The Hebburn Heat Network is an exciting new project which is revolutionising the way the community generates and distributes heating and at the heart of the project is the newly opened Paul Younger Centre.
The energy centre, in Hebburn town centre, uses air source heat pumps to provide renewable heating and hot water to Durham Court residential block and Hebburn Central leisure facility.
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Fay Cunningham unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the building. She was joined by the Mayoress, Stella Matthewson and dignitaries including former Mayor Councillor John McCabe as well as Paul's family and friends.
The centre's two-stage 450kw air source heat pump solution takes ambient heat from the air and converts it into hot water to provide low carbon heating. It has allowed the Council to reduce its reliance on traditional, gas-fired boilers, and is helping to cut carbon emissions by around 320 tonnes per year. Electricity generated locally using solar panels and a Combined Heat and Power unit helps to power the system.
The project originally intended to draw on geothermally heated warm water in flooded disused coal mines. However, this method was found to be unworkable during the drilling works phase due to the conditions deep underground which could not have been foreseen. Fortunately, mitigation measures designed into the scheme from the outset meant the project could progress, with energy generated by drawing ambient heat from the air, rather than from underground.
The scheme secured more than £4.8m in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and was developed in collaboration with the Coal Authority and Durham University, with the new centre built in a partnership with Vital Energi, Buro Happold and Driver Group.
It is the second of the Council's flagship renewable energy projects, following the opening of the award-winning Viking Energy Network in Jarrow (VENJ). VENJ draws heat from the River Tyne using innovative technologies, making it a first in the UK and was also delivered by Vital Energi.
Both schemes, marking their first year in operation, are delivering a combined annual reduction of around 1,035 tonnes in carbon emissions.
Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at South Tyneside Council, said: "These groundbreaking energy centres show real innovation and vision in renewable energy solutions. We will continue to work in partnership with others to assess and deliver future schemes wherever possible to help us deliver even more carbon savings.
"They are just one of the ways we are using modern technology to meet our energy demands in a more sustainable way and creating a cleaner, greener Borough for our residents."
