Heat Networks

We approach every project as an opportunity to create local employment opportunities and engage local supply chains. This allows us to create some substantial socio-economic benefits for the area.

Our team were able to spend 60% of the budget locally and ensured that 50% of the labour on the project was locally hired.  In addition to this we created other employment and training opportunities with 30 work placements, apprentices and work placements for PHD students.

In 2020 the Leeds PIPES site was awarded a Silver Considerate Constructor award for demonstrating a “fantastic level of consideration towards the public, its workforce and the environment” by adhering to the Scheme’s Code of Considerate practice.

To achieve this the delivery team had to demonstrate that they:

• Care about Appearance
• Respect the Community
• Protect the Environment
• Secure everyone’s Safety
• Value their Workforce.

The Vital team also completed the Leeds PIPES entry for the CEEQUAL award which is an evidence-based sustainability assessment and award scheme.  The project was awarded a rating of Very Good, demonstrating high economic, environmental and social performance.

To facilitate planning, the council implemented a Local Development Order which accelerated the delivery of project by simplifying the planning process.  The LDO permitted the development of the district heating network pipes, cables and heat exchange equipment as well as street furniture and informational signage.

At an early stage we appointed resident liaison officers to co-ordinate the communication strategy for residents through a range of channels.  These included website updates, group texts and letters as well as drop in sessions where residents could discuss all aspects of the project.

The project involved extensive works in resident dwellings, and this called for the scheduling of access to homes to perform switchover works.  As part of the preparation an analysis of the social demographics of the people affected was undertaken.

Several vulnerable groups were identified, such as the elderly, non-English speaking families, disabled residents, children and people with mental health issues.  We implemented a range of measures designed to support these residents which included the provision of interpreters and translators.   Additionally, as the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, we expanded our support well beyond our contractual responsibilities and our operatives helped shielding residents get their shopping and medicine supplies during the lockdown period.

We liaised with the the council’s highways department at the earliest possibility and created a comprehensive traffic management plan, hiring local specialists with an understanding of the area.  During this preliminary phase we ensured high quality traffic management drawings were produced and later, that section 171 and temporary traffic regulation orders were issued in time for the road closures.

Road closures were publicised through a number of channels including the bespoke Leeds PIPES website which published the latest details of works which could affect traffic movement.

This aspect of the project was paramount to the successful delivery of the project as the heat network stretched into the heart of Leeds city centre and crossed the main loop road on two occasions.  Additionally, works affected one of the main “blue routes” to Leeds General Infirmary and to ensure access for emergency vehicles the temporary traffic signals were staffed for 12 hours per day.

Leeds City Council had commissioned the delivery of a new transport corridor and paving scheme in the city centre.  We were able to work with the lead contractor to re-schedule our programme so that we could deliver this section of the district heating scheme alongside this project.

To achieve this, we were “first in the trench”, completing all district heating works ahead of other contractors.   This made it essential we completed welding and jointing works as scheduled so we wouldn’t delay the other contractors who followed us.  By merging these two projects we were able to remove much of the disruption the creation of a standalone city-wide district heating network could cause.

The project saw Vital Energi construct two energy centres.  The Cross Green energy centre is located near the RERF and takes the excess steam created during electricity production and converts it into low-temperature heat and hot water.

Saxton Gardens houses the boiler plant and is crucial to the efficiency of the network as it contributes to meeting the peak demand on the project.  Crucially, it also adds a layer of resilience and can continue delivering heat and hot water during the scheduled maintenance of the energy from waste plant.

We were able to deliver substantial improvements to the original design created by the council’s professional team as well as creating innovative methods of delivery to speed up the programme and reduce costs.

One example was to pioneer a “plug and play” approach to our more complex skids, by including packaged boilers.  By undertaking all the prefabrication off-site, we were able to lower costs, lower on-site labour, largely reduce hot works and have complete control of the delivery process.

Another improvement to the design was the decision to build the new Saxton Gardens energy centre over the existing energy centre.  This allowed us to keep the original energy centre live for as long as possible so it could continue supplying residents.  We then demolished the original energy centre once we’d established the new supply.

In 2022 we were appointed to deliver more major connections to network for the the Ministry of Justice.  The project saw us connect the Leeds Magistrates Court and Leeds Combined Courts which will take up to 2.2MW of heat from the network

In late 2022 Leeds City Council received £3m in Heat Network Investment Project funding to support a phase three spine extension of the Leeds PIPES project.

Phase 3 saw a major 2.5km district heating spine extension across zones covering student apartments, residential developments, multi-storey flats, large public sector sites. Additionally, the extension will help to strategically open up more of Leeds for future sustainable energy developments.

• ADE Awards – Contribution to Net Zero
• ADE Awards - Heat & Efficiency (Operational)
• Heating & Ventilation Awards - District Heating Project of the Year
• Heating & Ventilation Awards - HVAC Project of the Year 

Following the changeovers to the new heating systems, we carried out a customer satisfaction survey which revealed 97.44% of residents were happy with the service we provided during the changeovers.