The Duffryn Heat Network has been providing warmth and comfort to residents of the estate for nearly five decades. Recently, however, the aging pipework had begun to effect the customer experience. To address this issue, Newport City Homes (NCH) embarked on one of the UK's largest and most ambitious heat network replacement projects. The initiative involved replacing 7.5 kilometres of district heating pipework with modern infrastructure to provide residents with a reliable, efficient heating system fit for the 21st century.
Whilst the UK is developing and delivering new heat networks at an unpresented rate, it is important that we continue to maintain and, eventually, replace the first generation of heat networks which have been supplying customers for decades.
One such project is The Duffryn Heat Network, serving 970 customers, since the mid 1970’s. In recent years the aging pipework had begun to effect the customer experience. To address the immediate concerns, the housing association conducted a series of repairs to restore heating to residents. Subsequently, they commissioned a thermographic drone survey of the entire estate, which revealed additional issues.
After half a century of operation, the pipework was nearing the end of its reliability. Newport City Homes (NCH), with the aid of a £3.7 million government grant from the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme, engaged Vital Energi to replace the entire 7.5-kilometer network over a nine-month period.
The heat network draws energy from a nearby biomass energy center that uses sustainable, locally sourced woodchip, ensuring low-carbon heat provision to residents.
The network upgrade involved installing 3.75 kilometers of flow and 3.75 kilometers of return pipework. Engineers implemented a combination of steel and plastic pipework system.
This extensive project required the connection of 27 substations serving over 970 homes, schools, and other buildings. The complex design incorporated varying pipe sizes, ranging from 200mm mains to 32mm branches across the development.
Because the heat network was causing disruption to the lives of residents, Newport City Homes wanted to deliver this project as quickly as possible. We were able to expediate the procurement process, compress the setting up stage and allocate enough specialist operatives to ensure we delivered to the ambitious deadline.
