The collaborative efforts of Bristol City Leap and Vattenfall Heat UK have been recognised with the Green Heat Project of the Year accolade at the UK Green Business Awards 2024 and the Heat Project Award at the Decentralised Energy Awards 2024.
The first gong was for Green Heat Project of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards, where the Bristol Heat Network was hailed a ‘visionary collaboration’ by the judges, who praised both the scale of the emissions savings and the project’s ability to provide a template for other cities to follow. The judges also recognised how the partnership is playing a central role in Bristol’s net zero plans and is harnessing a pioneering water source heat pump to deliver clean energy to homes, offices, and public buildings across the city.
More success followed at the annual Association of Decentralised Energy Awards, where Bristol City Leap and Vattenfall won the Heat Project award, with the project being commended for its huge, city-wide approach and the fact it prioritises social value and community engagement. It was also noted by judges that the scale of ambition makes the project stand out as leading the way in the heat network industry through its process of partnering, financing and expansion.
Supplying the equivalent of 5,000 homes
There are now 30 commercial and residential buildings connected to the Bristol Heat Network, including Temple Fire Station, Central Health Clinic, Box Makers Yard apartment building, multiple social housing blocks and Hannah Moore Primary School. The network serves enough heat to supply the equivalent of more than 5,000 homes, with further connections in the pipeline.
One of the low carbon sources supplying heat to the network is England’s largest single harbour-based water source heat pump at Castle Park Energy Centre.
Dom Barton, Director of Heat Networks Bristol, at Vattenfall Heat UK, commented: “We couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved as part of the Bristol City Leap partnership. It really is a blueprint for what other UK cities can achieve with a strong ambition for combatting climate change.
“These awards are testament to our hard working and passionate team who are working for fossil freedom as part of their daily work.”
Image credit: Redcliff Street 2 @JonCraig_Photos.jpg, supplied by Copper Consultancy on behalf of Vattenfall