Bradford’s £75m decarbonised heat network is a blueprint for the UK
A new model for tackling the UK’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions could be developed based on the West Yorkshire city’s latest rollout. 
Spearheaded by 1Energy, Britain’s leading low-carbon heat network developer, Bradford’s decarbonised solution to keeping civic buildings warm has been awarded £75million in public finance and private capital. This includes £20million from the UK Government’s Green Heat Network Fund.
The heat pump-powered network will see all gas boilers replaced in connected buildings, reducing air pollution from heating by up to 75% and carbon emissions by 80% during phase one. Three key partners – the University of Bradford, Bradford College, and Bradford Court – will see their carbon dioxide output plummet by almost 30,000 tonnes each year. This is equivalent to removing 21,360 cars from the road. More than 50% of this reduction will take place at the University campus.
The Bradford Energy Network builds on the UK’s rapidly growing list of heat networks, however in this case the system is being deployed on existing buildings which require retrofitting, rather than new construction projects which have decarbonised technology built in from inception.
‘We cannot reach net zero without decarbonising heat. We are proud to be delivering a city-wide solution to this challenge for Bradford alongside the University of Bradford, Bradford College, and Bradford Courts,’ said Andrew Wettern, CEO of 1Energy. ‘The Bradford Energy Network is a flagship project in the UK’s transition to low carbon heating. Crucially, it also provides a blueprint for national rollout, successfully demonstrating how to: deploy institutional investment alongside Government funding, deliver savings for customers in the transition, and decarbonise existing and new buildings across a city through an exemplar low carbon heat network.’
‘Joining the Bradford Energy Network is another significant milestone in Bradford College’s sustainability strategy. After all the planned works are complete, a total annual direct carbon saving of over 285 tonnes per year is predicted, moving us a step closer to achieving Net Zero,’ Chris Malish, Vice Principal of Bradford College. ‘Nearly 3,500 staff and students based at our David Hockney Building and Advanced Technology Centre will benefit from this transition to renewable energy. Given Bradford is one of the UK’s youngest cities, it’s vital that we future-proof our region for the next generation, and we are delighted to be at the forefront of this work.’
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Image: 1Energy