MPs see innovative heat network in action
Three North East MPs have visited the District Energy Network (DEN) in Gateshead to see for themselves the innovative technology cutting both carbon emissions - and energy bills.
Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon and Consett, Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Gateshead South and Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and West, took a tour of the DEN and solar park and asked questions at a presentation from experts on heat networks - both from Gateshead Council and from the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).
Anneliese Hutchinson, the council's strategic director for economy, innovation and growth, and Jim Gillon, the service director for energy and design, were joined by ADE chief executive Caroline Bragg to explain all about the value of heat networks - both economically and from a climate perspective.
Gateshead's District Energy Network is powered using naturally warmed mine water from 150 metres below the ground.
It is largest of its kind in the UK, and is leading the way on proving the reliability and economic case for investing in such networks.
The MPs were given a presentation on the network at the Northern Design Centre, before a tour of the network, the Baltic solar park and the premises of a key customer - GB Lubricants.
The visitors saw the heat network on one of the days when it operates without use of any fossil fuels - the sunny, cold day meant all power was coming from our solar parks, and all heat from the minewater heat pump.
The network functions by mine water, at 15 degrees C, being taken from drilled boreholes and passed through a heat exchanger which transfers heat, via a heat pump, into a network of underground pipes that supply hot water at 80 degrees C to over 350 homes and around more than 25 buildings.
Mine water doesn't actually flow through the network which heats the buildings but is instead returned to the ground once the natural heat is taken from it.
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council, said: "We are very proud of our innovative heat network - and we are ambitious to expand our work, and bring the benefits of low carbon heat to an ever bigger audience.
"We hope our guests enjoyed the opportunity to see what we have already achieved in this arena - and can take back the message to Westminster that this technology can be a big part of the UK's future power needs."
Caroline Bragg, chief executive of the ADE said: "Gateshead's pioneering heat network proves what's possible when we tap into local energy sources - like mine water - that already exist beneath our feet.
"Right now, the UK wastes vast amounts of renewable energy and loses enough heat nationally to warm millions of homes.
"We urgently need to scale up heat network infrastructure like Gateshead to capture and repurpose that energy, slashing bills and carbon emissions together.
"With the right support, this sector could unlock £100bn for the UK by 2050, ensuring every community benefits from affordable, reliable, and locally sourced heat."
Three North East MPs have visited the District Energy Network (DEN) in Gateshead to see for themselves the innovative technology cutting both carbon emissions - and energy bills.
Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon and Consett, Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Gateshead South and Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and West, took a tour of the DEN and solar park and asked questions at a presentation from experts on heat networks - both from Gateshead Council and from the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).
Anneliese Hutchinson, the council's strategic director for economy, innovation and growth, and Jim Gillon, the service director for energy and design, were joined by ADE chief executive Caroline Bragg to explain all about the value of heat networks - both economically and from a climate perspective.
Gateshead's District Energy Network is powered using naturally warmed mine water from 150 metres below the ground.
It is largest of its kind in the UK, and is leading the way on proving the reliability and economic case for investing in such networks.
The MPs were given a presentation on the network at the Northern Design Centre, before a tour of the network, the Baltic solar park and the premises of a key customer - GB Lubricants.
The visitors saw the heat network on one of the days when it operates without use of any fossil fuels - the sunny, cold day meant all power was coming from our solar parks, and all heat from the minewater heat pump.
The network functions by mine water, at 15 degrees C, being taken from drilled boreholes and passed through a heat exchanger which transfers heat, via a heat pump, into a network of underground pipes that supply hot water at 80 degrees C to over 350 homes and around more than 25 buildings.
Mine water doesn't actually flow through the network which heats the buildings but is instead returned to the ground once the natural heat is taken from it.
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council, said: "We are very proud of our innovative heat network - and we are ambitious to expand our work, and bring the benefits of low carbon heat to an ever bigger audience.
"We hope our guests enjoyed the opportunity to see what we have already achieved in this arena - and can take back the message to Westminster that this technology can be a big part of the UK's future power needs."
Caroline Bragg, chief executive of the ADE said: "Gateshead's pioneering heat network proves what's possible when we tap into local energy sources - like mine water - that already exist beneath our feet.
"Right now, the UK wastes vast amounts of renewable energy and loses enough heat nationally to warm millions of homes.
"We urgently need to scale up heat network infrastructure like Gateshead to capture and repurpose that energy, slashing bills and carbon emissions together.
"With the right support, this sector could unlock £100bn for the UK by 2050, ensuring every community benefits from affordable, reliable, and locally sourced heat."
