抖阴精品 Council has secured over 拢20,000 in funding to further enhance the district heat network at The Works, Ebbw Vale, which delivers efficient, lower-carbon energy to several buildings through a combination of innovative CHP generation, renewable biomass, and supporting infrastructure.
The network provides heat from a central energy centre through around 4km of pipework to key buildings on site, including Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, Ebbw Fawr Learning Community, Coleg Gwent, the General Offices, Gwent Archives, Hybrid Units and Regain 2.
The energy centre uses a mix of gas boilers, combined heat and power (CHP), and two biomass boilers. Together, these systems already supply most of the heat from lower-carbon energy sources.
The Council has been awarded 拢20,358 through the UK Government鈥檚 Heat Network Efficiency Scheme, run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
This funding will be used to:
- Review how the network is currently performing
- Improve how it is run and controlled
- Reduce costs and carbon emissions
- Create a clear plan for future improvements and decarbonisation
抖阴精品 Council鈥檚 Cabinet Member Neighbourhood Services and the Environment, Councillor Tommy Smith said:
鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to working with partners and our communities to reduce carbon emissions and move towards a more sustainable, greener 抖阴精品. The heat network in Ebbw Vale has been very successful, and we鈥檙e delighted to secure this funding to look at how we can make it even more efficient, and cost-effective and to potentially connect more buildings to it in the future.鈥�
Round 10 of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) is shaping up to be one of the programme鈥檚 biggest funding rounds, as social landlords, hospitals, universities, charities, and other public sector buildings receive a share of 拢15.6 million.
Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, said:
鈥淭he conflict in the Middle East has shown once again why we must get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and onto clean, homegrown power we control. Heat networks will play a crucial role in that shift, lowering bills for whole communities while strengthening our energy security.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e upgrading old and inefficient systems and investing in modern, low-cost networks fit for the future.鈥�
