FAQs

Heat networks generate heat in centralised energy centres. Energy centres come in different shapes and sizes depending on the energy source used. They can be run on gas, biofuels or using low carbon technologies like heat pumps. Heat pumps capture heat from the air or water, or excess heat captured from industrial processes and recycle it in the network. In Bristol, we are gradually reducing gas on the heat network and replacing this with low carbon sources.

Heat networks use low carbon, locally sourced energy, making heating fairer, more reliable and better for communities. The benefits go beyond providing warmth to homes, offices and public buildings – they create jobs, strengthen local economies, and help communities thrive, all while accelerating the UK’s energy upgrade and building a more sustainable future.

Just like other utility networks (water, gas and fibre optic), building a heat network will require us to lay and maintain pipes beneath streets. To do this, we need to dig trenches along sections of road. While this can cause short-term disruption, longer-term it will reduce our reliance on gas and ensure a sustainable, resilient supply of heat.

Heat networks are an extremely common technology in Europe and, in the UK, there are over 14,000 heat networks. The most advanced networks are located in major towns and cities like Bristol, Leeds, Plymouth and Liverpool. You can learn more about our other heat networks in London and Scotland here.

The Bristol heat network is modernising the way homes and businesses are heated in Bristol and supporting the city’s decarbonisation goals. The heat network reduces carbon emissions by replacing individual gas boilers with shared low carbon heat sources.

It is a system of insulated pipes that transfer heat underground across the city to deliver reliable, fairly priced heating and hot water to homes, businesses and public buildings.

Vattenfall is the heat network developer, and is therefore responsible for building and operating the Bristol heat network. We have decades of experience and are working on major heat network projects across the UK. In Bristol, we are partnering with Bristol City Leap to deliver the Bristol heat network.

The Bristol heat network is currently heating buildings in areas including Bedminster, Redcliffe, Old Market and Temple. We are actively expanding some of these existing network areas and constructing new network areas including the Frome network area, which is our latest city centre network area.

For more information on where we’re building the network, please visit the Works in your area page.

Each network area currently has its own heat source. As part of our partnership with Bristol City Council, we are committing to reduce gas on the heat network and moving to low carbon sources. For example, we currently have one of the largest water source heat pumps at Castle Park Energy Centre which generates low carbon heat to the Old Market network area.

As we develop the Bristol heat network, we are building several new permanent low carbon energy centres. There are three currently in development for the Temple, Frome and Bedminster network areas and will use heat pump technology.

In the future, once the network areas are joined together into a citywide network, the heat network will be able to share energy from these multiple sources across the city, improving resilience and providing reliable backup.

Whilst our long-term vision is that over half of all Bristolians living, working and learning in the city will be kept warm by the Bristol heat network by 2050, we are currently focusing on connecting commercial properties (residential developments and office blocks), as well as the council’s estate to the heat network.

If your building would like to connect, please visit heat.vattenfall.co.uk or get in touch at bristolbusdev@vattenfall.com.

Our engineering team continually assess, monitor and review new heat network routes in line with heat demand from our customers, alongside other works happening in the city, to ensure we are able to install our pipes at the right time. The final route will balance the needs for a reliable heat network connection for customers, deliver the least disruption, whilst enabling other Bristolian development partners to deliver wider highway and transport improvements.

Wherever possible, we will notify anyone affected by construction by post, enabling you to plan accordingly. Our dedicated team is also on hand to respond to any enquiries about the network or potential disruption by providing timely updates and liaising with our workforce to manage issues. If you have any questions which have not been answered as part of this FAQ, or if you would like to raise any comments or concerns, please get in touch via the contact page on this website.

As with other major infrastructure works, building a heat network does bring some disruption to the area, however we will take considerable action to minimise the impact on local communities. Like other underground works (such as water, gas or fibre optics), construction can create some noise but we will work within pre-agreed working hours which are usually 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Where road closures are required, we will provide as much advance notice as possible to help you plan ahead.

We are working closely with Bristol City Council to coordinate activities and minimise disruption. We will avoid digging long trenches, and will use noise-reducing equipment to limit disturbance. Where possible we will notify affected residents by post in advance of works, and we will provide clear signage around construction sites to keep pedestrians and road users informed.

Construction will not affect your local utilities such as your gas, electricity or water supply. Works will take place on the road outside properties to install new underground pipes so while there may be some temporary noise and traffic management, existing utilities and day-to-day services will continue as normal.