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How were we at communicating with you, your staff and parents?

It was great to have a local team member in the Project Manager Richard. This meant that our community could relate to the organisation. The team did everything possible to get important information known to the community.

We often speak of our clients as partners.  Do you think we lived up to this when connecting you to the heat network?

Most definitely.

Can you think of any instances where we went the extra mile to help?

On occasion, we suffer from anti-social behaviour. There was one occasion when the safety barriers (adjacent to the main car park gates) had been torn down. When I arrived at school in the morning, I knew that this was going to cause issues as we have car parking problems in the area as well as the build-up of pedestrians trying to access the site. I phoned up a team member and within 20 minutes, someone was on site sorting out the issue. This meant that the school day wasn’t impacted, and I could tick one issue off my list straight away.

How does it feel to know your school is now lower carbon?

I know that this is a big target for Newport City Council so it’s great to know that we are contributing to their aims.

What advice would you give to someone who’s considering connecting to a heat network?

Connect with the team to find out all the information you need. They will take the time to go through the finer details with you.

Looking back, how do you feel the process of connecting to a heat network went?

The process went much better than expected. It’s not often I say that, so this is a great achievement! Thank you!

Vital Energi (VE): What were you hoping to achieve through the Duffryn Heat Network Replacement Scheme?Mark Chircop

(MC): From a social value perspective, although this contract was based over a short period of time, our Community Development Team were able to carry out Asset Mapping before Vital Energi won the contract. We spent time talking to community members, charities, and community groups to really understand the wants, needs, and aspirations of the people in Duffryn. Our aim was to work in partnership with Vital Energi and pass on what we’d learned so that we could support the community and leave a long-term, positive legacy.

VE: Do you think that goal was achieved?

MC: Personally, yes. Together we tackled urgent needs, like donating Christmas food packages to the local food bank, and invested in long-term projects, such as the Nurture Farm at Tredegar Park Primary, which will benefit the community for generations. We focused on where we could maximise the collective impact on the community.

The Duffryn community has long felt unheard, but Vital, in partnership with Hedyn, showed they were truly listening and took meaningful action based on what the community had identified.

VE: Social value is clearly important to Hedyn…

MC: Absolutely. Social Value is very important. Utilising localised knowledge to help us make informed decisions. We were very focused on delivering something with longevity in the heart of the community.  While short-, and medium-term initiatives are essential for urgent needs, we’re also thinking about the wellbeing of future generations.

Our mantra is: “Doing the right thing. Making it happen. Being the Difference”,  connecting communities where everyone can live well and creating a lasting legacy.

VE: How did Vital Energi align with that mantra?

MC: Like any partnership, it took time. Vital isn’t a local contractor, so we had to help them understand the community’s wants, needs and aspirations. What they did well was listen. There was no arrogance on their part, and they were open to the research we’d been doing and the options we were able to provide.

They worked with us to build initiatives that would have real impact. Once we understood each other, it was clear our missions were aligned. We found shared passions and worked hard to deliver on them. The Vital team was really positive and, overall, their mission and ours was very similar in that we want to help create stronger communities. Once this had been created, we were able to introduce them to the options in the community.

VE:  Hedyn seems to have a deep understanding of Duffryn. How did you get to this point, and what advice would you give other housing associations?

MC: It’s an ongoing journey. We’ll never fully understand everything, but we’ve spent a lot of time engaging with groups and individuals, building an asset-based community development model. We look at what exists, what the challenges are, and how to remove barriers and unlock potential.

You also have to be honest, learn from what worked and what didn’t. Accept criticism and use it to improve. That way, we can help contractors maximise the good they can do whilst they’re working in these communities.

Not all contractors listen, and that’s their choice. But Vital made it clear they weren’t just an energy partner, they were a full partner, which is when this kind of work really shines.

For example, they funded a Carpet Kurling competition for the over-55s for a year. That one initiative promoted activity, wellness, mental wellbeing, and tackled loneliness. It had a real positive impact on that community and culminated in an away day visit to Rodney Parade stadium, where the sessions were put into practice, with other schemes from around the City. This also left somewhat of a legacy, as it continues to this very day, growing every year.

VE: How important is the pre-construction period in building shared values and goals?

