£27m boost confirmed for Hull District Heat Network
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to the city’s heating-from-waste project, with chancellor Rachel Reeves saying the loan from the National Wealth Fund will ‘strengthen the city’s energy security.’
The £43m HDHN scheme will transport hot water generated from industrial waste heat via pipes to buildings across the city, and is also being funded via a £15m grant from the Green Heat Network Fund, £1.5m of Levelling Up money.
Work on the scheme began last month and is expected to take up to three years.
Vital Energi Utilities has been awarded contracts to both construct and operate the low-carbon heating network, with Phase 1 utilising heat from the Saltend Chemicals Park.
HDHN will provide low carbon heating to 14 public sector council buildings and some commercial customers, including the Guildhall, Hull College, Hull New Theatre, and Albion Square.
The network was first approved back in 2023, and was initially based immediately around the city centre, however that remit was soon expanded and Ridge & Partners was appointed to provide further topographical and utility surveys in July last year.
Hull is the second local authority heat network to be backed by the fund, the other being Solihull.
Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, said: “This is exactly the kind of practical action on the cost of living that Hull residents need.
“By backing Hull’s district heat network, we’re delivering a cheaper, cleaner alternative to other decarbonised heat solutions, saving money for council buildings, schools, homes, and businesses across our city.”
Hull City Council has calculated that the district heating network will prevent the equivalent of 110,00o tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere over the next 40 years, contributing to Hull’s Net Zero targets and helping to provide cleaner air as well as renewable heat.
