2015 – ongoing

Working with Swansea council has involved various study elements:

• Feasibility / master-planning for Maritime quarter
• detailed connection assessment of connection of the two council properties
• Feasibility / masterplanning for District Heating in Swansea

Greenfield Consulting was tasked to consider the viability of establishing an energy network (primarily heating and power) in Swansea city centre. This first stage considered connecting a number of existing buildings in the city centre with new developments proposed in the in the area, including a university campus.

The project included the following tasks:

• Review of existing and future heating, cooling and electricity demands in the Swansea area
• Technology screening for heating plant
• Heating production capacity optimization
• Preliminary design and dimensioning for energy centre
• Heating and cooling network scenarios and preliminary designs, optimization of net-work routes to take advantage of “soft-dig” opportunities
• Assessment of physical barriers for heat network installation
• Investment and O&M cost estimates for plant life-cycle
• Cash flow and financial analysis for several system alternatives

Future stages of work, including a contract extension, commenced in Q2 2016 to support review expansion of the proposed network to connected to major regeneration sites, to advice on governance options and support key procurement activities and to conducted a detailed review of connecting the town leisure centre with the National Waterfront Museum.

2016

Greenfield worked closely with Slough Council and SSE to answer a number key technical / commercial feasibility questions for the expansion of the existing Slough power station heat network. The work has been used to inform both the decisions of the council to connect in its existing buildings and those proposed to be developed including a new leisure centre, and, decisions on future design and investment into a (sub-50 MW) biomass power station proposed by SSE, which is proposed to be designed to enable greater expansion of the heat network.
The work has involved both heat network masterplanning to consider how the network could expand within Slough trading estate (the largest in Europe), to the town centre and to the north of the town to connect to the town’s main hospital.

The work has considered:

• Design options for a proposed 50 MWe power station to facilitate greater heat offtake for an expanded heat network
• Options for upgrade/renewal of the existing steam/hot water network which does not meet modern operating standards
• Detailed feasibility and comparative benefits of a heat network connection of a new leisure centre, which would otherwise install an independent gas CHP unit
• Masterplanning and viability of expansion of a heat network across Europe’s largest trading estate
• Masterplanning and viability of expansion of a heat network into Slough town centre
• Consideration of the role of Wexham hospital in a future heat network expansion

This has been a complex study considering heat network opportunities from a number of development contexts (increasing revenues for the proposed power station), low carbon/low cost heat supply to the new developments and economic benefits to the town for a significantly expanded heat network.

Network routes have been developed including proposals to cross the London–Bristol rail line.

Options for energy supply have considered the existing power station (c. 20 MW heat capacity), its proposed replacement (with up to 100 MW heat supply capacity) as well intermediary energy centre solutions including export from the town’s crematorium facility and an independent gas CHP energy centre.

A detailed options appraisal and reporting back to stakeholders was completed in July 2016.

Greenfield was also commissioned to conduct follow-on work to support the council in commercial negotiations for a heat connection to the new leisure centre and new connection to an adjacent academy school.

2015 – 2016

Greenfield worked with the council and key stakeholders to conduct heat network masterplanning for the city of Chester and the towns of Northwich and Ellesmere Port. Each is quite distinct with a range of different opportunities and constraints. Heat mapping of existing and new loads was conducted and heat network options were devel-oped and tested in each location. In total 15 heat network options were assessed with through technical modelling, costing and discounted cashflow and carbon analysis.

Both the Northwich and Ellesmere Port studies focused heavily on the use of heat recovery from industrial organi-sations including Stanlow oil refinery, Vauxhall Motors (car plant), Tata Chemicals (soda works) and CF Fertilisers (which uses an exothermic production process). Investigation into the off-take potential and the costs of bulk supply where developed after consideration of the various production facilities. Alongside these options new energy sup-ply options including gas CHP, biomass and water-sourced heat pumps were also considered in each of the study areas.

The Chester network solutions focused on key consumers such as the University of Chester, Countess of Chester Hospital and a £300m city centre property development project. In Ellesmere Port new major development projects are also significant within the analysis.
The viability analysis proved a business case for a number of the heat network options explored and subsequent review of risks and the development models has given the stakeholders confidence to proceed with subsequent project development and viability work, and the council is currently seeking additional funding from stakeholders and HNDU to support this.

2014 – 2016

Project description (Phase 1 Outline Masterplan): Greenfield, in partnership with BRE conduct an Outline Heat Master Planning study for Oxford City Council. The Master Plan and appraisal work focused on overall heat mapping and outline masterplanning in several parts of the city. The city comprises quite distinct areas and it emerged that potential exists in a number of prominent areas.

An outline master plan has been delivered for Oxford. The idea for this was to obtain an overview for a city that hitherto did not have any district heating networks. For this purpose the National Heat Map was initially used to assess areas with significant heat demand density, and this was augmented by means of a series of interviews with potentially interested stakeholders. The work involved an investigation of existing energy centres and local sources of surplus and renewable energy. By developing this strategic view, likely opportunities for future expansion were examined, including the possibility of developing a wider (city wide) scheme in future.

The major heat loads and current and likely future areas of high heat demand density were identified and included in an outline masterplan, which together with existing energy centres could form the core for heat network development. An indication was provided of the possible sequence and phasing for their development and potential future linkage. Preliminary heat network layouts were configured, together with the indicative heat demand, possible energy supply and network length.

