Construction has started on the Mersey Heat Network Energy Centre at Peel Water’s Liverpool Waters at Princes Dock.

Peel NRE, in collaboration with Ener-Vate, is leading the project, set to become a vital component of Liverpool’s low carbon energy infrastructure.

The first phase of the Energy Centre aims to provide low carbon heat and hot water to numerous homes and businesses in the city, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and cutting 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The Energy Centre will house one of the UK’s largest water source heat pumps, utilising heat from the nearby Leeds/Liverpool Canal to warm surrounding buildings via a six-kilometre district heating network.

This district heating network will serve up to 6,700 homes and 1.3 million square feet of commercial space at the Liverpool Waters development, as well as various domestic and commercial structures across Liverpool.

The initial phase could provide 20GWh of heat annually, with plans to expand to around 45GWh, equivalent to heating 17,000 new homes.

Vital Energi has been appointed by Peel NRE to design and build the Energy Centre, with construction expected to be completed by September 2024.