Buildings
that connect to the network would no longer need to use gas to heat their
property reducing energy bills and the city’s carbon emissions.
The
Cabinet will review proposals to develop a district-heating network in parts of
Cardiff Bay and the City Centre using energy from Trident Park Energy Recovery
Facility at its next meeting on April 19th. Trident Park ERF
currently has contracts to burn non-recyclable waste from nine local authorities in South East Wales, including Cardiff.
An
Outline Business Case has been developed to evaluate the project, based on a
detailed study funded by both Central and Welsh Government.
Cabinet
Member for Clean Streets and the Environment, Cllr Michael said: “This is an
exciting opportunity for Cardiff to develop new low-carbon, energy
infrastructure, fuelled by existing assets and facilities in the city. Analysis
that has been carried out shows the scheme has the opportunity to save 5,600
tonnes of carbon each year, with an assumption of a 5% saving on energy costs
for the buildings that connect to the network.
“However,
these schemes are reliant on a number of factors to make them viable. Firstly,
externalfunding
is required and we are working with both Central and Welsh Government to help
us put the correct funding in place. Secondly, long-term
contracts have to be secured to use the heat from the network and this will be
essential for the scheme to progress.
“The
Welsh Government has set out their aim for all the public sector to be carbon
neutral by 2030. This aim is supported by Cardiff Council’s recent Capital
Ambition policy document – which states that a sustainable, heat network
proposal will be drawn up by the administration.”
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Energy,
Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: “Decarbonising heat is a
significant challenge in delivering a low carbon economy for Wales. We are
supporting a range of initiatives and have provided significant assistance to
Cardiff Council to develop the project to this stage. We will continue to work in
partnership with Cardiff Council with the ambition of making the project a
reality”.
Viridor’s
Managing Director of Major Contracts, Chris Jonas, said the company was pleased
to work with Cardiff Council to maximise renewable energy and heat
opportunities and achieve the Welsh Government’s environmental ambitions.
“Viridor’s
view is that all waste should be given a purpose and valued as a resource,
rather than rubbish. It should be put to work for Welsh businesses and
communities. For Welsh residents and the business sector to see this concept
being put into practice in Cardiff is a goal which is well worth pursuing.”
The Council’s Cabinet will be
asked to allocate £4m towards the scheme, subject to the remaining money being
secured via Central Government, Welsh
Governmentand the private sector as appropriate.
An
Outline Business Case has been developed to evaluate the project and Cabinet
will be asked to give their support, in principle, for the scheme and to
progress to the next stages of the proposal. This will include applying for
grant and other funding, securing contracts with heat customers and suppliers
and beginning the process to tender for a company to design, build, operate and
maintain the heat network.
It is
likely that the heat network would be owned by an independent company through a
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the Council as a major shareholder.
All
heat networks need a source of heat and Cardiff has a modern Energy Recovery
Facility (EFR) in the heart of the Welsh Capital.
Trident
Park Energy Recovery Facility currently burns non-recyclable waste for two
council partnerships: Prosiect Gwyrdd involving Caerphilly, Cardiff, Newport,
Monmouthshire and Vale of Glamorgan Councils and the Tomorrow’s Valley
Partnership involving Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and
Torfaen Councils. Operated and owned by Viridor, the plant currently produces
30MW of electricity, enough energy to power 50,000 homes.
When
the facility was built, it was designed so that it could produce both heat and
power. When heat is used in addition to the electricity generation
process - it can significantly increase the
efficiency of the plant.
Energy
from waste plants which produce both heat and power are the Welsh Government’s
preferred solution for treating waste which cannot be recycled.
Commercial
terms would have to be agreed with Viridor, as the plant could contribute 85%
of the heat required for the heating network. Other heat sources are also
available in Cardiff with opportunities from both industrial processes and
water sources.
Recent
studies show that the scheme could be delivered in two phases. The first phase
would focus on implementing heat pipes to public buildings south of the railway
line. In this phase, an ‘energy centre’ would also have to be built with top
up/back up gas boilers which will be required when Trident Park ERF shuts down
for maintenance. The second phase will focus on buildings north and east of the
railway line.
The
proposed heat network would be built underground, so the project team will draw
up plans on how the scheme will be delivered to reduce disruption to the
highway network.