Heat projects in Bridgend and Cardiff that will take excess heat that is produced in industry to public buildings have secured funding from the UK and Welsh governments. A combined £15.2m of funding has been pledged by the UK and Welsh governments to the Cardiff project, whilst the Bridgend project will receive £1.2m from the UK government.
Cardiff and Bridgend projects
In Cardiff, underground pipes will take the waste heat produced at the Viridor Energy Recovery Facility to buildings around the Cardiff bay area. The incinerator currently processes around 350,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year, which would produce enough electricity to power over 68,000 homes. The funding for the Bridgend project will go towards developing a new system of distribution pipes that will take excess heat from a combined power and heat plant and thermal storage facility.
Project goals
The aim is to expand the network of both projects in the future, whilst at the same time assisting the Welsh government in achieving its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The initial phases of these projects will serve public sector buildings, with homes and businesses benefitting in later phases. These projects provide a greener energy solution for homes and businesses going forward.
Other projects
Do not despair if you don’t live in Cardiff or Bridgend. The funding from the UK government forms part of its Heat Networks Investment Project, which totals £320m in support of the construction of heat networks throughout Wales and England. Funding for further projects will be announced across both England and Wales in the future. Savings for homes and businesses are expected, and it might make a trip to your electricity or gas meter box to take a reading a much more pleasurable experience. With the money you could be saving, you may even think about installing a new electricity or gas meter box such as gas meter box.
Sustainable energy is a hot topic, and there continues to be much research on alternative and greener energy solutions. It is encouraging to see this research becoming a reality now that non-recyclable waste can be converted into energy, and it is also positive that the government is backing these projects with substantial investment. This investment will also help meet carbon reduction targets and create the necessary conditions for a sustainable heat network market to develop.