2016

Greenfield has worked with Swindon Borough council to conduct feasibility analysis of heat network options for Northstar, which involves a major new leisure / indoor ski slope devel-opment, and heat mapping/masterplanning for two additional areas involving major urban extension.
The Northstar work was expanding to cover a broader area of the town centre on our rec-ommendation after completion of initial heat mapping. This study involved detailed consider-ation of gas CHP and hydrogen fuel cell driven heat network solutions and the consideration of a cooling network to meet the loads of the proposed ski centre and commercial develop-ment. The analysis explored options for crossing the London-Bristol rail line to connect ex-isting public, retail and office properties in the town centre.

The other locations, New Eastern Villages (NEV) and Wichelstowe, focus on major residential developments (3,500 and 8,000 homes, respectively). These schemes required conducting initial analysis of residential loads, account for future Building Regulations requirements. It also considered the application of a plastic pipe, low temperature heat network system, to reduce capital cost and operating efficiency. The NEV study also considered the use of heat from a novel biomass gasification power station which is proposed to be constructed in the next couple of years.

For each study area detailed options appraisals were conducted, with greater detail around the economic analysis and energy centre design for the Northstar scheme. A complex tech-no-economic model was developed for this project and was issued to the client along with training on its us for the project team and the councils section 151 officer, such that the council can run new scenarios without external support.