MC: : It’s crucial. I attended the mobilisation meetings and got to know the team early on. This was a shorter contract, just nine months, so we had to hit the ground running. We started mapping opportunities three months before the project began, so we had ideas to bring to the table.

That early dialogue helped us build strength and focus on real community needs.

VE: What advice would you give to organisations planning similar heat network replacement projects?

MC: Be open and honest.  Have challenging conversations early on if necessary.  Build understanding and gather feedback. Decisions should be collective and informed.

Balance short-term needs, like food bank support, with long-term goals, like the Nurture Farm.

VE: What can these Public/Private Partnerships Achieve at Their Best?

MC: I think the Tredegar Park Primary School’s new Nurture Farm, which Vital part-funded, is a fantastic example of what can be achieved.  It’s created a new, outdoor space which promotes an active learning model.

In an age where it’s tempting for children to stare at their screens, the kids at Tredegar Park Primary are out in nature, learning practical skills and connecting with nature.  This new facility now serves 430 children and the headteacher is sharing it with the wider community so more people can enjoy this fantastic facility.

If you want a metric that matters, look at the faces of the kids when they’re outdoors, looking after goats, chickens and tending vegetable beds… You really can’t put a price on that.

In 2021 Morriston Hospital became the first hospital in Wales to develop a solar farm.  The project was successful in cutting their carbon emissions by 1,933 tonnes per year and work has begun on a new £3.6m solar extension and battery energy storage system (BESS) which will deliver another 1MW of clean energy for the Health Board.

The new BESS will allow for the energy created during the daytime to be used after sunset, allowing more of the electricity generated to be used by the hospital. In addition to the carbon savings, the solar farm and extension are expected to save over £1.2 million in energy costs per year.

Mr Keighan Continued, “Those two factors are really important. Our savings coincide with the rising costs of electricity, and in terms of carbon emissions it is at a time when it’s more important than ever to look after our environment.

“As a health board, we are determined to continue reducing our carbon footprint, and the solar farm has helped us enormously in that respect.”

The additional 1MW will increase the overall generation of power to 5MW – an extra 1,000,000 kWh per year – taking the total expected annual generation to 5 million kWh. The total demand for the hospital is close to 15m kWh per year.

The solar extension and BESS are expected to generate a third of Morriston Hospital’s power and make an additional annual saving of around £325k to the £900,000 already being saved each year on electricity costs.

Until now, the solar farm has provided around a quarter of the hospital’s electricity needs.”

Beverley Radford, Estates Programme Manager, said: “The combined effect of both of these systems will be to further reduce reliance on grid electricity at Morriston with a corresponding additional saving of around £325k per year plus helping to insulate the health board from volatile and generally increasing future energy costs.

“We saw unprecedented swings in electricity prices and energy prices generally caused by global geopolitical factors outside of our control in 2022 and this year. It was this backdrop of spiralling energy prices which led to the increase in generation capacity and the addition of the battery to our solar farm together with the health board’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

“During this time, there were occasions when the solar generated more power than the hospital needed, so the electricity was sold back to the grid. The price of that has doubled within two years, which has impacted on the viability of the farm and is one of the reasons it is possible now to expand the farm.”

This latest phase is expected to be fully operational by April 2024.

It is the first solar farm in the UK to directly power a hospital, and has already delivered a cost-avoidance of £1.8m in electricity bills since being switched on two years ago by generating its own power instead of purchasing it from the grid.

The solar farm initially cost £5.7m, with this extension costing £3.6m – repayable over 11 years – which has been funded by an invest to save grant from Welsh Government’s Wales Funding Programme.

Scott Lutton, Vital Energi’s Operations Director explains, “Swansea Bay UHB have a fantastic approach towards decarbonisation.  They have a long-term plan, with a clear strategy of how they will reach Net Zero and we are delighted to be able to work alongside them to deliver this.

“By focusing on energy reduction first, then creating a solar farm and decarbonising their heating infrastructure they have demonstrated how a phased approach can yield strong decarbonisation, we believe they are a role model for public sector organisations who need to meet their net zero targets.”

Work is already in progress, with over 1,800 new panels being constructed, taking the total to 11,836.

The extension will be completed towards the end of February with the extension and battery expected to be fully operational in April.

