A new eco-study into piping cheap hot water to parts of Ashton’s town centre has been commissioned, Under the Ashton District Heat Network proposal boiling water or steam will be generated centrally before being piped to those buildings which are hooked up to the system.
The redevelopment of Ashton’s town centre provided a unique opportunity to set up a network connecting the new college building, council offices, and transport interchange as well as existing municipal buildings including the town hall, indoor market and swimming pool and it is hoped to include high-rise blocks of flats in the town.
The feasibility study has been made possible thanks to a £40,000 grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and is being undertaken in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Low Carbon Investment Fund. The study will provide an understanding of the heat supply potential, heat demand/consumer issues, constraints to development, potential financial implications and environmental benefits of the specific heat network opportunities.
A district heating scheme is a network of insulated pipes used to deliver hot water or steam from once central point which is then distributed to users connected to the network. District heating networks provide the means to transport heat efficiently. District heating plants can provide higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localised, individual boilers.
Chair of the Carbon Reduction Panel Barrie Holland, said: “This feasibility study has proven particularly useful as a demonstration of what can be done by working intelligently and collaboratively.
“The Panel’s remit is to explore ways of reducing the Council’s carbon footprint and becoming even greener than we currently are. This council prides itself on its green credentials which is why improving them is one of this year’s pledges. This is yet another example of that in action.”