A pioneering city-wide heat network is set to transform how buildings across Bradford are powered, with the University of Bradford at its core.
The Bradford Energy Network (BEN), developed by low-carbon infrastructure firm 1Energy, will slash the University’s carbon emissions by 90% while supporting the city’s wider sustainability goals.
Valued at £75 million, the project represents one of the UK’s most ambitious urban heating initiatives. It will replace the University’s ageing gas boilers — in use since 1966, with clean heat drawn from one of the largest air source heat pumps in the country, housed at a new energy centre on Thornton Road.
The network is due to go live in late summer 2026, delivering a projected 54% of its total carbon savings from the University campus alone.
Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Bradford and for the UK. As the largest partner in the network, we’re proud to drive positive change for people and planet.”
The University is investing £2 million, supported by a £6.5 million government grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Replacing the boilers conventionally would have cost £11 million, while standalone heat pumps could have exceeded £23 million, making the network both greener and more cost-effective.
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, praised the scheme during a recent visit: “The ambition of the Bradford Energy Network is inspiring. It will not only cut emissions but also help decarbonise the wider city centre.”
The University will connect 11 buildings to the network, alongside partners including Bradford College, Bradford Courts, and City Hall.
By 2035, BEN is expected to eliminate tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon annually, providing a national model for low-carbon urban heating.
The project strengthens Bradford’s growing reputation as a hub for environmental innovation, following the University’s recognition in Times Higher Education as one of the UK’s top institutions for carbon reduction.
Andrew Wettern, CEO of 1Energy, said: “Bradford is leading the way with a heat network that’s both scalable and replicable, showing how universities and cities can work together to deliver the transition to net zero.”
