Transformative energy network to benefit city

ENERGY from a data centre will be used to heat public buildings in the centre of Sunderland as part of a new multimillion-pound partnership.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

1Energy and Sunderland City Council have signed the agreement that will create a district heat network where sustainable energy is distributed direct to public and commercial buildings, as well as potentially to private homes, through highly insulated underground pipelines.

The network will enable specific commercial and residential properties, initially within a few kilometres of the city centre, to connect to a local energy supply and benefit from low carbon heating. An energy centre in Deptford will be created alongside a small data centre that will offer a supply of waste heat to be used in the network.

It is hoped that both private and public sector buildings could benefit, with talks ongoing over the heating of Sunderland's Royal Hospital, City Hall, Sunderland University's City and St Peter's campuses, and other city centre buildings.