£1bn secured to restructure Bristol’s energy systems

Bristol City Council has announced a £1bn investment in a world-first partnership, pushing the city closer to its net zero goal.  

Entering a joint scheme with Ameresco Limited and Vattenfall Heat UK, the council will find innovative ways to generate, distribute and store energy.  

Named Bristol City Leap, the 20-year partnership will focus on boosting and speeding up investment in renewable energy infrastructure. Money will fund wind and solar, as well as energy efficiency measures and low carbon heat networks.  

Cllr Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy said: ‘The council has invested nearly £100 million in decarbonisation projects over the last five years, which includes completing the construction of Castle Park Energy Centre that houses England’s largest water source heat pump. However, the scale of investment that is needed to meet our One City Climate Strategy targets by 2030 is in the billions. 

‘City Leap is a big deal for Bristol. This is a world first, with Bristol leading the way in decarbonisation that other cities and regions can follow. The partnership has secured the funding, knowledge, and resources to usher in a period of extraordinary innovation, investment, and growth to accelerate our progress in reducing carbon emissions and tackling the climate emergency. We look forward to working with our new partners, and the whole city, on our journey to net zero.’  

At least £424m will be invested into a range of energy projects within the first five years, which is thought could reduce Bristol’s carbon footprint by 140,000 tonnes.  

This will include the expansion of Bristol’s Heat Network, providing low-carbon, affordable energy to local businesses and homes in the city. There are also plans to install solar panels and low carbon heating systems in schools, while council housing will be made more energy efficient.  

The group believes 182MW of low carbon energy could be produced over the next five years, with investment to support community-owned renewable energy projects also lined up.  

Photo by Chris Lawton