Bristol’s heat network has secured £13.5m of government funding in a major boost for the city’s low carbon heating plans.
The money from the Green Heat Network Fund will support the Temple Quarter heat network project, bringing together the existing Temple, Old Market and Redcliffe heat networks into one integrated system.
The scheme is being delivered through Bristol City Leap, the 20-year partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and Vattenfall to help the city shift towards a low carbon future.
Once connected, the expanded network will use the existing low carbon water source heat pump at Castle Park and will be designed to link into the approved Bath Road Energy Centre in future.
That is expected to support longer-term expansion of low carbon heat across the city.
There are already 35 buildings connected to the Bristol heat network, supplying enough heat for the equivalent of almost 13,500 homes.
Further growth is planned, with up to four new connections expected within the next year.
The project will also include a semi-permanent energy centre using air source heat pump technology.
This flexible “plug-in” system will initially provide heating to the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Centre Academic Building, which is already connected to the network.
Once the Bath Road Energy Centre is operational, the semi-permanent system can be moved and reused elsewhere in Bristol.
Bristol City Leap said the project is not just about cutting carbon but also delivering wider social and economic benefits.
The partnership is expected to generate at least £61.5m in social value over the next five years, including more than 1,000 jobs, apprenticeships and work placements.
It will also support a new £1.5m Community Energy Fund, with £36m already spent through the partnership so far.
Dom Barton, Director of Heat Networks, Bristol at Vattenfall Heat UK, said:
“Vattenfall’s vision is that over half of all Bristolians living, working and learning in the city will be kept warm by the Bristol heat network by 2050. This is critical infrastructure that will provide reliable low carbon heating and hot water to local homes and businesses.”
Copyright © 2026 Energy Live News LtdELN