Use your pre-construction period wisely

The pre-construction phase is more than just scheduling, it’s a chance to build relationships, learn the university’s routines, and design a project that respects campus life. By meeting with building managers, curriculum leads, and estates staff, we learn about busy periods, sensitive locations, and special equipment needs. Walking planned heating routes with university staff helps us understand the impact on access, fire escapes, and everyday services like bin collections.

A Quiet Place

Safeguarding study, learning and exams is a core objective for everyone involved.  We can work with university to create designated quiet zones which avoid noisy work at certain times.

As standard, our teams work 8am-5pm term time and we deploy noisier equipment, such as angle grinders, away from residences and study zones wherever possible.

Timing is Everything

We pioneered the approach of delivering district heating in zones. This not only maintains project momentum but also allows us to pivot, pausing work in one area and progressing in another when campus events demand attention and silence, such as graduations. Flexibility is the key to minimising disruption.

Don’t Forget the Students!

I can’t over state how important communication is.  Your comms plan shouldn’t be limited to showing what’s happening, it should also show why!  Over 80% of students express strong support for sustainability initiatives, so seize every opportunity to share the benefits. Make sure they understand the carbon reductions, future cost savings and improvements to air quality.

If you can create a sense of pride and ownership then you can transform uninformed objections into informed, engaged support.

Embrace the Feedback and Learn Your Lessons Well

Maps and plans are only part of the story. The lived experience of the campus community is irreplaceable. Open consultations, drop-in sessions, and stakeholder mapping help us to understand real concerns and gather practical solutions from those who know the university best.

By embedding flexibility, empathy, and clear communication at every stage, we believe that decarbonising university campuses can be achieved without impacting what makes these institutions special. Through partnership and careful planning, disruption becomes not an obstacle but a challenge we can manage. We are proving that a greener future does not have to come at the cost of university life.

The City Of Liverpool College and Vital Energi join forces to support Net Zero Targets

Vital Energi has partnered with The City of Liverpool College for the second year to deliver bespoke renewable energy and heat network apprenticeship programmes across the country.

Scaling up heat networks and generating energy from renewable technologies is at the heart of the Government’s plans to boost the UK’s energy security and achieve the country’s Net Zero target by 2050. To achieve this, 18% of heat will need to come from heat networks. As it stands today, connections to heat networks represents just 2%, so we need the resource and skills to deliver this infrastructure.

In response to this, Vital – which has over 30 years’ experience in delivering heat networks – is joining forces with The City of Liverpool College, which will deliver the curriculum from the £2m state-of-the-art Training Academy located at Vital’s Blackburn headquarters, for two pathways: Craft and Technical.

Both pathways will enable apprentices to learn and work within the renewable energy and heat networks market. They will discover how energy is generated and distributed, and how to manage and reduce consumption for residential and commercial clients. Apprentices will also learn how carbon emissions are reduced through Vital’s renewable technologies and the innovative products they have developed.

The initiative follows an incredibly successful first year for the programmes, which demonstrate the organisations’ commitments to developing the key industry skills required to achieve net zero and create a sustainable workforce to shape the energy landscape for the future.

Liverpool City Region has an ambition to reach net zero carbon by 2040 and The City of Liverpool College is focussed on developing its curriculum around the needs of industry, creating a workforce for the future by developing the skills needed to enter the world of work in sustainable careers.

Lindsay Meadows, Head of Apprenticeships at The City of Liverpool College, said:

“Our partnership with Vital Energi is built on the knowledge and skills of its engineers and our innovative curriculum leaders at The City of Liverpool College. Working with progressive, exciting organisations such as Vital Energi helps us to continue to innovate and provide our students with the skills they need to enter the workforce and forge successful, sustainable careers.

“The apprenticeships will play an essential role in developing the skills needed to deliver our low carbon future, while giving apprentices the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and forge sustainable careers in the industry.”

The programmes will be delivered via a blended mix of virtual online teaching and a minimum of 25 days curriculum learning each year within the Training Academy. Apprentices will spend the majority of their time on-site working on real projects, where they will pick up a wealth of skills through hands-on experience and support from Vital’s expert team.

During the three-year Craft programme, apprentices will study for a Level 3 Building Services Engineering Craftsperson qualification. They will learn a range of key skills from pipework fabrication and jointing techniques such as electro fusion jointing, to welding, the installation of plumbing and heating systems, and more.

