High-rise blocks go clean in £5.4m heat upgrade

Gateshead Council has secured £5.4 million in EU grants to build two major low carbon energy schemes, including work across seven high-rise blocks. The move will see a further 600 […]

Gateshead Council has secured £5.4 million in EU grants to build two major low carbon energy schemes, including work across seven high-rise blocks.

The move will see a further 600 homes and several public buildings connected to district energy networks in the town, through which they will receive low-cost, clean heat and power.

The High Rise Energy Infrastructure for Gateshead Housing Tenants (HEIGHTs) scheme will install district heating networks in seven high-rise housing blocks across the town, which will also be refurbished.

One will be connected to an existing scheme in the town centre, two will link with a small power plant and four will receive warmth from ground source heat pumps.

The second scheme involves installing a new type of plastic district heating pipe to Gateshead Leisure Centre and surrounding public buildings, which includes Gateshead Central Library and Shipley Art Gallery.

The new pipes are expected to make installing district heating networks quicker, simpler and cheaper.

The council will also extend its private electricity network to increase the number of buildings that can tap into this lower cost, lower carbon electricity.

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