As sustainability becomes an even bigger watchword, Waterworld Group Chairman Mo Chaudry is calling on the Government and local council to give an update on Stoke-on-Trent’s District Heat Network and the latest plans to deliver it.
Did you know or have you forgotten that North Staffordshire is literally sat on a sustainability gold mine? Enough hot water to heat a whole city, leading to growth in the economy, new jobs and thousands of apprenticeships.
I’ll remind you.
As far back as 2014, the Government told us about “the Stoke-on-Trent District Heat Network, supplied with deep geothermal heat energy, producing up to 45GWh per annum; lowering heat energy costs by up to 10%; saving approximately 10,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum; and supporting 180 construction jobs, 30 permanent jobs, and 1,350 indirect jobs supported or safeguarded.”
On the same page, it promised “3,900 additional apprenticeships, 1,100 traineeships, and 9,000 people not in employment, education or training receiving employability skills training by March 2024.”
(The link is here if you’d like to read more)
Just last year Stoke-on-Trent City Council told us: “The DHN will provide a closed-loop supply of heated water that can be used to power central heating, eventually reducing the need for gas and electricity powered boilers. It is estimated that, over time, the DHN will offset up to 75% of carbon for buildings connected to it, compared to current systems.”
Click here for the link.
Brilliant news? It is if it happens.
I’m sure we’ve all been held up in traffic jams over the last few years while the infrastructure for this heat network has been installed.
I’d like to see an update from the local authorities on progress of the plan to take heat from way below the ground and pump hot water around Stoke-on-Trent.
A great deal of work has taken place, supposedly millions of pounds have been spent, and as a business with significant energy needs a few hundred metres from the proposed pumping station it’s a no-brainer for me!
But where is the energy? Where is the 10 per cent reduction in energy bills? Where are the jobs and the apprenticeships?
Maybe Daily Focus could investigate on my behalf? If they do, please watch this space.
I’ve driven an electric car for the last five years, so I’m mindful of my own impact on the environment, but it’s only more recently that I’ve seen and understood the bigger environmental picture.
Sustainability has now become one of my biggest focal points… the idea that living and working cleaner and greener will not only save the planet but can also make a huge contribution to business.
For some time now we’ve drawn water from boreholes at our leisure club sites to save on water bills, and we’ve generated our own electricity more cost-effectively using our own gas-fired generators.
But 2024 will see a significant investment in building huge solar arrays at our sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle. These will provide around 25 per cent of our electricity needs and significantly reduce our carbon footprint.
The investment also passes our business checks and balances… it makes sense from a commercial point of view.
Sustainability should be high on everyone’s agenda so let’s see what we get back from government and the local authority. They’ve started the investment in the ground-breaking district heat network. They must deliver.
