Liverpool energy centre plans lodged

Peel L&P Energy has submitted plans to develop a 16,420 sq ft energy centre in Liverpool with renewable technologies as part of its Mersey Heat district heat network.

The facility between Great Howard Street and Sherwood Street is expected to save around 4,200 tonnes of carbon per year, Peel said, achieved through the primary use of water source heat pumps and thermal stores to help power the heat network.

The application, made to Liverpool City Council, includes plans for two 3MW water source heat pumps which would work on an ‘open loop’ system to take heat from water abstracted from the Leeds/Liverpool canal before pumping it back into the waterway.

Two thermal stores capable of holding 260 cubic metres of hot water would also be installed alongside heat-only gas boilers with a combined capacity of up to 40MW as a backup, and during times of peak demand.

The first phase of Mersey Heat could provide heat for up to 9,000 homes and 4m sq ft of commercial space at Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters development with connections to buildings at Stanley Docks in the pipeline.  The project is part-funded by the Merseyside Pension Fund.

Jonathan Burley, commercial director at Peel L&P Energy said: “This new facility will use renewable technologies as the main energy source to help power the Mersey Heat network and connect homes and offices to low carbon heat and hot water.

“It supports the UK’s goal of becoming net zero by 2050 as well as Liverpool City Region’s climate emergency targets.  As new technology develops, we hope to decarbonise the network further, making the city an even cleaner and greener place to live.”

Pending planning approval, work could start on site in mid-2021.