Vital Energi has been awarded a £1.3 million contract to expand an energy centre at Keele University, which is aiming to be one of the UK’s most environmentally sustainable campuses.
The energy systems provider, will develop and install a district heating network to connect the university’s Horwood centre to a new Central Science Laboratories (CSL) building at the site, extending the centre by 70 sq. metres.
A 400-metre district heating pipe will run from Horwood to the CSL building and work will include a new water mains reservoir and IT ducts.
The centre will also be refurbished with new equipment for both the new network and to add capacity for further connections.
Mike Cooke, Vital Energi regional director for the north, said: “This will improve the efficiency of the overall network as the energy generation will be completed in a single location, allowing greater ease for any future modifications. By allowing space within the energy centre for further alterations, we can ensure a future-proofed solution for the university.”
Construction is expected to be completed by mid-August. Mr Cooke added that the company had worked with the university to design a bespoke energy solution and development schedule to minimise potential disruption, such as during examinations and graduation times.
Ashley Hulme, Head of Engineering Planning at Keele University, added: “The work will provide an element of future-proofing for the University’s heat network, and is one of a number of exciting energy projects that we’re embarking on at Keele.
“Other projects taking place include transforming the campus into Europe’s first ‘at scale’ Smart Energy Network Demonstrator programme, a living laboratory where new energy-efficient technologies can be researched, developed and tested in a real-world environment and hosting the HyDeploy project, an energy trial to establish the potential for blending hydrogen into the normal gas supply to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”
Vital Energi, last month helped Metropolitan design a district energy network in Uxbridge, Hillingdon in association with the London Plan. It has previously worked with 22 educational institutions including the University of Liverpool, the University of St Andrews and the University of Strathclyde and assisted in the King’s Cross development.