Caerau Heat Scheme

Background

Caerau Heat Scheme is a highly innovative project that will provide low-carbon heat and a reduction in energy bills to properties in Caerau.

It aims to:

• Demonstrate investment potential and scalability of an innovative local renewable energy scheme
• Provide enhanced energy security and resilience to residents and businesses
• Address fuel poverty and health inequalities among residents
• Support the development of a new energy industry and create opportunities for local supply chain businesses
• Develop skill levels and community education in the low carbon agenda

The Scheme originally proposed to extract heat from water contained within flooded former coal mine workings to provide the heat resource for heating and hot water for properties within Caerau.

In June 2021, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet voted to take forward plans for a set of small-scale low-carbon heat demonstrator projects in Caerau. This followed a six months options appraisal into the project after a report outlined the challenges of using mine water for an expanded scheme, including increasing costs for investigation work.

The project’s proposals now involve delivering a smaller mine water heating scheme for Caerau Primary School and a district heat scheme for at least 70 homes on the Tudor Estate.

Homes on the Tudor Estate which take part will be connected to a district heat pump while a private connection will supply electricity for the scheme from the wind farm at Llynfi Afan Renewable Energy Park, providing low-cost, low-carbon power.

As a demonstrator project, Caerau Heat Scheme has a large number of stakeholders including; Welsh Government, Valleys to Coast Housing, Cardiff University, BGS, Energy Systems Catapult, Natural Resources Wales and The Coal Authority.

Progress

For such an exciting and complex scheme, a significant amount of feasibility and development work has taken place over a number of years.

Highlights from the last 6 months include:

• Further mine water investigations have taken place, including re-visiting the test drilling site on the Old Brewers Site.
• Experienced heat network consultants Nordic Heat have been appointed to undertake the detailed project design and development.
• A detailed study into making a connection to the wind farm for a low carbon electricity supply for the scheme has shown positive results. This could also supply electricity to Caerau Primary School.

Latest news

The Scheme originally proposed to extract heat from water contained within flooded former coal mine workings to provide the heat resource for heating and hot water for properties within Caerau.

In June 2021, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet voted to take forward plans for a set of small-scale low-carbon heat demonstrator projects in Caerau. This followed a six months options appraisal into the project after a report outlined the challenges of using mine water for an expanded scheme, including increasing costs for investigation work.

The project’s proposals now involve delivering a smaller mine water heating scheme for Caerau Primary School and a district heat scheme for at least 70 homes on the Tudor Estate.

Homes on the Tudor Estate which take part will be connected to a district heat pump while a private connection will supply electricity for the scheme from the wind farm at Llynfi Afan Renewable Energy Park, providing low-cost, low-carbon power.

As a demonstrator project, Caerau Heat Scheme has a large number of stakeholders including; Welsh Government, Valleys to Coast Housing, Cardiff University, BGS, Energy Systems Catapult, Natural Resources Wales and The Coal Authority.

As part of this research, we will be looking for residents of the estate to take part in different activities. This may be surveys, telephone interviews, and workshops, arranged at a time that suits you.

What’s in it for you?

Rewards for your time

We realise your time is precious. To thank you for your participation in the research, we will pay you for activities you take part in. If you prefer, we can offer vouchers.

Why are we doing this?

Energy Systems Catapult is working with homes like yours all over the UK to understand how homes are heated and how future energy products and services can be improved to provide you with a better experience.

For this project we are aiming to help Bridgend Council and Valleys to Coast develop and test ways for you to buy energy, whilst also helping to shape low carbon solutions which benefit your local community.

Joining this research will allow you to have a say on how a new heat service can work best for you, but it is your choice on whether to participate or not in individual activities after signing up.

Next steps...

To get involved and sign up today visit es.catapult.org.uk/tudor-estate

We’ll be visiting the Tudor Estate on 27th July to chat about the project and answer any questions you might have. We’ll also be in Caerau Community Centre on the 29th July to share some information if you’d like to drop by with any questions.

 

Funding

Bridgend Council was awarded funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, Priority 3 (Priority 3: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) to progress the Scheme, for completion in 2023.

If you would like to know more about Caerau Heat Scheme, contact the Project Manager at Bridgend County Borough Council.