reduce the need to change the secondary side heating system.

Improved standards and advances in technology mean buildings that are only years old can compare poorly in relation to current buildings. The Queens Quay development has buildings that are a few decades old, but because of their fabric construction and existing heating system design, we need to be able to deliver flow temperatures of 80°C and return temperatures of 60°C.

On the new buildings, where we can have an input on design, we can deliver 70°C flow and 45°C, resulting in lower temperatures and a higher temperature differential.

Retrofits require more consideration in the design process, but we believe Queens Quay demonstrates that heat pumps are viable for buildings of all ages. Lowering temperatures, while improving insulation, emitters and controls, can be an extremely efficient energy solution.

If you’d like to learn more about the Queens Quay energy project then please visit our case study page here.