Sustainable Energy first conceived the Castle Park energy centre in 2018 supply renewable heat to the low-carbon heat network in the Old Market area of Bristol. Recently winning a European Heat Pump Award the 3 MW water source heat pump uses energy extracted from the Bristol floating harbour – one of the first projects of its kind in the UK.
Scope:
In 2018, Sustainable Energy Ltd was first appointed by Bristol City Council and BEIS to establish a masterplan for a large-scale heat pump, to provide low-carbon heat to the city heat network.
Services:
Sustainable Energy Ltd has acted as lead consultant, taking the project through feasibility, concept design stages, RHI and HNIP funding applications, heat network design, substation design, stage 3 technical design & specification for the energy centre, and procurement for the Star ammonia heat pump & harbour abstraction system. In 2021, the construction contract was given to Vital Energi, with Sustainable Energy Ltd continuing to provide support in the roles of clients engineer and commissioning agent for the scheme. In March 2022, the heat pump and energy centre commenced operation, exporting heat to homes and businesses in the area.
Solution:
As the Bristol City heat network expands, the 3 MW water source heat pump in the Castle Park Energy Centre (located at the edge of the harbour near Castle Park) will supply heat into the burgeoning city heat network. Sustainable Energy continues to work with the team in Bristol City Council on the Bristol Heat Network, aiming to maximise utilisation of the network by connecting both new developments and existing buildings in the area, and supporting Bristol City Council in its ambitious and groundbreaking aim to achieve a carbon neutral city by 2030.
Councillor Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member for Environment, Ecology, Energy and Waste at Bristol City Council, said:
“Castle Park Energy Centre and the Bristol Heat Network play an integral part in decarbonising the city, and I’m delighted that our work with Goram Homes and Vital Energi has been recognised.
“Developing the heat networks has so many benefits for the city, including the reduction in fuel poverty, cutting carbon emissions and creating thousands of jobs to support the local economy.
“The installation of the 3MW Water Source heat pump and abstraction equipment manufactured by Star Refrigeration were only capable of being deployed with the establishment of an expert multidisciplinary team with Vital Energi as Principal Contractor, Sustainable Energy Ltd as lead designers and DQS as QS/Project manager.
“This award highlights our ability to deliver the kind of bold and innovative solutions that Bristol needs to tackle the climate emergency. Bristol’s Heat Network will continue to expand through our City Leap Energy Partnership, delivering reliable, decarbonised heat to new communities, whilst creating much needed jobs across the region.”
Castle Park Energy Centre comes out on top in European energy awards (bristol247.com)
Castle Park Lifts European Heat Pump Association Awards (vitalenergi.co.uk)
