The Sheffield heat network is to be extended to Rotherham

The Lower Don Valley district heating scheme is currently powered by the E.ON Blackburn Meadows renewable energy station, which uses biomass to provide a heating source to the connected buildings.

E.ON’s latest proposals would add around 10km to extend the 8km pipe network which already provides heat to businesses including IKEA UK, Forgemasters and Ice Sheffield and Sheffield Arena.

An indicative route south of the current network shows how it could extend from Sheffield Arena to encompass the Tinsley industrial estates and Sheffield Business Park before crossing the Parkway to connect to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Chris Lovatt, Chief Operating Officer for E.ON’s Energy Infrastructure Solutions business, said: “Whether it’s tackling the climate crisis, cleaning up the air on city streets or weaning the UK off fossil fuels to avoid the impact of global markets of volatile gases, we must find new and cleaner ways to heat our homes and businesses. Heat networks like ours in the Lower Don Valley allow us to do that.

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“We are the players in creating a more sustainable Kingdom through projects like this, and with Sheffield taking bold steps to become a zero-carbon city by 2030, we are looking to extend the route of our district heating network to play a part in this ambition. . As part of our ongoing investment in the city, we will look to create over 2,000 green jobs in the region, as well as improving public spaces – leaving every space we touch better than when we found it. “

District heating is a more efficient and cost-effective way of providing heat to built-up areas by producing and distributing heat from a central source instead of individual boilers in each property.

District heating networks will play a key role in the decarbonisation of cities. District heat currently supplies 3% of heat demand in the UK, with this number set to rise to 20% nationally by 2050 to support the move to net zero.

A formal planning application could be submitted to Sheffield City Council towards the end of the summer, with E.ON hosting a series of consultation events, including at Catcliffe Memorial Hall on July 25.

Last year, Rotherham Energy Limited secured £25 million to build a new Rotherham Energy Network, stemming from the £150 million biomass power station in Templeborough.

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Images: E. Hon