Groundbreaking Viking Energy Network approved for Jarrow - plant will heat buildings using River Tyne

A groundbreaking renewable energy scheme using river water to heat council buildings has been given the green light.
An aerial view of the siteAn aerial view of the site
An aerial view of the site

South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for the ‘Viking Energy Network’.

The project will work by heating water extracted from the River Tyne and exporting it to several council-owned buildings in Jarrow, including the town hall, sheltered accommodation schemes and two schools.

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Detailed designs for the system include a water-source heat pump, a combined heat and power back-up system, a solar farm, battery storage and associated electrical works.

Computer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in JarrowComputer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in Jarrow
Computer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in Jarrow

An energy centre will also be built on the south bank of the Tyne, with a series of ducts and pipes to distribute heat to the various sites.

Council chiefs say the scheme will cut South Tyneside Council’s annual carbon emissions by more than 1,000 tonnes and save the local authority around half a million pounds in fuel costs per year.

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The Viking Energy Network was unanimously approved at a Planning Committee meeting, which was held on March 29 via videolink and broadcast on YouTube.

Computer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in JarrowComputer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in Jarrow
Computer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in Jarrow

A report prepared for councillors named the buildings which will benefit from the district heating network in future.

These include:

:: Clarendon, off Windmill Way.

:: Jarrow Business Centre, Strathmore (no. 11), Hawthorne (no. 13); Rolling Mill Road.

Computer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in JarrowComputer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in Jarrow
Computer-generated image of the Viking Energy Network buildings in Jarrow

:: Birch Grove, Birch Street.

:: Palmer Community Hospital, Wear Street.

:: Jarrow Town Hall, Grange Road.

:: Wilkinson Court and Ellen Court apartment block, to the east of Jarrow Town Hall.

Cllr Joan Atkinson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety with responsibility for Climate Change (right) and Mohsen Kohannejad, Construction and Technical Services Manager at the site of the forthcoming Viking Energy Network in Jarrow.Cllr Joan Atkinson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety with responsibility for Climate Change (right) and Mohsen Kohannejad, Construction and Technical Services Manager at the site of the forthcoming Viking Energy Network in Jarrow.
Cllr Joan Atkinson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety with responsibility for Climate Change (right) and Mohsen Kohannejad, Construction and Technical Services Manager at the site of the forthcoming Viking Energy Network in Jarrow.
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:: Monastery Court apartment block, to the west of Ferry Street / Friar Way.

:: Jarrow Community Centre, Cambrian Street.

:: St. Bede’s RC Primary, Harold Street.

:: Dunn Street Primary School / Children’s Centre, to the west of Minister Parade.

:: Curran House, to the north of Saxon Way.

Councillor Geraldine Kilgour welcomed the planning application and its aims.

“Having seen the amendments and seen the value of what’s to come from this, I think the buildings are really important buildings to us that are going to be serviced by this development,” she said.

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“I think it’s a huge step forward for us to be at the forefront of this pioneering development.”

Initial proposals included removing a section of the wooden Jarrow Staithes to accommodate a floating pontoon, water pump and pipework linked to the water-source heat pump.

However, planners confirmed that this element had been redesigned after structural surveys found the plan would “increase the risk of collapse of further sections” of the locally listed structure.

An alternative option, a “cantilevered bridge supported by the existing staithe,” will be finalised as part of a planning condition.

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The Viking Energy Network, which combines three renewable technologies, has been described by council officials as the first of its kind in the UK.

Water source heat pumps work by extracting heat from a body of water, compressing it to increase the temperature and then converting it into useful energy in the form of hot water in a network of insulated pipes.

The solar farm would provide much of the electricity to power the heat pump.

Meanwhile, the combined heat and power back-up – which would be used in the event that the solar panels do not generate enough electricity – harnesses the heat that is a by-product of the electricity generation process which would otherwise be wasted.

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The council project has received £3.5million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund for its innovative approach.

George Mansbridge, corporate director for regeneration and environment on the council, said the scheme would ensure “minimal use of fossil fuels.”

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “This will combine three renewable technologies, ensuring minimal use of fossil fuels.

“It should also run close to carbon neutral for much of the summer by using electricity generated by the solar farm to run the heat pump.

“Any surplus electricity will be used in council buildings.”

For more information on the Viking Energy Network Jarrow visit: www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/71317/Viking-Energy-Network-Jarrow

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