Our story
The Holborn Renewable Energy Network (HREN) provides a unique opportunity to adopt the latest, most innovative renewable technologies, tailor-made for South Shields.
South Tyneside Council (STC) and South Tyneside Homes (STH) combined carbon emissions estimate is 11,200 tonnes p.a. The HREN carbon emissions saving 2,436 tonnes p.a. represents an estimated reduction of 22%.
The Heat Network Delivery Unit (HNDU) was part of and funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It was set up to provide support to Local Authorities in developing heat networks projects. HREN total cost £23.7m with £15.9m (67%) HNDU contribution and STC to contribute £7.8m, as in the Capital bid submitted as part of 2021 MTFP.
Net saving is expected to be £827k per annum. With the minimum grant award of 67% from HNDU, payback based on STC's contribution will be 9.5 years.
The scheme is expected to generate 10GWh of heat and 2.5GWh of electricity annually, which is equivalent to 10 times the annual consumption of the Town Hall (SSTH).
Proposed connections to STC buildings: Haven Point Leisure Centre; The Word Library; South Shields Town Hall; Marine Park Primary School; Westoe Crown School; Ocean Road Community Association; South Shields Business Works; One Trinity Green Business Centre; Market Place Offices; Laygate Family Centre.
Proposed connections to external partners: Customs House Theatre & Cinema; BT Building Offices; Police Station; Magistrates Court.
The project was completed in 2023.
Our advice
Work with natural assets: The initial feasibility study was carried out by GeoEnergy Durham, with the inspiration coming from the fact that there is a readily available store of heat within the flooded mine workings below the borough of South Tyneside. The mine working offered a good sustainable source of warm mine water, that could be extracted recovered, and run through a ground source heat pump to increase the temperature of the water, and run it over a heat exchanger, and then distributed by a heat network.
Balance the use of technologies: The scheme supplements the mine water with photo-voltaic cells and a waste wood gasification plant, to provide a balance use of technologies and heat sources that will feed the Energy Centre and network.
Collaborate for success: South Tyneside has worked closely with GeoEnergy Durham, FWS Consultants, Coal Authority, and Buro Happold.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the reduction in carbon emissions; the number of different organisations that are part of the network; and a high CEEQUAL Assessment rating (an environmental and sustainability award for civil engineering and infrastructure projects).