At the end of the Technical programme, apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Building Services Design Technician qualification, after developing their understanding of building services design principles.

Chris Roach, a site-based Project Manager at Vital Energi, started his career journey at The City of Liverpool College when he was 18 years old, where he completed a four-year Mechanical Building Engineering apprenticeship. He studied Building Services Engineering in the first two years before focussing on Mechanical Building Services Engineering in the last two.

As well as achieving a HND, Chris won the North West HVAC Student Engineer of the year in 2005, and the National CIBSE HVAC Student Engineer of the year in 2005. His hard work and determination throughout his apprenticeship formed a solid platform for his future career.

Chris Roach, Project Manager at Vital Energi, said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an apprentice at The City of Liverpool College, and as well as gaining a wealth of skills through hands on experience and support from tutors, it allowed me to discover the career path I wanted to follow.

“I strongly believe that my apprenticeship formed a great foundation for my career path. Here at Vital, we’re working on exciting projects across the whole of the UK to help our clients reach net zero. We’ve connected over 82,000 homes to heat networks so far and in my opinion, there is no better time to join us!”

During the three-year Craft programme, apprentices will study for a Level 3 Building Services Engineering Craftsperson qualification. They will learn a range of key skills from pipework fabrication and jointing techniques such as electro fusion jointing, to welding, the installation of plumbing and heating systems, and more.

On his experience of the programme, Harvey Hudson, Technical Apprentice, commented:

“As well as a better understanding of the job and career, spending time in a variety of departments has helped broaden my knowledge of the industry and the many different aspects required for a successful project. I’m also able to gain valuable, practical experience and learn from site-based professionals, which I know will help me to hit the ground running in my career.”

At the end of the Technical programme, apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Building Services Design Technician qualification, after developing their understanding of building services design principles.

Vital Energi is working on nationwide projects and are looking to recruit apprentices from all over the UK. To find out more about the apprenticeship programmes and to apply, visit:

https://www.vitalenergi.co.uk/careers/apprenticeship-programmes/

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.

Vital Energi has helped Berkeley Homes in their mission to create a sustainable neighbourhood, through the installation of air source heat pumps and a brand-new energy centre for phase three of their Woodberry Down development.

Comprising over 5,500 new homes right next to Finsbury Park, Berkeley is regenerating the area in partnership with Hackney Council, in an innovative 30-year project which will be built over eight phases.
Vital Energi was awarded the £3.1m contract to design and build the energy centre for phase three of the development.

The project saw the installation of air source heat pumps, a primary low-temperature heating system within the energy centre, along with distribution pipework which runs from the heat pumps down to the energy centre which will serve all eight phases of the development.
Three 1.5MW condensing boilers were fitted within the new energy centre, which Vital Energi will operate and maintain for two years, along with a Building Management System, and three 6m high 27,000 litre thermal stores.

Vital Energi is passionate about leaving a positive impact and a lasting legacy within the communities in which they work, so they installed viewing windows in the Energy Centre, so residents and passers-by can see the technologies which are providing sustainable energy to all the homes at Woodberry Down.

We’ve been sub-contracted to support the Palace of Westminster’s Restoration & Renewal Programme, where we’re completing an early concept feasibility study on the application of water source heat pumps to reduce the carbon footprint of the Palace.

The iconic Palace of Westminster, home of Parliament, has played a unique role in our political history for 900 years and now it needs urgent repair.

Work has started on extensive surveys and inspections throughout the Palace to better understand the condition of the building, and thanks to our extensive experience in the design and installation of heat pumps, we have been asked to compile a comprehensive feasibility study into the use of water source heat pumps.

We will assess and quantify the potential available energy from the River Thames and detail how river heat exchange and boreholes can be used in tandem to ensure the most resilient and robust heating and cooling supply arrangement. We’ll also review options and make recommendations for the optimum heat pump technologies and arrangement.

The Restoration and Renewal Programme is committed to embedding sustainability across all phases of the works. Sustainability aspirations and objectives have been developed and will be used to steer design, construction and operational decisions.

Through the feasibility study, we’ll be supporting the delivery of one of the Programme’s key sustainability aspirations which is, “delivering resilience using innovative technology to maintain operation in a changing climate. Optimising building performance, establishing long term maintenance strategies and sustainable logistics.”