Vattenfall start next phase of Bedminster heat network

As part of its role in Bristol City Leap, Vattenfall Heat UK has started the next phase of the Bedminster heat network, a key milestone in the delivery of vital infrastructure and bringing low carbon heat to the area.

The Bristol City Leap partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and Vattenfall Heat UK will accelerate investment in Bristol to help meet the city’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. This pioneering partnership plans to have invested over £770 million in clean energy in Bristol between launching in 2023 and 2029. These plans will include the creation of around 1,000 new jobs and play a major role in developing the city’s carbon free economy.

Vattenfall are responsible for expanding the city’s existing district heat network and creating a citywide network. Two heat networks are already running in Redcliffe and Old Market, with work underway to develop a third heat network in Bedminster.

The benefits include:

• Providing cost savings due to economies of scale
• Providing reliable low carbon heating at a fair price
• Improved air quality and public health by reducing fossil fuel-based heating systems
• Local community groups can apply for a Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund

As part of the phased delivery plan, in April 2024 Vattenfall will be installing a temporary energy centre to enable the first three heat network connections. This will be made up of three shipping containers approximately 5.5 metres long (18ft) that will include a low carbon fuel boiler, plant room and fuel tank. The containers will be surrounded by an acoustic fence. This first phase is one of three, starting with heat being generated using smaller equipment using low carbon fuels in the form of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

The temporary energy centre will be located on St John’s Road in Bedminster for around a year. In preparation, Vattenfall has started work to install a 30-metre underground heat network pipe on St John’s Road.  This energy centre will connect to developments coming to in Bedminster Green from April 2024.

As part of this work on the highway, St John’s Road will need to close from:

• Thursday 21 to Monday 25 March
• Saturday 30 to Sunday 31 March

There will be a signposted diversion in place while the road is closed. Businesses in the Malago Road Trading Estate will remain open throughout the works, and can be accessed via Sheene Road and St John’s Street.

If you have any questions about the heat network, please email BD-Heat@vattenfall.com. To report any questions with the works on St John’s Road, please email craig.dixon@cswprocess.co.uk.