The heat is on as town hall plans new hot water scheme

A PLAN to use Huddersfield’s incinerator to provide hot water and heating to thousands of properties is being considered by Kirklees Council.

After investigating the economic viability of the idea, the council has now agreed the next steps to take forward their ambitious Huddersfield Heat Network scheme.

It would see a network of hot water piping created that is powered by the Hillhouse energy from waste plant – where much of Kirklees’ rubbish is burnt.

The heat network would mean hundreds or thousands of properties would no longer need a boiler or central heating.

Most effective in urban areas such as Huddersfield, the development of this heat network will offer many potential benefits to the town.

These include a reduction in energy prices, future energy security and local economic benefits including the creation of employment opportunities.

The network would initially provide heat and hot water to the council’s own town centre premises as well as key external public and private sector partners in the area.

The council hopes that this network would grow over time to include further partners and premises.

Clr Paul Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said: “As a council, we have set an ambitious target for the district to be carbon neutral by 2038 and we know that to achieve this challenge, we will need to consider projects of a significant scale. The Heat Network is one such project and I am delighted to see this progressing – not just for the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions it offers, but also for associated economic benefits it will bring to the town and those partners who connect to the network.”

Clr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The council is committed to tackling the climate emergency and the possibility of using our own waste to generate heat and hot water is a fantastic way to do this.

“Not only are we removing waste from landfill but also we are reducing reliance on fossil fuels and the associated carbon emissions.”

As a council we have set an ambitious target of going carbon neutral by 2038