East Devon District Council is to expand the existing Cranbrook district heating network. The expanded network will supply heat to around 4,500 new homes and commercial space including three new schools at Cranbrook new town.
Planning is already in place via the EDDC Local Development Order (LDO) for district heating dated July 2020.The project will connect to an energy from waste facility (EFW) in Hill Barton via an interconnect pipe to SkyPark energy centre .
E.On is the owner and operator of the existing heat network. The council wants to deliver the expansion via an ESCo.
The proposed expansion area network length is anticipated to be nearly 100km, which will need to be installed by the ESCo. The total heat demand is estimated to be 34.05 GWh/yr, with peak demand of 12.5MW. An estimated 96.9% of this demand will be met by three EFW units, and an anticipated 3.1% from the existing gas CHP at Cranbrook Energy Centre. The total CHP heat capacity is approximately 10.4MW.
The scheme includes thermal storage plant of a capacity of approximately 900m3 which will be located in the vicinity of the Cranbrook energy centre. The intention is to secure additional carbon savings through further avoidance of gas CHP.
A feasibility study has been carried out that has built the technical and economic case for the expansion and East Devon District Council has gone out to tender for a bidder to develop the design to construction stage.
Construction of the network will be scheduled so the initial heat on will be expected by Q2 2024.
The successful ESco will own, operate and maintain the network up to 80 years and be responsible for customer billing.