Govt awards £6.2m for Mersey Heat expansion

The funds will enable the low-carbon district heat network to pursue the inclusion of the iconic Three Graces buildings in Liverpool and nearby properties at Pier Head.

The money from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy will go towards one of two 3MW heat pumps. Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management has also contributed funding for the project.

The money will also allow Mersey Heat, a part of Peel NRE, to conduct feasibility studies on the network expansion into the historic Liverpool structures, including the Royal Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings, as well as the Museum of Liverpool and George’s Dock Building.

“Mersey Heat supports national and local targets to achieve net zero and we’re pleased to receive further funding to help roll out the network on a larger scale,” said Peel NRE commercial director Jonathan Burley.

“The addition of large historical buildings like the Three Graces would make a high-profile impact on reducing Liverpool’s carbon footprint and we look forward to working with the buildings’ owners and our district heat network specialists Ener-Vate to progress these designs and hopefully connect some of Liverpool’s most prestigious properties to our low carbon network.”

Ken Hunnisett, project director at Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management said it was a “real pleasure” to be able to support the expansion of Mersey Heat.

“One of the benefits of heat networks is that they are able to extend and further decarbonise over time, and Mersey Heat is testament to that,” Hunnisett said.

“It’s been a joy to work with Mersey Heat, Peel, Enervate and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provide some of the funding to accelerate the team’s plans to decarbonise the area’s buildings – old and new – using heat pumps to draw renewable energy from the city’s iconic waterways.”

Mersey Heat has already installed more than half of the required pipework for the 4.1km network. When construction work on the network is finished, Mersey Heat will offer low-carbon heat and hot water for up to 9,000 homes and 4m sq ft of commercial space at Liverpool Waters.

Already, apartments at the Tobacco Warehouse at Stanley Dock are receiving heat from the network.

Construction is set to begin early this year to build an energy centre to serve Mersey Heat. The centre will use water source heat pumps and thermal stores, and will retain gas boilers with a combined capacity of 40MW as a backup system. Peel NRE estimates the centre could save 4,200 tonnes of carbon a year.