Information on Leicestershire

THE first phase of an ambitious plan to create a network of power plants that would provide greener heating for homes and businesses in Leicester could get under way next year, according to the councilâs cabinet lead for the environment.

Cllr Robert Wann believes that the creation of extended district heating networks, supplied with heat from combined heat and power (CHP) units, will help provide the city with cheaper electricity and heat â and reduce the cityâs carbon emissions.

âOur proposal is based on tried and tested technology, using CHP units to generate electricity â and capturing the heat thatâs produced as part of that process to heat water that can be piped to homes and offices,â he said.

âThis means that weâll not only be using energy more efficiently â weâll also be able to offer more affordable heating to people living in the city.â

The first phase of the project would connect four housing estates â St Markâs, St Matthewâs, St Andrewâs and St Peterâs â to the scheme, as well as a number of schools, HMP Prison, the University of Leicesterâs main campus and De Montfort Hall, amongst others.

At least three CHP units and a network of underground pipes would be required to provide hot water to around 2,800 council tenants and more than 40 other buildings. Electricity generated by the CHP units would be sold to the National Grid.

Initially the boilers would be powered by gas â but Cllr Wann hopes that in time the CHP units could be adapted to run on sustainable fuels.

âThe ultimate in sustainable district heating schemes would use boilers powered by a greener fuel â and in Leicester weâre already producing something that might fit the bill,â he said.

âWeâre currently looking at âenergy from wasteâ options involving outputs from the Bursom Recycling Centre â and one example is âflocâ.

âFloc is created from shredded plastics and paper that we extract from residentsâ wheelie bins and that canât be recycled, and is already used as a fuel in cement kilns. Perhaps in time it could be used as a local fuel for Leicesterâs district heating scheme â and help us on our way to becoming one of the most sustainable cities in Britain.â

The city councilâs own headquarters would link to the scheme in phase two â which could start in 2015, if the plans get the go-ahead.

âIf the councilâs buildings were linked to this scheme, we estimate that weâll be able to reduce our carbon footprint by around 15% â and thatâs a significant step in our battle against climate change,â said Cllr Wann.

Work on phase one â valued at around £10.25 million â could start in 2009 and take around three years to complete.

The city councilâs cabinet will consider the proposal, including plans to appoint a project manager to develop the scheme, at its meeting on Monday (14th).

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