City of Wolverhampton Council has officially launched its new Heath Town Energy Centre which will help reduce energy costs for over 1,000 residents across the estate.
The existing boiler house is approaching the end of its serviceable life, with replacement parts and repairs becoming increasingly difficult.
The new energy centre – aligned with ongoing improvements to the heat network that supplies all properties on the estate – will use modern technology to meet current demand more efficiently, while also providing capacity to serve new homes as Heath Town continues to grow.
Delivered by Wolverhampton Homes alongside United Infrastructure on behalf of the council, the energy centre boasts an array of state of the art equipment, including 48 roof mounted evaporators, servicing the air source heat pumps, combined with supplementary hydrogen ready boilers. A system believed to be only the second of its kind in Europe.
Government funding of £7.5 million through the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme is supporting the critical £19.5 million investment in the heating network, with the remainder coming from the council’s Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme.
The council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing and Assets, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “The new Heath Town Energy Centre is a major investment in the future of the estate and will provide a more reliable, efficient and sustainable heat network for residents.
“By replacing ageing infrastructure with modern technology, we are creating a system that is fit for the future, capable of meeting current demand and supporting the continued growth of Heath Town in the years ahead as we build more new homes on the estate.
“We have delivered an energy centre that will provide long term benefits for local people while helping us build a greener and more resilient neighbourhood.
“This comes in addition to the new homes people are enjoying and the existing residential blocks undergoing major improvements being delivered by Wolverhampton Homes.”
Ian Gardner, Director of Housing Operations at Wolverhampton Homes, said: “The completion of the new energy centre marks an important stage in the long term investment in the Heath Town estate.
“Shaped through ongoing engagement with residents, the facility provides a modern, reliable energy infrastructure that supports homes across the community. The innovative systems installed in the new energy centre will also reduce our carbon emissions by over 500 tonnes per year.
“Together with the wider improvement works delivered across the estate, it reflects the council’s commitment to investing in our communities to create places where people want to live and lasting benefits for the city’s residents.”
Lee Davis, Head of Operations at United Infrastructure, said: “Our work in Heath Town has always been about improving everyday life for the people who live here. This new energy centre is an important part of that, helping residents enjoy warm, comfortable homes with a heating system they can rely on, while helping to reduce energy costs.
“We’re proud to have worked alongside Wolverhampton Homes and City of Wolverhampton Council to deliver the centre. It builds on our longstanding involvement in the estate’s regeneration, bringing improvements to the services residents depend on alongside the homes and shared spaces around them.”