County town’s pipe dream to save money on heating bills given £33,500 funding boost

A PROJECT is being launched to investigate whether steam and hot or chilled water could be distributed around North Yorkshire’s county town using a network of insulated pipes.

North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council have been given £33,500 to investigate the feasibility of a “trail-blazing” district heating system in Northallerton.

District heating systems produce steam, hot water or chilled water at a central energy centre, with the steam or water distributed through an insulated pipe network to individual buildings for heating, domestic hot water and air conditioning.

As a result, buildings served by the system don’t need their own boilers or chillers, something officials say would mean heating provided at potentially 30 per cent less than conventional heating costs.

Northallerton has been chosen for the pilot study because of its concentration of public sector agencies. It also has the benefit of a compact urban area and an opportunity to connect to proposed new developments, such as the redevelopment of the former prison site.

The initial research by a team of consultants, which is expected to take about nine months, will identify Northallerton’s energy needs and the best heat network strategy for the town.

Consultants will then make technical assessments and speak to local organisations about their conclusions.

Senior North Yorkshire County Councillor Andrew Lee said in a statement: “This is an exciting opportunity. We are strongly committed to improving the environment for our residents and businesses. District heating could complement the county’s large-scale energy generation capabilities, providing local solutions and energy resilience for our communities.

“We believe local communities and businesses should have access to affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly energy to help meet their needs and to encourage investment and sustainable growth.

“If this proves successful, it could be a trailblazer for other schemes within the county.”