Bradford’s new Energy Centre is helping make the city a leader in the next industrial revolution, a Government minister has claimed.
On Thursday, 12 November, the Bradford District Heat Network went live, providing low-carbon heat to buildings across the city centre.
At the centre of the network is the Bradford Energy Centre on Thornton Road, which uses air source heat pumps to heat buildings including Bradford’s courts, City Hall and the University of Bradford.
The day it went live, the site was visited by Polly Billington, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Energy Consumers.
She spoke about how the heat network could provide a blueprint for other cities looking to decarbonise and said it would offer businesses a more reliable way of heating their buildings.
Mrs Billington said: “To have the country’s largest air source heat pump here in Bradford is quite a first.
“We need projects like this in cities around the country – it is the most effective way of decarbonising heat for big institutions like courts, businesses and residential developments.”
In May, plans to build a data centre on land next to the energy centre were approved by Bradford Council.
The proposals, by Deep Green, would see heat generated by the data centre pumped into the neighbouring energy centre, providing a second source of heat for the network.
Mrs Billington said: “What is interesting with this site is that it will be connected to the planned data centre and will use the heat generated from that.
“That waste heat will be used to keep people warm.”
Bradford heat network could attract businesses and investment
The minister said heat networks like Bradford’s would play a major role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to fluctuations in gas prices.
She described the heat produced by the energy centre as “affordable, reliable and secure.”
Discussing how the network could make Bradford more attractive to businesses and investors, she said: “I know that small and medium sized businesses are increasingly concerned about energy bills as much as people are about household bills.
“This centre will provide long term, stable prices – and will give businesses some kind of security. They will know exactly how much the energy is going to cost, and what is happening here in Bradford will attract businesses who want a safe and reliable heat source.”
Mrs Billington also praised Bradford Council’s role in supporting the project.
“The important thing for this scheme was that the local Council was committed to get this project off the ground for a number of years.
“They could see the value for
the city. If you don’t have that leadership as well as the investment from outside then it is hard to get projects like this going.
“I’ve been so impressed by the Council, particularly the previous administration, that they were so supportive in getting this up and running.”
Reflecting on Bradford’s industrial heritage, the minister said the new technology represented another important chapter in the city’s history.
“When you stand on the top of this centre you can see all the beautiful, impressive chimneys built during the industrial revolution. Those chimneys would have been belching out dangerous pollution and smoke.
“Bradford is now helping lead the next industrial revolution with this technology, but the chimney for this centre is only emitting condensation.
“This technology is helping clean the air and create jobs.”
