WHO WE ARE
PEEL NRE
Peel NRE is part of the Peel Group, one of the leading infrastructure, transport and real estate investors in the UK, with collective investments owned and under management of more than £5 billion.
Peel NRE is at the forefront of delivering low carbon energy to the UK. With over 20 years’ experience, we have a balanced development portfolio of wind, marine, biomass, solar and decentralised energy projects.
A DISTRICT HEATING NETWORK
FOR LIVERPOOL WATERS
MERSEY HEAT
Liverpool Waters includes the regeneration of 60 acres of historic dockland to create a market leading, high quality, mixed use waterfront in central Liverpool.
Liverpool Waters offers opportunities for new national and international business growth, retail and commercial opportunities and the development of up to 10,000 new homes.
To support this, Peel NRE is developing a heat network that will provide low carbon, cost effective heat and power to the Liverpool Waters development and surrounding areas. To deliver this, Peel NRE has established a dedicated Energy Supply Company (ESCo) called Mersey Heat, which will build, own and operate the heat network.
Mersey Heat will contribute towards the UK Government’s C02 targets and help to make Liverpool a greener place to live, work and visit.
Watch our latest video to see on-site progress.
WHY CONNECT TO THE NETWORK?
WHAT IS DISTRICT HEATING?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Many district heating schemes have been installed in the UK over the past 50 years. The principles are straightforward: hot water generated from a central heat source (the energy centre) is transmitted around a district wide network of super insulated underground pipes to homes and businesses to provide space heating and domestic hot water.
THE HEAT SOURCE
The energy centre, which received planning consent in 2021, is expected to save around 4,200 tonnes of carbon per year, this will be achieved through the primary use of water source heat pumps (WSHP) and thermal stores to provide heat to Peel NRE’s Mersey Heat district heat network.
It includes plans for two 3MW water source heat pumps which would work on an ‘open loop’ system to take heat from water abstracted from the Leeds/Liverpool canal before pumping it back into the dock system. Two thermal stores capable of holding 260 cubic metres of hot water will also be installed alongside heat only gas boilers as backup, and for use during times of peak demand.
CUSTOMER INTERFACE
THE USER EXPERIENCE
The customer’s heating and hot water requirements are met instantaneously via two plate heat exchangers placed between the hot water flowing round the district heating network and the secondary systems within individual properties. For smaller businesses and individual residential premises controllability will be provided via a Hydraulic Interface Unit (HIU) in each property. The HIU is similar in size, appearance and operation to a gas combi boiler and provides instant on demand heating and hot water.
Businesses with high heat demands will require a larger scale interface with the secondary in-building heating and hot water systems, referred to as a heat substation. This is typically located in the ground floor of the building, but still occupies less space than traditional boiler plant.
METERING, BILLING & CUSTOMER SERVICE
Metering and billing is an important aspect of district heating schemes, ensuring customers only pay for what they use with no estimations. A variety of billing options are available to suit the customer’ needs, aligned with the options available from traditional utilities. All interface equipment will be fitted with a heat meter using automated technology to accurately measure heat consumption. All meters will be remotely read with no requirement for manual readings.
A dedicated customer service team will be available at all times to answer any queries or provide help and advice. The district heating network will be monitored remotely by a team of experienced engineers ensuring the systems are maintained to provide a secure and reliable service.