The newly opened SEND school in Harehills will benefit from affordable, reliable, and sustainable heat and hot water.
The milestone was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by key partners, including Leeds City Council, Vital Energi, and Ener-Vate.
This connection extends the network’s reach beyond the city centre, joining locations such as St. James’ Hospital in Burmantofts, which already benefits from the scheme.
Positive impact across Leeds
Since its launch in 2018, Leeds PIPES has connected over 3,000 dwellings and 55 buildings, reducing nearly 6,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2023 alone. Educational institutions such as Trinity Academy Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, and Leeds Conservatoire are already part of the network, with Co-op Academy Brierley now joining the list.
To further its impact, project partners are introducing climate education sessions in schools, empowering students to explore their roles in the green transition.
Andrew Wightman, regional director at Vital Energi, highlighted the project’s success: “Connecting buildings like Co-op Academy Brierley ensures cost and carbon savings while supporting climate education for young people.”
A collaborative effort for climate progress
Headteacher Sarah Harridge praised the partnership between Leeds City Council, Vital Energi, and Ener-Vate, stating: “Co-op schools are leading the way in reducing carbon emissions and engaging students with a climate change curriculum. The Leeds PIPES network represents a meaningful opportunity for our pupils to learn about green solutions while benefiting from sustainable heating.”
Cllr. Mohammed Rafique, executive member for climate, energy, environment, and green spaces at Leeds City Council, noted: “Connecting more buildings to Leeds PIPES is essential as we work towards making Leeds the UK’s first net zero city.”
The project uses waste heat from the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF), which provides around 95% of the network’s energy. Andy Kirwan, head of network development at Ener-Vate, emphasised:
“From the school grounds, pupils can see the RERF facility that supplies heat to the network, bringing the story of PIPES to life.”
Image: Leeds PIPES