A former Victorian gasworks in Bradford has been transformed into a £75m heat network supplying low-carbon warmth to public buildings, a university and a college.
The Bradford Heat Network on Thornton Road uses air source heat pumps to heat water, which travels through 5km of underground insulated pipes. Bradford City Hall, the courts building, the University of Bradford and Bradford College are among its early customers.
Turning waste heat into useful energy
The network is expected to cut carbon emissions for participating organisations by at least 75%. It can also store heat and release it when demand is highest or energy costs and carbon impacts are lower.
A planned 5.6-megawatt data centre on Thornton Road is due to provide surplus heat for the system, rather than releasing it into the air. Other local businesses could add heat sources as the network expands.
The project has received £55m in private investment and £20m through the government’s Green Heat Network Fund. A further £9.7m of fund support has been secured for its expansion.
Why it matters for Britain
Bradford is showing how existing urban sites can support cleaner local heating while reducing reliance on imported gas. The network also provides infrastructure for new developments and could help attract further business investment to the city.
