Sustainable energy specialist Vital Energi will shorty begin work on the 1,195 kWh combined heat and power engine for the £1bn Paddington Village shortly. Tony McDonough reports
A new low carbon energy centre will pride both heat and power to Liverpool’s £1bn Paddington Village development.
Sustainable energy specialist Vital Energi will shorty begin work on the 1,195 kWh combined heat and power engine on the ground floor of a new 14-storey car park. The car park is already under construction.
Paddington Village sits within the wider £2bn Knowledge Quarter and will be a hub for science, medicine and technology. Projects under way include the new £35m headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians, known as ‘The Spine’ and a four-star, 160-bedroom hotel and 60-bedroom aparthotel, operated by Novotel.
Located off Elm Grove, the facility will distribute the heat generated throughout the 30-acre site via a network of buried district heating pipework. Morgan Sindall Construction is the main contractor for both the car park and the energy centre.
As part of the underground project, Liverpool City Council’s Fair City initiative will ensure it is also used to deliver a range of social value commitments designed to benefit the people of Liverpool.
The flue for the energy centre will be constructed in January 2020 with it coming online in summer 2020, and the carpark will be completed in January 2021. Michael Cooke, regional director for Vital Energi, said: “This is a truly exciting project.
“Not only do we have the opportunity to create an efficient and robust energy scheme and heat network in the heart of Liverpool’s newest major development, we are also able to work with the city council, Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool in Work and other organisations to deliver some truly valuable social value measures.
Vital Energi has released a range of 3D images designed to show the public how the energy centre section of the development will be delivered.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson added: “Paddington Village is one of Europe’s major life sciences development sites and its construction is a reflection of our ambition to create something unique.
“Liverpool also recently declared a climate change emergency and as a city council we are doing everything in our power to cut our carbon footprint. I’m delighted this energy centre is being built. It sends out a signal the city means business on making a difference both to our economy and our environment.”