Gas fired CHP is envisaged as the principal heat source, but a range of other sources including biomass, industrial waste heat, and waste heat from sewage via heat pumps, are also under scrutiny.

Project description (Phase 2 Feasibility): Following from the masterplanning full feasibility work has been commissioned to consider three key network opportunities in the city centre, a hospital zone to the east and an area within the vicinity of the BMW Mini plant in Cowley. The study will deliver full feasibility for city centre scheme with adapted studies in the other areas, to account for particular constraints.

2015

Greenfield was tasked (in partnership with BRE) to develop of an energy network masterplan, a detailed technical feasibility study, financial analysis and governance review for an energy network designed to connect a major MoD campus, a major government agency property, and, a proposed science park development.

In simple terms, the drivers that have led to consideration of a heat network are the need to limit future energy costs, to improve energy supply resilience and the desire to reduce carbon emissions for the site. The heat network system considered is proposed to connect the majority of the existing buildings, many of which have complex service needs (heating, cooling and air conditioning) together with new developments that will be built over the next five years or so.

In order to assess viability the following tasks were carried out in this study:

• Modelling of energy loads (carried out by BRE – all other tasks by Greenfield)
• Masterplanning of heat network options and development of outline plans for of a range of the heat network scenarios. This has had to considered non-typical construction costs, maximising ‘soft-dig’ and avoiding land contamination which is a significant constraint
• Conducting detailed energy and financial modelling to assess commercial viability, including the implementation of CHP which has not been implemented on an MOD campus previously. Tariff analysis is complex because energy is procured on MOD-wide contracts
• Examination of governance and funding options to account for operational security issues and constraints in capital funding which is influence by national government budgeting
• Examination of key risks (including developing a detailed risk register)
• Developing an outline implementation plan and key recommendations

Since completion of this initial work the Council won further HNDU support and Greenfield has been commissioned to refine project feasibility and develop an outline business case.

2015

Greenfield worked in cooperation with Gyron and Brilliant Bioenergy to conduct a review of the potential for heat networks within rural areas of Cheshire East. Mapping of energy loads, fuel poverty and gas network coverage was conducted and the outputs were used to identify priority locations for investigation of the heat network viability. The areas selected where the village of Audlem and the Cheshire Green business park). The investigation involved collation of primary demand information and gap-filling with benchmark consumption analysis for other existing properties and analysis of future demand for new builds. Heat network options in each location where developed and included appraisal of biomass, water-sourced heat pumps, CHP and heat storage. The options were costed and lifetime discounted cash-flow and carbon analysis were conducted. Results were reported back to the council project team, the council’s energy board and the other stakeholders through project meetings and 1-2-1 meetings.

2014 – 2015

This project involved heat mapping, feasibility study identified that CHP with gas-fired boiler back-up would be the most cost effective solution. An analysis of other technologies which although less financially attractive, could result in lower carbon emissions considered: bio-mass boilers, biomass CHP, heat pumps, and fuel cells.

2014

This commission was directly with Oxford City Council and was part financed by HNDU. The work has been completed to the expectations of both the client and HNDU. The BRE and Greenfield team has secured a commission to undertake follow-on feasibility and business planning.

The project was carried out by BRE and Greenfield, and focused on overall heat mapping and outline masterplanning in several parts of the city. The city comprises quite distinct areas and it emerged that potential exists in a number of prominent areas.

An outline master plan has been delivered for Oxford. The idea for this was to obtain an overview for a city that hitherto did not have any district heating networks. For this purpose the National Heat Map was initially used to assess areas with significant heat demand density, and this was augmented by means of a series of interviews with potentially interested stake-holders. The work involved an investigation of existing energy centres and local sources of surplus and renewable energy. By developing this strategic view, likely opportunities for fu-ture expansion were examined, including the possibility of developing a wider (city wide) scheme in future.

The major heat loads and current and likely future areas of high heat demand density were identified and included in an outline masterplan, which together with existing energy centres could form the core for heat network development. An indication was provided of the possi-ble sequence and phasing for their development and potential future linkage. Preliminary heat network layouts were configured, together with the indicative heat demand, possible energy supply and network length.

Gas fired CHP is envisaged as the principal heat source, but a range of other sources includ-ing biomass, industrial waste heat, and waste heat from sewage via heat pumps, are also under scrutiny.

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.

2014

Greenfield Consulting worked in cooperation with BRE to conduct a masterplanning / feasibil-ity study on a heat network proposed for the Leighton West area of Crewe with a key focus on the use Geothermal energy.

This study examined the potential for harnessing the potential geothermal resource in Crewe to serve customers who would connect to a new heat network serving parts of the town. The analysis was built on earlier work that has provided estimates in broad terms of the extent of the available geothermal resource.

Specifically, a technical analysis was carried out for the development and phasing of a heat network that would be developed in three distinct phases over the period 2015 to 2030, con-necting up to 17 heat nodes, and requiring up to three deep geothermal wells. The heat net-work approach goes hand in hand with large heat supply sources because the network pre-sents a large and growing aggregate heat demand to match the supply.

Since completion Greenfield has been commissioned by the council to conduct a further study into the opportunity for developing heat networks in rural areas within the borough, which was completed in December 2015.