Vital Energi appointed to Mersey Heat network

Peel Energy has appointed renewable energy company Vital Energi to deliver its Mersey Heat network which will provide heat for up to 9,000 homes and four million square feet of commercial space at Liverpool Waters.

The district heat network has been designed to evolve alongside Peel L&P’s £5.5Bn Liverpool Waters development and will begin with a temporary energy centre to serve the initial phases. As the energy demand increases, this will be replaced with a permanent energy centre which will deliver low carbon heat and hot water to the growing community.

The network will see approximately 1,700m of underground district heating pipe and this will be extended to connect future blocks as they come online.

Mersey Heat, the Energy Services Company (ESCo), will own the heat network which will contribute towards the UK Government’s CO₂ targets and help to make Liverpool a greener place to live, work and visit.

The first phase of the network will deliver around 11 gigawatt hours of heat energy to people centred on the Liverpool waterfront around Princes Dock, Central Docks and Collingwood Dock to the north, funded by Mersey Catalyst Fund. The project has been developed by Peel Energy in association with district energy consultants Ener-Vate.

Muir Miller, Managing Director of Peel Energy, part of Peel L&P, said: “Our Mersey Heat network is part of Liverpool City Region’s innovative approach to addressing low-carbon energy generation and we’re glad to have Vital Energi on board in helping us to deliver this project.

“It’s the first phase of a ten-year development project which we hope will eventually supply around 9,000 homes and numerous businesses along Liverpool’s waterfront and we’re pleased to be able to provide a cost-effective low carbon offer that will benefit businesses, residents and the environment.”

Vital Energi’s Regional Director, Mike Cooke explains: “We were originally appointed to help develop the energy infrastructure and this new contract will see us design, build, operate and maintain what we believe will be one of the UK’s major heat networks.

“We know Liverpool City Council has put a strong focus on reducing carbon emissions and the developers, Peel L&P have a firm commitment to creating sustainable communities and by working collaboratively together we are now able to begin work on a significant addition to Liverpool’s low-carbon ambitions.”

Works have already begun on site, and with some 50% of the initial district heating network installed successfully, works on the temporary energy centre are due to begin shortly with the “heat on” milestone scheduled for spring 2020.

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